Saerieve nodded silently. He had already taken care of two of those 'dogs', and he didn't see them being of any trouble.
"Thank you again for your time... And seems you have other 'guests', so I wont keep them waiting any longer."
Then said as he watched the shogun silently stare at him,
"If I'm not needed here anymore, I'll move back to Ainu now to arrange a freighter to move my stuff to Ryuku."
And watched as the shogun nodded silently and walked back toward the courts, and the four guards followed. Taking another look through the window, he walked back to the elevator, knowing this would be the last time he'll ask for something without giving anything in return.
As Dato entered the Court again, he noticed the Eriksson in the center of the room. The Shogun sneaked silently into the center until he was in front of the Order agent. He scanned the old man briefly before talking. "Mister Ravenov, it is good to see the Order... Finally decided to have a talk about our current... relationships. The other Shoguns will join us shortly. But for now, misunderstandings from the past you say, huh? Well, perhaps you could begin explaning me about those."
"Well, I'd like to apologize for the behaviour of Rika Kato and Michal Golanski for drawing Kusari authorities all the way to Kyoto. It's unacceptable and they have been accordingly punished, if that easens your minds a bit.
However, my business here is of somewhat other nature if you're willing to discuss it."
"When you get the money, you get the power. When you get the power, you get the women."
-by Tony Montana
The Court room breathing with the very heart of Kyoto, radiating the very soul of the Blood Dragons; honor and respect shown by each and every Dragon there, from the lowest commoner to the most famous of Samurai. Miyamoto couldn't help but feel pride while looking at his brethren, who face death daily, stare in its eyes and fight until they defeat death itself, or perish like many before them. Sitting in a shady corner, surrounded by his most trustworthy Guards, Miyamoto took his time and dug through his memories, with an occasional smile or a painful grin appearing on his face.
Soon his calmness was swooped away like a leaf under the morning breeze by the sight of what it appeared, to be an Order uniform. The thought of betrayal, pain and death took over his mind. So much of it has been seen in the past dealings with the Order. From the death of one of the heroes of the Blood Dragons, to the betrayal in socializing with the petty criminal scum of Kusari, the Hogosha; the Blood Dragons have witnessed and suffered it all from the Order. Miyamoto did not forget what his people have been put through by these, these baka Gaijin. A leashed dog with no muzzle, just waiting for its owner to move out of sight so it can rip the chains and jump him from behind.
He stood up, knocking down the chair in the process. His Guards jumped on the sounds of the chair touching the ground, grabbing the top of their blades in case any trouble is at dawn. Miyamoto hand gestured them to calm down, but stay on alert. Anger and hatred from his eyes carefully observed every step the Order officers made, just waiting for them to make a wrong one so he could behead them with no consequences. A brutal wish, not worthy of a Blood Dragon's mind, but Miyamoto simply could not help it, even though he successfully hid it on the outside. The officer was greeted by Dato-sama, and that was more than Miyamoto would allow.
"Late is the hour, in which this traitor chooses to appear." - He shouted across the room, stealing everyone's attention, "The Order's hand has grown long indeed if they feel they're welcome here after what has happened. It may be that some of my brothers have forgotten the past quickly, but I am not one of them. The Order's betrayal after the battle for the Arch struck me deeply, and the wound is still bleeding. Not because we lost an ally, but because the Blood Dragons, that which I hold sacred, were tricked by those we trusted! Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, shame on you, fool me trice, a Blood Dragon I am not! And if counting still serves me, we have been betrayed twice, and I shall lay dead before His Majesty before I see you betray us once again! Now you walk into this Court, hoping a simple apology will cut it? Hah! This is our sanctuary! Our home for which we would spill our last drops of blood! And you bring our lost brothers here?! Tell me now, why should we even greet you without the two Order traitors' heads on poles?" - With it Miyamoto was facing the Order officer from a small distance, gazing directly into his eyes, reading him like an open book, trying to see what his next move will be, and how honest it will be.
"Well, I can't promise you their heads on poles. But I can justify the name of Michal Golanski, who has been wrongly accused of beeing allied with the Coalition. I was given permission to send you one of his encounters with them."
"Rika Kato on the other hand acted foolishly and despite the training invested in her, she still failed to hail you for help and went to Kyoto herself and thereby accidentally showed the Kusari authorities, who were pursuing her, Kyoto's location. She has been punished accordingly. I dearly apologise, honorable shoguns. If you wish it so, I can arrange some compensations. However, I don't know how much that can easen your minds. The best thing I can actually offer you is that I can promise that this kind of situation will never happen again."
"When you get the money, you get the power. When you get the power, you get the women."
-by Tony Montana
As Cheng was flying towards a familiar place, a place that he called his only and true home so long ago, he could not help but remember his brothers, his family.. He left to seek out something more, to fill a gap in his heart, but after he left he made a promise to his brothers, to his Shogun, to his leader...
His thoughts were interrupted by the navigational computer within his ship. He was there. Upon docking, there was only one path he could walk upon, the path which was so familiar to him. He had to set aside his own needs, and think of his family.
As he set foot on the trail leading to the Dragon Court, his pace got slower. He looked around for signs of change, but there werent many of them. Things were still just as they were when he left. Peaceful, glowing with memory and sacrifice. As he approached the gate to the Court, two Dragon guards stood on his path. Though, Cheng noticed something strange in their eyes, as if they recognized him. He bowed before them and the Dragons spoke..
"Hold! Your appearance, your robes, your sword... a Ronin. But they are somehow familiar to me... Hai, I recognize the sword, but you left us so long ago. How can this be?"
Cheng bowed before the guards and spoke.
"Konnichiwa my brothers, if you still allow me to call you that. I may have left you in body, but my spirit was with you at all times."
He put his hand on the sword at his waist and looked the Dragon in the eyes.
"Now, I have heard the call of Hideyoshi once more. I must speak with the court, may I pass?"
The guards sheeted their weapons, bowed and opened the gate as response.
As Cheng was once more in this great hall in which he used to meditate to calm his mind so long ago, his heart was overflown with memories again. As he made a few slow and steady steps, the hall noticed him. Some recognized him, and some did not. He reached the center of the hall, took out his sword, placed it in front of him on the ground and kneeled. He bowed once again deeply and spoke...
"Honorable Dragons, my brothers.."
The hall grew silent as Cheng voice was firm and full of determination.
"..I wish to speak with the Shogun."
He remained bowed, looking deeply at the floor, almost touching it with his face while waiting for a response.
"All you do is promise, but that is not....." - Miyamoto paused as his eyes gazed upon a familiar sight, a friend of the past, a Samurai of old. He blinked twice, and rubbed his eyes with his hands trying to discern if this was an illusion, or perhaps his eyes are cheated by some spell. Still a young man at his prime, wearing the Dragon robes with pride that they deserve. But something has changed; his blank look gives it away. Is it that his path changed him, or did he simply regret leaving his brothers alone? Miyamoto pushed the Order agent without excusing himself, only saying "Forgive me, I am needed elsewhere. Look to my return shortly." - as he moved away from them and closing by to Cheng Lo.
"And so a prodigal son returns." - He spoke after confirming to himself it was indeed Cheng, "It brings warmth to my heart, seeing you here now. Many die each day, and when I see those who left us still live, it brings me hope." - Finally Miyamoto walked to him and bowed slightly, reaching for Cheng's shoulder with his hand, "I once called you brother, I once was willing to place my life in your hands! You were once a Blood Dragon until you have decided to leave us to our struggle to pursue your own selfish needs. Tell me Cheng-san, why should I welcome you?"
Cheng kneeled there silent, looking at the floor until Myamoto, his master of older days finished. He was glad that Myamotos heart was still full of fire and strength, just as he remembered him. Cheng dared not look Myamoto in the eyes, he deemed he was not worthy, and never will be worthy enough. Cheng began to speak slowly and silently..
"My Master, when I left you, my heart was filled with sadness. Day after day I felt the need to come back and apologize. I felt the need to ask for forgiveness for leaving you, for leaving my brothers. But I must speak from my heart, I do not feel the need to ask for forgiveness anymore."
"Before I left my heart was empty, I did not feel worthy of being among you, I felt like I let you down and needed to learn more. I was your Roju, but I did not feel like one. I could not silence the voices in me, I needed isolation, I needed a change. I left your side to become stronger both in spirit and body. I left your side to do that what you have tried to teach me over all those years, namely, to try and serve others by serving myself."
Cheng paused for a second and then continued...
"I may have left your side in body, but my spirit was always home with my family, my real family, the Dragons. After trying to better myself for all those months, I learned that true strength comes from the heart, and not from all the techniques you learn. I heard of the new struggle that you, my brothers, are facing. I come back to you now from isolation, at the change of the tide. The call of Hideyoshi has reached my ears once more, and I will protect my family, their ways and memories. If there is anything you have taught me, it is that true Dragons are born in the heart and soul of a body. I have not misplaced mine."
Cheng pulled out his sword and offered it to Myamoto while still kneeling and staring at the floor.
"My life is in your hands once more, my master. If you deem it not worthy, take it now with this blade and I shall greet my honorable death..."
The Court held its breath after seeing a brother returning, and keeling before a Shogun of the Rising Sons. Once a famed warrior, known for his skill in combat only to be matched by his honor, was now asking for mercy upon returning home. He claims his brothers and his home never left his mind, and were with him each day of his journey; but do his brothers remember him? Is he still worthy of being called a Blood Dragon?
"Cheng-san, those who have bled at my side, never kneels before me." - Miyamoto began as he gently passed his fingers over Cheng's blade, "This, you have earned, and this you shall keep until the day you die. But this is not that day. A day may come when the courage of the Blood Dragons fail, when we forsake our brothers and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. We have many battles to fight, and the hour of woes and shattered shields is yet to come. I hear in your voice the very doubt and fear that would take the heart of me, but home will always remain home, no matter how far you venture to forget it. I bid you stand, Rising Son of Kusari." - Miyamoto took a step back and let Cheng rise from the ground, and hand gestured to walk with him, "It may take some time for you to regain the trust you had within our ranks, but I believe without a doubt you will succeed at this task." - Finally a smile lighted up on Miyamoto's face after the two cleared the crowd, "I am glad to see you are alive Cheng-san, and happy to see your journey made you see what priorities a Blood Dragon should cherish. But I warn you, if you make a fool out of me, you may find yourself shorter and missing a head." - He said with a sturdy voiced, followed by a laugh.
After hearing Myamotos words Cheng made an expression which resembled a smile on his face. As they slowly walked through the great hall once more, Cheng sheeted his blade. His glance turned to Myamoto once more as he had questions to ask.
"Master, Im glad my blade can be of service to you and Hideyoshi once more."
He then stood still for a second as somewhat was not answered in his mind yet. As Myamoto was gaining ahead of him, he hastened his steps and continued..
"I see new faces in this family Master, some of them even very young. Though, I should not judge their age, for I too was very young when I took up this task. I also hope that some of the brothers still remember me, or me as they have known it. Time will only tell I presume, hai."
He then stood still again, grabbed his blade and looked at Myamoto again.
"Master, I must know what robes am I to fill, how shall I use my life for Hideyoshi?"
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