3/20/2003

11:53 PM

Logfile from Chase.

Borderlands

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The borderlands between Hokkan and Kutou are a mixture of cold swamp and ice, blending both climates in a mixture that is deadly at worst, uncomfortable at best. The hunting is normally good in times of peace, but peace hasn't been seen in this area for quite some time. Here and there, the souvenirs of war can be seen- skulls, broken weaponry, and the occasional bit of armor can be seen. Aside from the temple to the east, there is very little redeeming about this place.

Hatsui(#253), Namame(#320), and Uruki(#287) are here.

Exits: Temple (to Traveler's Temple)

Tundra (to Tundra)

Hikitsu has arrived from Tundra.

Aside from a few moments of awkwardness as she only just began to remember how to ride, Hatsui's been doing remarkably well with keeping up -- that little mare that Shiku found for her might be a handful, but with that comes a certain spirit. So, at whatever pace they're headed, it's become an interesting mini-battle between horse and rider; that is to say, mare tries to nip another's horse, Hatsui brings her up short and mutters something under her breath. Mare repeats the act, Hatsui says something /else/ in a slightly louder tone. After about five repetitions of this, it's up to, "Your dam must have been a MULE!"

Namame is taking no small amusement at this. No. Because Hatsui's assessment of his riding like a sack of rice is now being repaid. "Keep that horse in line, would you?" Neener. Oh. Wait. Serious business. Right. "Let's just get this over with?" It's asked as he stands in the stirrups, looking down the path toward the east. "The building's there, but I don't know if it's the same one or not." That's all he's got to say about this, because he's enjoying a certain pink haired girl's predicament just a little too much.

Uruki also watches with much amusement, hand brushing the hair for his eyes as the cold wind blows sharply about them. "Who would have ever thought Hatsui could be defeated by a horse. I'll have to remember this when we get back, you know. I'm sure we can find a ranch outside the city and all go riding again, ne?" Oh yes, what fun.

"Its okay, Hatsui. You can say ass now and nobody will look at you wrong," Chase chuckles, reining in his own horse beside her for a moment. He offers her another bright grin, followed by a wink, before urging his own mount forward a little further to keep it away from her nipping nag. He snickers at Uruki's comment, glancing back to him as well, "Next time I'll remember to bring a camera."

Hikitsu us perversely pleased that Namame isn't quite so whipped as all that - he's even fighting back! Good for him! He's still in for an ass-kicking though. He's also glad that some things are just ingrained in his body - like how to stay in the saddle. He's not coming out any time soon. "Come on now, Hatsui." But yet, Hikitsu is smiling - he's sticking relatively close to the chibi in case she needs help, but far enough away so his own mount isn't bitten. "Uruki, that's the best idea you've had all day. I heartily second it." Riding is very freeing, ne?

You paged Hikitsu with: From afar, Tomite wonders if you've gotten an ear-full yet of all the crap Tomi has been getting into here?

Hatsui tosses the peanut gallery a rather resigned look. "I can ride," she says, "I do remember how, but..." Another quick tug on the reins follows this just as her mare tries to nip at Namame's horse's flank, and finally, she leans forward to rap the mare between her ears. The theory? Knock some brains loose, or maybe start a kinetic reaction to get some braincells moving. That seems to settle the mare down a little bit, and Hatsui nudges her forward. "Hikitsu? It's a good thing you're too big for this one, or I'd give you the pleasure of riding her. She /is/ a good mare. Just... trying to test her boundaries." Hatsui knows /all/ about that. "Yeah, I'd've loved to get a picture of Urumiya singing with the foot soldiers."

Namame smirks as he settles back down into the saddle, urging his own horse forward to avoid Hatsui's. "She's just as stubborn as you are, woman." He'll pay for saying that later, but he's going to settle for enjoying being out of reach for the moment. "Tch, smells like rot," he mutters, noting the presence of cold swamps as continue toward the temple. "Can't we just go at this at a run?"

"You're in such a hurry then, Namame? Though I admit I share your desire to hurry up and get this over with," Uruki says, eyes scanning the bleak landscape, a frown furrowing his brow. "I do suggest we move a little quicker if we can. I don't think we'd be wise to linger out here in the open for long."

Tomite urges the horse forward a bit more, but not before glancing back to Hatsui. "Testing her boundaries? Sounds a hell of a lot like another woman around here that I know." Okay, he'll just make sure to be well ahead of Hatsui now. A glance to Namame, "If we did this at a run, you'd probably tumble off the horse before he got a length off." Yeah, still teasing. He nods his head to Uruki in agreement though before urging his horse a little faster.

Hikitsu's smile widens. "I'd be happy to ride that mare if you wish, Hatsui. You can ride Yoru." He leans forward and thumps the horse's neck. Hatsui could probably not stay on him - he's not a stallion for nothing. A quick glance around the empty, desolate space makes him want to shiver - but the mask still half in place prevents showing it. "I agree - let's go." Too much empty space makes him nervous. Too open, anything could attack them. But then he glances back at Namame, a Tomite-like smirk /definitely/ visible. "If you can."

"I need to learn to throw things with better aim," Hatsui says, pulling a face at Tomite as she nudges her mare forward next to his, "Or something, because if I could reach you, I'd swat that dumb hat right off your head. And Hikitsu? You're probably right, but who would want to ride a big brute of a stallion anyway? I'm actually enjoying riding again." The seriousness of the older seishi, though, catches her attention (as does a waft of air from the temple's direction) and the teasing note fades from her voice, replaced by a more businesslike tone. "I can keep up, don't worry about me."

"Tch, I don't like being out here in the open. We may as well paint targets on ourselves and wave a flag that says 'shoot me!'." It would figure that Namame would look at things from this point of view. "Saa, if you can't ride that horse, Hatsui, I'll trade you." Not like he'd do any better, but.. Tomite? "Right." Hey, he's not /that/ bad, and half of his discomfort is from something other than being on a horse. "Let's go." /Now/ he'll nudge the horse into something akin to a run, though he's going to keep an eye on Hatsui to make sure she lives up to the claim of being able to keep up.

Tomite glances askance at Hatsui, grin broadening all the more, "You know you want a hat just like it. Admit it." He flickers her a wink, looks about ready to offer her some help, but keeps his peace. Nah, she can ride just fine. Another nod to Namame then a nudge of his heels to the horse to draw it into something of a gallop.

Uruki tightens his grip on this own horse's reins and urges the mount into a quicker gait, following after Namame with a quick smile to Hatsui as he canters past her. "You're doing fine, Hatsui. Don't let them tell you any different." Another nudge of knees into the animals side and he's into a slow gallop, catching up to the red-haired seishi.

"He suits me very well, thank you." Hikitsu reaches out to pat Hatsui on the head, knowing she can stay on if she chooses to (she's more stubborn than the damn horse). "We can't let them outdo us, can we?" And with a wink he kick Yoru into a well-paced gallop, catching up to and passing Namame and Tomite in the sheer exhiliration of being /out/ again - never was much one for tents. But he reigns in the horse before he gets far ahead, looking at the others. "I've never been here that I can remember - what do we have to expect? How big is it, are there any soldiers or fighting monks?" And if there are, will they take exception to the Genbu seishi suddenly showing up?

Hatsui really actually isn't doing badly; even if she as her future self can't remember how to ride, this body does. She just got stuck with a rather, er, stubborn mare, and it's a fun battle of wills. The mare in question seems to be ready to canter to catch up with the other horses, and as soon as Hatsui eases up on the reins, she's off like a shot with her rider leaning forward in the saddle to ease her burden. "Hmf, I do /fine/. Honestly, I can do this. You're all /way/ too protective."

Namame isn't even going to urge his smaller, lighter horse- bred for speed in terrain such as this- into a run. Not only would it be bad for his backside, the wind chill wouldn't be nice. "Saa.. don't you listen to anything, Hikitsu? Or did you lose your hearing with your eye? It's all four gods, they don't need to fight anyone off. No gods fearing idiot in their right mind would attack a temple and piss all four of them off at once." Uruki is given a light shrug as he catches up, through the redhead's attention turns to Hatsui. "If you can keep that mare in line, you're doing better than just good." However, since they've nearly reached the temple, a run isn't a good idea, and this seishi is going to slow down before he's in danger of riding into the place.

Tomite doesn't quite manage to wrestle his smile away, but it comes out all the same. Yeah, that is more provoked by what Namame says then anything. But the boy wisely, and for once, keeps his mouth shut as they draw closer to the temple. Following suit with the others, he reins in the horse to something closer to a walk as they slowly approach the temple.

Uruki matches Namame's pace, his eyes continually scanning the landscape, the temple growing more distinct. "Kutou soliders do not come to this temple. The monks have nothing to fear out this far. Yasashiku's tribe come to this temple to worship, since they live along the border and are quite devout to the service of al four gods." Which makes what Shiku does after Uruki's all the more a giant religious slap in the face. "Perhaps we should dismount and lead the horses the rest of the way."

Hikitsu shakes his head a bit. "Never trust anything, Namame. There are some men stupid enough to try it - or try subterfuge." That theory's kept him alive. Even if they're /not/ pissing off the gods, there's always the theory that someone in there might be opposed to the Genbu seishi in particular, and try to prevent their entrance. But he nods at Uruki's information, adding it to the store in his head. Interesting... "If you think it's best, it probably is." They'll look less threatening on foot as well. He shoots Tomite a warning glare - he just /knows/ the kid wants to say something - pulling Yoru to a halt and easily dismounting, reins in one hand. Let's get crackin'!

Hatsui reins in her mare to a jouncing trot, then a walk, then a stop at Tomite's side. "Tomite, you're nuts," she says, a familiar echo of the future -- including the grin. She dismounts lightly, landing neatly upon her feet as she catches the reins, giving them a reminder-tug to behave for the moment. "Hey, Tomite, want to trade horses next time, so you can prove that you /can/ ride anything?" she asks brightly.

Namame can't hear Hikitsu's thoughts, or he'd go tell Hikitsu to go suck a bug. Fortunately for everyone, that isn't happening. "Might be a good place to build anything you want to keep standing, but the smell's nothing I'd want to sit around with all day." After a moment's consideration, he slips out of the saddle, heading toward the temple steps with one hand on his sword. "I don't think we'll have trouble, not here, but.." But Namame is suspicious of everything that looks easy.

Namame leaves for Traveler's Temple.

Tomite is already shooting Hikitsu his very best innocent look -practiced often and well. If only it actually worked. He reins the horse to a halt, dismounting smoothly to the ground once more. He winds the reins loosely in his hands, and then reaches over as if to take the reins that Hatsui holds as well. "Nuts? Me? Isn't this about the millionth time you've said that since we showed up here?" The tone to his voice is clearly teasing, no matter the warm smile. "We both ride your nag and I'll be happy to prove it." He moves to tie up the horses and follow after the others.

Hatsui leaves for Traveler's Temple.

Traveler's Temple

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This is an amalgam of temples, each of the four different gods represented by animal statues. Silk tapestries adorn each of the four walls, displaying a serpentine turtle, dragon, vermilion bird, and a splendid white tiger. The floor, too, has been sectioned off into stylized temple flooring. At the very center, a circular decoration has been set with a large brass brazier filled with incense.

Namame(#320) and Hatsui(#253) are here.

Exit: Out (to Borderlands)

Uruki has arrived from Borderlands.

Hikitsu has arrived from Borderlands.

Uruki leaves his horse teethered outside, walking into the temple slowly, his eyes cast over the features. "I don't know that we'll have trouble in here, but once we find what we need and leave, that shall be another matter altogether." He comes to stand beside Hatsui, a hand resting gently on her shoulder.

Time for another consideration - if the scroll is here, can they get it out of the temple at all? If - logically - the first one hasn't been destroyed yet, could there be some sort of lock on the second scroll to prevent /that/ from being lost as well? His mind comes up with the weirdest situations. Hikitsu tethers Yoru - a safe distance from the mares - and follows the others in, honestly impressed with the decor and holding back an approving whistle. "There are always other matters to consider - but we know that, so we're less likely to run into them." It's one of the perversities of the universe - you prepare for something and it never happens, and then something blindsides you. Better to be overcautious. But he does ask, in a thoroughly modern way, "Does anyone know how to work this thing?" Nope, not spent much time in temples in years, nope.

Hatsui stills suddenly as she steps within, eyes widening in surprise. "This... it's been moved into the Museum at home," she says in an undertone to Uruki, her voice kept between them. "It's the same, I think; it's at least incredibly similar, and I don't believe in coincidence anymore unless it suits me... Uruki, what will Dylan do when he finds this out?"

Namame looks as if he'd rather spit on Genbu's statue than be near it. Fortunately, he has some restraint. "It's what?" This asked as he peers over at the other statues, noting two monks to one side and pointing them out to Uruki. "Might as well ask, Uruki. You'd be better at it than me. Either you or Hatsui, ne?" For now, he's just going to look uncomfortable.. and lean against Byakko, that should win him some celestial points. At this rate, he's coming back in his next life as a tree.

Tomite crosses quietly into the temple, nose already twitching at the smell of the incense. His gaze is quickly sweeping the area, picking out all of the details as he slowly moves forward. He makes a circuit of the room before glancing first to Hatsui, and then on over to Uruki, with a nod of agreement at Namame's words. He eventually ends up near Suzaku, smirking at the bird, and then looking away.

Uruki didn't know that about the temple; he's not been to the museum at all recently. The information catches him off guard yet again. Bad seishi shogun! "This temple is /where/?" he asks, astonished, quickly shaking his head. "I wonder if Dylan realizes it, though he's not mentioned it. I think we won't be visiting there anytime soon. Damnit." To Namame's pointing out of the monks, he smiles, nodding toward Hatsui. "I think she has the best skills in diplomacy. Hatsui, would you do the honors."

Hatsui is also the most harmless-looking, really, and the one least likely to bug the other gods at this point. Patting Uruki's hand briefly, she steps forward, bowing to the two monks. "Houshi-sama-tachi," she greets formally, "Pardon our intrusion, but would you be able to aid us in a mission of dire importance to many lives?"

Hikitsu isn't likely to bug the gods - he's just likely not to have any rapport with them, 'cept maybe Genbu. He moves up next to Tomite, giving him another warning look - Tomite is /not/ going to piss off one of the gods and ruin it for them now. Other than that, he doesn't move, seeming to turn into a statue like he has a disturbing tendency of doing. He /will/ move to whap an unruly otouto back into line, though, and don't you doubt it Tomi.

Namame is just going to lean against Byakko. At least it's a cat, not some deformed turtle, like Genbu.. the freak. Don't they make comic books with things like that in them in their new lives? "Alright, Uruki, I won't ask, but just don't let it bother you?" A quick glance goes to Hikitsu and Tomite, but all he can do is grin at the younger seishi. "Tch, Konnanese cuddle club leader."

Tomite is feeling a presence. An ominous presence. Ack! The gods are unhappy -or maybe it is just Hikitsu. He turns his head to the side, spots the man, and then does something of a dramatic and rather deliberate startle. He mouths a 'what?', follows it up with a rather benign grin, and is looking away. Innocence, or something. Namame's comment provokes a smirk, "Don't make me come over there..."

Uruki is smiling after Hatsui, watching her in action a moment before turning back to Namame, "I'll be alright. What's one more surprise among many, ne? I've learned a lot about the role of fate in our lives though. I can't say I'm entirely pleased, but things have gone as they must. The sooner this mission is completed, the sooner we can return to where and when we belong."

One monk turns, eying Hatsui with surprise, though it might be at her actually being here and not looking like the familiar faces they see on a regular basis. The irreverent parties are also given a stern look, but these are peaceful monks, so no protests are made. Instead, the man looks at the seishi, nodding to indicate that he's heard her. "If we can be of help, then please ask."

Hatsui glances over her shoulder as the monk looks sternly at the trio, shooting Namame her /own/ stern look before she adopts a smile once more. Hikitsu can deal with Tomite, after all. "My companions and I are in search of information on how to summon our God, Genbu; let me introduce myself, as I am Genbu shichiseishi Hatsui..." She gives the man a rather wry look, though, after this, "Though I'm afraid that I know less than I wish to about what must be done in the future."

Hikitsu can deal with him all right. One arm shoots around Tomite's head, hand clapping over his mouth to shut him up while the other whaps the top of his head. The innocent look never works. "Don't blow this for us," he says lowly in the boy's ear. Monks can still throw people out for general disobediance ~.~ Aie. Another glare is directed at Namame, easily read as 'Don't provoke him or do anything dumb yourself.' Guess who didn't miss that monk's look...

Namame is doing what he /does/, though. He dislikes gods in general, and at least Byakko doesn't seem to mind! "What?" Is asked with near innocence before he smirks at Tomite. "Try." Hey, they can have a 'fight' in the middle of the temple! It'd be great! "Saa.. you lot worry too much. They're just statues." And to prove his point, one hand balls into a fist to knock against the Byakko statue's head. "See? As empty as they probably are in reality."

Tomite doesn't need to be dealt with, thank you very much. And he looks about ready to say something further only... well, he is being accosted. And in a temple, no less. Figures. Hand covering his mouth, head smacked -whoops, there goes the hat to the ground. Best way to get rid of a hand over your mouth? Lick it. And that is exactly what he is going to do.

Uruki shakes his head at Namame, "I know for a fact that the gods here to pay attention on occasion, Namame. But you, you they would probably ignore. Genbu has already been cursed with your presence, ne?" The seishi gives him a bright smile afterwards. "/Try/ to behave?"

This is a bit of a surprise to these monks, but the more silent of the pair simply bows to turn into a small adjoining room. He returns with several scrolls which are quickly handed over to Hatsui. "I'm afraid we can offer no help other than this. By our presence in this temple, we're bound against helping one side over the other." They'd like to, but they can't do so.

Thank Genbu for the ability to seem oblivious to one's fellow seishi. Taking the scrolls, Hatsui bows to the more silent monk in thanks, then addresses the more vocal one. "This is a matter that involves all of the Four Gods, but we thank you for your help, Houshi-sama," she says politely, looking down at the scrolls in her arms. "Are you able to tell me the contents of these scrolls, or provide a safe place for us to study them?"

Oh disgusting Tomite, just disgusting. Hikitsu removes his hand /very/ quickly, saving the yelling for later when they're outside, 'accidentally' twisting his ear as he retreats then quite deliberately using Tomite's clothes as a drying rag. "You are the living end," he mutters, his final 'movement' more of a whack on the back than anything. But he goes into statue-mode again at the sight of the scrolls, staring very intently at them - a slightly discombobulating experience for anyone looking at him, what with the one eye and all. Hopefully one of them is what they want... And hopefully there's somewhere they can go to look.

Namame blinks at Uruki. "/What?/ They're just statues." He's still leaning against Byakko, but keep it up and he's going to go over and sit 'horseback' on Seiryuu. Bet that would win them a lot of points. "Tch, cursed with my presence? I'm wounded. .. and I /am/ behaving." At least he's grinning? Or is that a smirk? Another rap is given to Byakko's head but he finally stands away from it, attempting to look innocent again. "What? We just look at 'em, right? If it's the right one, we'll know." It's as simple as that.

Tomite cringes at the twisting, and then is taking a long step forward to make up for the smack to his back. Ow. Child abuse. Hand lifts up to rub at his ear, one eye squinching shut as he peers back at Hikitsu, offers him a most puckish grin, and then is turning back around to look at Hatsui. He really should pay attention to what is going on. The toe of his boot kicks at the fallen hat, idle, bored.

The monk, slightly put off by the less than reverent seishi, simply indicates another small room before walking away. He's probably going to be asking the gods about their judgement.

Uruki holds out his hand for one of the scrolls, "Give me one, Hatsui. There are four of us, so we can each look and see who has the right one." He's nodding to Namame again, in agreement. "Hai, it should be that simple. Not that I'm expecting this to be simple by any means. I still think it's the fetching of the scroll that will be the least of our worries. Not while we're in here. Getting it back, however..." The thought trails off, unspoken.

Hatsui wouldn't blame the monk at this point, really. "Namame, Tomite, stop that," she scolds, perhaps unfairly, still holding the scrolls carefully. She nods to Uruki, then hands a scroll to each of them, leaving herself with none. Who knows what their summoning scroll might do in her hands, after all? "Should we go to the other room, or hope that the protections here will be enough?"

Hikitsu just /has/ to finish Uruki's sentence, though fortunately under his breath and perhaps not the way Uruki would have finished it. "But will we even be able to take it back?" He accepts the scroll Hatsui offers, glancing around at all the decorations again, the physical sign of the gods' power here. "Probably to the other room - there may be some violent reaction when we open the wrong ones." Small possibility, but he likes to think of everything. If he gets vetoed, though, he's okay with it - just mentally crossing his fingers. he undoes the string holding the scroll closed, waiting to unroll it. And yes, Genbu needs his head examined. Most definitely.

Namame isn't going to waist time. It's a scroll for crying in the dark, and nothing more. If he's not afraid of offending gods, he's not going to be afraid of this. "Tch, you lot act like they're going to bite you," is commented sarcastically as he simply unties and unrolls his. "Well, this one might as well be written in gibberish." Hey, at least he didn't get the Genbu scroll, can you imagine the lash-out he would have gotten from that? "Anyone else?"

Tomite would like to protest and insist he is the innocent party in all of this, but simply pleads his case with uplifted eyebrows as if in awe at the bare utterance Hatsui's words. He extends his hand to take a scroll as well from her, tapping the end thoughtfully against the palm of his other hand. The boy simply shrugs his shoulders though. It's all the same to him. "Whatever works." Seeing Namame already unrolling his, he does so as well, gaze scanning over the contents. "Bah, this is nothing."

Uruki isn't inclined to waste time either it seems. Here, where the gods have been idolized into their statue forms, seems as good a place as any. He watches Namame and Tomite unroll their scrolls, hoping. A sigh escapes when neither are what they seek. Long fingers unthread the binding on the scroll in his other hand before he stretches it out in front of him, eyes scanning its contents. "This is what we seek, my friends," he says, glancing up with a pleased smile as he winds it back, tying it securely. "Now, the question is as Hikitsu said. Will we be able to take it back? And also, how."

Hatsui eyes Namame. "Given that the last time I touched a scroll that was related to summoning, I wound up about four years older than I was /supposed/ to be at that point -- not that I regret that -- I think that biting's the least of it," she says drolly, then winks at Tomite. "Maybe you should've been the one to do that, given your reaction afterwards." As the other scrolls are pronounced to be gibberish, she moves around to each person, collecting the scrolls and pausing only to peek over Uruki's shoulder. "We're not trying for the Shinzaho, then?" she asks quietly.

Out of complete curiosity, since Uruki has what they want, Hikitsu unrolls his scroll, and finds nothing of meaning before handing it to Hatsui. "As for the shinzaho... If we haven't had the summoning yet, then it's not a shinzaho, with no power for us to use." There /is/ that slight snag. "If we wanted the powered shinzaho, we'd need to go to the cave and open it - I think I still remember how," he continues with a glance at Tomite. "And we'd have to step around in time as well. But as to how to get the scroll home..." An emotion finally registers on his face, and it's one of confusion. "I have to admit I have absolutely no idea, beyond one of us swallowing it and hoping it survived the journey." And that's just not happening. Not even to Namame (although it /would/ be pretty entertaining to force something down his throat).

"Tch, idiot. We'd have to summon before we had a shinzaho, and if you want to go through that again, be my guest." Namame's going to be leaving now that Hatsui has the scroll he'd opened. "We should go."

Namame leaves for Borderlands.

Tomite's fingers are already tying the scroll that he holds back up, giving it over to Hatsui as she comes around. Well, he also has to stick his tongue out at her as she passes by as well. You know, to keep up appearances and such. "Shouldn't the scroll be enough? As for getting back... either trust in the gods or... well, we'll just have to wing it." A shrug to his shoulders and he is heading out as well.

Uruki looks distracted a moment, then says to Hatsui, "Shiku says that presence is watching again. I'm not surprised, but if you can sense something, please let us know. If it's Sungnocha, I know that god does not want us to succeed in bring our summoning scroll back." The seishi tucks the scroll into his robes, turning for the exit as well.

Uruki leaves for Borderlands.

Borderlands

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Namame(#320) and Uruki(#287) are here.

Exits: Temple (to Traveler's Temple)

Tundra (to Tundra)

Hatsui has arrived from Traveler's Temple.

Hikitsu has arrived from Traveler's Temple.

Hatsui's expression darkens a little bit at Namame's comments, eyes narrowing in just a touch of irritation before she shakes it off in surprise at Uruki's suggestion, having returned the scrolls to the monks before leaving. Inwardly, she broadens her perceptions a little bit.

"Someone's watching, yes," she replies quietly to Uruki, "I'll keep a mental ear open for it if it keeps on growing or focuses specifically, as I'm sure Yasashiku's doing." She touches Uruki's hand briefly, then glances at Tomite, her smile returning. "Just wing it, huh? What happened to making some sort of a plan, huh?" Somehow, her steps take her closer to Namame, and she just stands a step or so away from him, saying no more.

Where did Hatsui get the idea that Tomite made plans? That's Hikitsu's job in the dysfunctional duo. Hikitsu follows the rest out, glancing back at the temple speculatively. "What about... This sounds strange, but can one of us sort of encase the scroll in either our power or our chi? When we go, the 'envelope' has to as well - and hopefully whatever's in it." It might also be protected more from Sungnocha then.

Namame glances over at Hatsui, but turns his attention to the darkened horizon. "We'd better get going, now. That's not just the wind, nothing's moving." It's an incredibly faint sound, though Namame's senses pick it up quite easily. "..Hatsui? Remember that talk we had about running? It's time. Get on your horse, follow that path and go as fast as you can get that damned nag to go." The others? "Remember that trouble we thought we might have? I can smell .. something. It's different from the stench from the swamps. I don't think we want to stand and fight it this time."

Tomite shoots Hatsuit a skeptical look. Clearly she is confusing him with someone else. A plan? Anything longer than the immediate is clearly something that doesn't interest him. "Wing it," he repeats, smiling faintly. He shoots a glance askance to Hikitsu as if reading his thought, and simply cannot help but chuckle at the look upon aniki's face. But he is instantly sobering at Namame's words, gaze flickering to where Namame is looking as well. "Different, eh?" His eyes narrow for a moment as footsteps take him over to the horses, and he hands Hatsui the reins to one of the animals before offering her a boost up into the saddle.

Uruki reaches for the reins of his horse, nodding back to Namame as he mounts up again quickly, turning the horse back toward the track. "The scroll is next to my skin, Hikitsu. As Tomite can confirm, I have not been out of touch with my chi since we left the camp. I think the matter now is addressing our incoming adversary." Wind begins to swell about them all, catching at clothing and hair alike.

Hey, wait a second here, Hatsui's practically getting shoved on a horse -- this isn't fair! She flings out a hand, and with it, a skein of power, towards Uruki before she mounts up, thankfully upon her own mare so that readjustment of the stirrups isn't necessary. "Take it, don't argue, if I can't fight in the middle of this, I'm doing as much as I can," she says to Uruki, already sending the mare skittering along the path at a swift canter.

Namame is in his saddle with the assurance that Hatsui is going to run as requested, already nudging the animal into a near run- ooh, there's that word- down the path. "Damn. There's no standing up to it right now, not in this. We're at a disadvantage just because of the terrain. We end up in these swamps and we're done." He's just going to hope they make the tundra before having to face anything.

The strange thing is going to be the fact that the seishi are going to find their view of the world sliding into a blur, a subtle green taking over everything before the blackness that has been dogging their steps lashes out. They'll find themselves back in their own world and in the spot they last left. Tomite, however, is going to find twenty one more elusive than ever, as his current age holds. The same thing is tried on Uruki, though the aging won't happen. He's going to need a haircut.

MET - Unfurnished Exhibit Hall

This room has been fashioned into an amalgam of temples, each to four different gods represented by animal statues. Silk tapestries adorn each of the four walls, displaying a serpentine turtle, dragon, vermilion bird, and a splendid white tiger. The floor, too, has been sectioned off into stylized temple flooring. At the very center, a circular decoration has been set with a large brass brazier filled with incense.

You see Temple Brazier here.

Hatsui is here.

Obvious exits:

Hall of Asian Art

Oh, look. Clothes. This is different from last time. The braids, though, remain in Anana's hair, as do the tiny ties and beads that are woven into them. As they reappear from the blurring, twisting sensation, the small seishi finds herself sitting upon where her constellation is etched into the floor in Genbu's quadrant. "I /hate/ that..."

Chase is feeling awfully dizzy again. Although this time he isn't going to be yelling as it happens. Nope, he is awfully quiet, although wondering where the heck all of the open area went to. He blinks for a moment, blinks a little longer, and then curses. "Awwwww, damn. Already? I didn't even get a chance to bring back some rice wine. It was just getting fun." He turns around at Anana's voice, standing not all that far from her. "You're a teenager again," he notes rather unnecessarily.

Namame materializes out of thin air.

Anana blinks at Chase's curses, a completely impish grin upon her face. "I was a teenager before," she points out with a laugh, "And you're my age now! And..." She just caught sight of what she's wearing, and the fine braids in her hair. "We're /so/ not going to be able to explain this one, Chase."

Travis ends up standing on his own constellation, and the clothing everyone's wearing? "Damn." Tomite's age? "Aw hell!" That about sums up his reaction. However! He got another sword out of this, so it's all good. "Damn, damn.. Nice trick, now how the hell do we get ba.. Chase? You're a pup." There, he had to say it. "Damn."

Chase scuffs his toe and then looks up at the ceiling, "Why couldn't you have left me there for at least another couple of weeks. That's all I ask. I swear I'd have been good." Or something. He blinks though, looking first at Anana, and then to Namame, "What?" Clearly that does not compute.

"And you would've gotten killed," Hatsui says tartly, getting to her feet and dusting herself off, patting her pockets thoughtfully and pulling out a roll of bandages, then setting it back into her pocket for the moment. "You're my age now, Chase. Looks like someone's playing tricks on us again, and they really /are/ tricks; you're the same as as Tomite was. I think." A glance aside at Namame, and she sighs. "Namame, could you...?"

Travis is just getting over the shock, really. "What? Tomite? You really are younger. You're the same age as you were back then. Look, let's just get out of here? I don't want to hang around as part of the exhibit. If you want, you can come back to my place and figure out what to do there, but you really /are/ sixteen, Chase. Just look at the reflection in that brass over there."

Chase needs a reflective surface, and now. He bolts away from the constellation and fairly slides to a stop as he finds some sort of mirror surface to gaze at. Fingers poke and prod at his face, pushing around the skin. "Awwww, shi-." He flickers a glance to Hatsui, "Why is it that I didn't get quick-aged instead of dropped back a couple of years?" The injustice of it all. He groans, squinching his eyes shut before peering at the reflection once more. He sighs, glancing to Namame, "Sixteen... it would just figure. What? To your place? No. I'll... Damn." He reaches a hand up to scratch at his head. "No, thanks. I'll figure something out."

Anana seems to take this sort of shock in stride these days. "I don't know, maybe it's because whoever it was decided that that didn't work the last time. Maybe it's karma," she says. "But Namame's right, we can't stay here. I don't even know if Chiriko's work with the security cameras has lasted or not, but I also need to call Uruki to make sure he's all right, and that Karasuki's recovered by this point, as well as Hikitsu and Inami and 'miya." A pause follows this, and then she seems rather thoughtful. "If you signed a twelve-month lease, you can't get tossed out until that lease is up, as I understand it. We can figure something out before then, and... well, wouldn't it work?"

Travis reaches out for Anana's hand. "Well, I can pass my clothes off as having been practicing, you two.. Shit, this is New York. We have people who walk around looking like schools of tropical freaking fish, do you /think/ anyone's going to look twice?" He pauses, taking the cord that had been wrapped about the hilt of his sword and tying it to the sheath, binding it closed. "C'mon, let's just go before we're busted or something."

"Costume party, and I doubt anyone would give us a second look away." Still Chase is poking at his face. "Please don't say I'm gonna end up with pimples again. I was just getting over that..." Another groan as he rolls back his head. "I'll come up with something... maybe. This is ridiculous." He sighs, and then starts off, muttering quite a number of obscenities, most of which were newly learned from the Hokkanese troops.