Post by Shinto on Mar 12, 2006 13:00:15 GMT -5
As he peered inside, he saw Shizuka in a black robe with her limbs contorted in what could only be described as something between pain and ecstasy. She was chanting quietly but rapidly creating a sound reminiscent of a mournful blackbird. She was sitting just outside of a circle that contained what looked like a star. As she chanted, her eyes became like a flame and smoke began to rise from within the circle. Inside the smoke, a cloudy image emerged as if it were a moving shadow. The shadow took the form of a cloaked man. “My Lord Daizen, what is your bidding”, Shizuka asked. The shadowy feature seemed to hold sway over the young Shizuka. The shadow said “the Hanzagiri are gaining strength in this land and it shall not be long before they strike to cleanse the land of those that would follow the empress and the ways of Seiji. There is but one threat in my way. That threat is the White Warrior, Makinn-Re. He must be eliminated or he will organize the Daimyos to battle the Hanzagiri clan.” “What do you require, my lord” asked Shizuka. Daizen responded “you must ask your father to arrange a meeting in a place I will tell you. It will be a trap, but I will ensure your father escapes unharmed”, he said, “he will never know what happens”. Shizuka looked puzzled, “But my lord”, she said, “How is it the White Warrior you have described would ever talk to my father”? The smoke seemed to darken and pulsate causing Shizuka to shiver slightly. “Because”, said Daizen, “you and your father know the man well. You know him simply as Warlord Re; the father of your betrothed”. Shizuka had been swaying and at the words of Daizen she seemed to freeze as if paralyzed.
Shinto had heard enough. When the apparition said “White Warrior”, Shinto began to move to the door of house. At this point, he burst in causing Shizuka to slowly look up as if she had been drinking. Slowly, recognition, then understanding, then horror came upon her face. As she seemed to sober, the apparition began to fade until there was nothing but a wisp of smoke leaving the room. Shinto was pale. He tried to find words but could not. After a long moment of staring he finally asked “Shizuka, what…. What have you done?” Shizuka looked at the floor unable to face her one true love as she came to understand her actions. “I did not know it would come to this”, she said. A year ago, I found that by combining certain herbs and incantations, I could perform feats of magic. At first, it was an amusement as I experimented with different combinations. Then, one day, I did an incantation and a voice came to me. I followed the voice and through it gained in power” she said. “My Lord Shinto, I did not know the voice…. I…” her voice began to crack as she buried her face in the hands and began to cry.
Shinto’s mind was reeling from the rush of emotion that overtook him. His love… his one true love… had betrayed him and his family. “Had she known? Could she really do this? Could it have been as she said?” he thought as his mind raced. For the first time in his life, he was unsure of what to do as he asked “But what are we to do… what is to become of us”? Shizuka looked up at him with tear stained eyes and a pale expression that matched his… “My love”, she said, “I do not know. You must warn your father immediately. My betrayal, as innocent as it is, cannot be allowed to come to fruition”. “Please”, she begged, “leave at once before more damage is done”.
“Will you be here when I return?” Shinto asked. “I do not know what is to become of me” she said softly. “The voice… it still calls. I must find a way to quench it, or it will overtake me” she said in fear. Shinto was torn. He heard the desperation in her voice but knew that he must warn his father because Daizen would act now that he knew he had also been betrayed. Shinto thought but all he could find to say was “I will go, but I will return…I hope you are still here. I love you and don’t want to lose you”. As he left, Shizuka looked at him, her eyes red. For a moment, Shinto was not sure if her eyes were red with tears or fire.
Shinto had heard enough. When the apparition said “White Warrior”, Shinto began to move to the door of house. At this point, he burst in causing Shizuka to slowly look up as if she had been drinking. Slowly, recognition, then understanding, then horror came upon her face. As she seemed to sober, the apparition began to fade until there was nothing but a wisp of smoke leaving the room. Shinto was pale. He tried to find words but could not. After a long moment of staring he finally asked “Shizuka, what…. What have you done?” Shizuka looked at the floor unable to face her one true love as she came to understand her actions. “I did not know it would come to this”, she said. A year ago, I found that by combining certain herbs and incantations, I could perform feats of magic. At first, it was an amusement as I experimented with different combinations. Then, one day, I did an incantation and a voice came to me. I followed the voice and through it gained in power” she said. “My Lord Shinto, I did not know the voice…. I…” her voice began to crack as she buried her face in the hands and began to cry.
Shinto’s mind was reeling from the rush of emotion that overtook him. His love… his one true love… had betrayed him and his family. “Had she known? Could she really do this? Could it have been as she said?” he thought as his mind raced. For the first time in his life, he was unsure of what to do as he asked “But what are we to do… what is to become of us”? Shizuka looked up at him with tear stained eyes and a pale expression that matched his… “My love”, she said, “I do not know. You must warn your father immediately. My betrayal, as innocent as it is, cannot be allowed to come to fruition”. “Please”, she begged, “leave at once before more damage is done”.
“Will you be here when I return?” Shinto asked. “I do not know what is to become of me” she said softly. “The voice… it still calls. I must find a way to quench it, or it will overtake me” she said in fear. Shinto was torn. He heard the desperation in her voice but knew that he must warn his father because Daizen would act now that he knew he had also been betrayed. Shinto thought but all he could find to say was “I will go, but I will return…I hope you are still here. I love you and don’t want to lose you”. As he left, Shizuka looked at him, her eyes red. For a moment, Shinto was not sure if her eyes were red with tears or fire.