Under pressure (Flashback)

Grandma Sobo was very worried as they went down to see Papa Long. She was silent looking out the window of the limousine, eventually doing a comment, advising Kaida to take care tonight, don't rush, be patient, wait for your opportunity... between long lapses of silence.

It was unusual to see Sobo worried at all, Papa Long had done very rigorous trainings to her and she didn't even flinched about it... how bad could this be.

A while after they finally arrived to Papa Long's house, or at least to the path leading to it. Sobo continued by car while Kaida had to run through the steps and sometimes climb to rise to the top of the Shinigami Mountains south of Hokkaido where the Buddhist temple was.



Kaida's record so far was 8 hours, her first time took a couple of days... one day lost in the woods without food or water, trying to walk around a part where the stairs are broken and you can go around or climb, the other day trying to find her way back to that point and climb up to the top.

Kaida was unconsciously placing her right hand over the ribs she broke that day, her mouth dried remembering how hard can Papa Long training be... or that day when he placed boggy traps over the stairs to make them unusable, forcing her to cross country to the top without using the stairs at all... just to find out there were also traps in the woods... Kaida's heel soared just to remember she had to walk to the top with one leg broken for two hours...

Or that day when one of Papa Long's advance students poisoned her water while she was in the mountain making her see hallucinations the rest of her way up... and not even that day Sobo was worried at all...

That day, they got there earlier than usual... about 10 am. Sobo didn't opened the limo door right away, she had to gather strength just to say good bye to her granddaughter kissing her like it was the last time they'd be seeing each other.

OOC:

Kaida had climbed this mountain a hundred times by now and the route is always changing, the stairs for a magical reason always lead to another place. When she finishes the first stage of them a foggy valley is revealed with a series of old japanese houses (Minka), filling the landscape.


By the time Kaida reaches the small town was night time, the small torches used as light poles are being lighted by guys dressed as Jisamurai, low rank samurai wearing two swords (katana and wakisashi). The streets were starting to get empty and only the Inn (Oji) was still active.

She bows to the man in polite greeting, trying to be proper. "Hello. I am only a young traveler looking for a bed for the night. I have traveled far this day. Why do you call me such hurtful things?"

The Jisamurai seemed angry due to Kaida's answers (or lack of them...) he yells
"I won't fall in your spell Bakemono! My spirit is tempered in the forge of souls!"

Then he draws his Katana in a kendo basic position and assumes fighting stance.
"KITSUNE NO BAKEMONO! DETEIKE!!" (Get out Monstrous Fox!)

As Kaida starts to walk back slowly the man walks towards at the same pace, suddenly making a jump scare on her trying to incite her to runaway.

His combat stance represented years of training and his eyes showed a mighty spirit ready to give his life to protect this village.


Kaida manages to run back to the forest outside of the village being chased for a few yards by the bushi yelling and shouting prayers to the Kami to neglect and expel the filthy Bakemono from his town.

Alone in the middle of the night, confused and scared Kaida looks at the town guard converging on the Jisamurai to ask him what had happened. He makes signs pointing at Kaida generals direction but they don't go after her. Half of them leave, while the other half spreads to reinforce that border of the town.

After taking a deep breath and having a nice meal Kaida picks up her stuff and stealthy walks around the city looking for residential houses with laundry hanging over night. Sadly people dry their clothes with the sun light and safe it by night to avoid stealing so even if there were many small houses that could do, it was not as easy as walking grabbing and running away.

There were also many roads around the city, leading in different directions, along those roads Kaida could see distant houses or more like large cabins. Also from a particular perspective Kaida as able to see through the Myst and Darkness a Castle hidden at the other side of the Town with a large rocky road leading to it.

Kaida starts wandering roads around the Town, looking for someone that could come handy to change her outfit. The hours went away and when she thought that she had lost her time a group of travelers, like a caravan with several banners and horses along with an small group of soldiers guarding a lifted carriage.


She had no many options, although there were just a bunch of soldiers half of them had sharp Yari (spears) and the other just the classical Japanese katana and wakisashi. If one samurai had been enough before, eight were just overkill.

The only idea she could think of in the moment was to get bud naked and ask for help to the crew, claiming to be a lost princess or something and hope for the best.

Two soldiers saw the naked girl on the side of the road and the captain (Doshin) got down from his horse that was leading the caravan to give his cape (Haori) to cover her shame. It was warm and smelled very manly, something that along with the knight-ish attitude didn't go overlooked by the teenager damsel in distress.

He said also in japanese with a serious tone of voice.
"What happen young lady?" Kaida noticed the difference between his arcane use of the japanese that the man barely understood her modern intonation and dialect but still he was sincerely worried.

The Samurai looked dazzled and confused.
"I am Doshin Momoshi Tatsuke, What is your name Young Lady?"

The rest of the crew was alert of the surroundings, cautious about a possible ambush.

From the palanquin a man head with a tall golden hat appeared to call out of the samurai. They whispered some words obviously referring to the girl. Then the guard came close to the Doshin and whispered something unheard at his ear, the captain nods as his only response.

Once inside of the Palanquin she noticed it had two sits one used by her the other occupied by the Imperial Emissary. It was very padded and had several couches and two metal boxes hanging from it's ceiling where the remaining odors of the incenses perfumed the small cabin.

The man said.
"Toyotomi Kaizen Emissary of the Son of Heaven and Guardian of Earth his Excellence the Emperor Namakaido, at your service Tatsudoshi Kaida Hōseki Denka.

It is most unfortunate to have met in these precarious circumstances but I thank the Kami for giving me the chance to assist you. The mighty Iyazami gave light to my eyes in her infinite mercy to recognize you from an old painting of your family Tatsudoshi Denka, that hangs in one of the Palace hallway.

I must respectfully add that you're even more graceful in person, even underneath this preposterous attire that the Oni have curse you at this evil night."

"You know of me then. Good. Where are we going? To visit His Excellence?"

The man smiles and says.
"Oh no my Lady, we are here to visit your Father, we bring important news from the Capital to his consideration and obedience. Seems that fate have protected you from the many perils of the road and throw you in the safe arms of the Emperor.

At this pace we will be in the Tatsudochi Castle in a manner of minutes." he concluded.

The Palanquin moved rapidly and steadily down to the castle that Kaida had seen before. After the proper protocol was followed where the Emissary showed his handfan that accredited him as an Emperor Agent the castle gates were open and then down through the inner yard to the castle doors.

The Doshin hurried to inform of the presence of Kaida in the castle, causing all sorts of confusion and haste among the servants that eventually came back with a huge silk sheet to take her in secret from the vehicle to her room apparently. Once the servants helped her out of the Palanquin another lifted litter was waiting for her over which she ended totally covered by the white silk sheet.

When the cover was removed of her face she was not alone. Another Kaida, just like her, identical to every single detail was standing in front of her escorted by two fully armored Samurai, she didn't seemed as Princess-like as she would have thought from an spoiled little daddy's girl, her eyes were like blades of cold steel.

The Another Kaida said.
"What kind of sorcery is this?"