Leaving for a new Universe
Oct 6, 2008 15:59:40 GMT -5
Post by Mumiyoshi on Oct 6, 2008 15:59:40 GMT -5
Meanwhile...
"My Lord," Katsuie greeted Yamiken with respect as he and the rest of the Oda army reached Yamiken's position. Hideyoshi and the other commanders also made their obeisance. "I regret to inform you that-"
"Yes, yes," Yamiken waved away Katsuie's apologies impatiently. "I'm aware."
"How did the serpent break free... my Lord?" Hideyoshi asked cautiously. He hoped he wasn't being too obvious...
"Frightened I'd decided you'd outlived your usefulness, Hideyoshi?" Yamiken grinned, causing Hideyoshi to colour. "No," the Demon King went on. "I was forced to break Oroken, severing my control over him. You have Mitsuhide to thank for that." He held up a hand to stall Katsuie, who had been on the verge of making some sort of vehement outburst. "Yes, yes, unforgivable, but I expect he's long gone now. Besides, we have more pressing business." Here, he paused, as if considering how to phrase his next announcement. "We are leaving this universe," he stated at last.
This brought a considerable hush among his generals. "Leaving... my Lord?" Ieyasu murmured in something between shock and wonder.
"... to where?" Katsuie supplied the rest of the confused question.
In answer, Yamiken simply shrugged. "I haven't yet decided," he admitted. "But I know we must go." He gazed over the landscape stretching in all directions. "We've spent too long here... made too many enemies," he said quietly. "It is time to start afresh." At that, he remembered the fragment of crystal stolen by Xiahou Dun, but pushed that from his mind. If he was lucky, they wouldn't be able to track him. But he'd have to move fast to even have a chance. He gestured to the army arrayed before them. "Despite this defeat, we still have a mighty army at our disposable..." His gazed then shifted to his officers. "... and many capable generals." He held his hand out into the air and made a slow grasping motion. "We can have the universes at our feet if we will only make it so." Realising he was beginning to shift into speech-making, he decided to curtail himself there. He was fairly certain he had the generals convinced... with one exception... "... of course, it would be foolish to sever all ties with this world," he ammended. "Hideyoshi, I will entrust you to keep tabs on what is going on here."
Hideyoshi started somewhat at this unexpected assignment. Could it be... he asked himself worriedly, not daring to finish the question even in his head. Instead, he merely bowed. "Don't worry, milord, I'll do my best." Well, either way, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, I guess... heh, always did like that one.
Yamiken smiled tightly. "Oh yes, Hideyoshi, I know exactly how hard you'll try," he lauged, and undertone suggesting he did, indeed, know more than he was letting on about Hideyoshi's intentions. Well, it's not like he'll be useful if he's liable to defect at any moment... Yamiken reasoned. Ever since he leanred Yukimura's back, he's been jittery.
"One more question, my Lord," Ieyasu interjected. "How exactly are you planning to... transport us... to a new universe?"
Yamiken smiled knowingly. "Why, with these, of course," he answered, withdrawing the three fragments of crystal from his robes. "Orochi's final gift is great indeed." He laughed once more, then grew serious. "Ask no more questions," he adressed his subordinates. "We have little time. There were originally eight of these. Four," he raised for fingers on his other hand, "I gave away freely, to a friend." He chose not elaborate on who that friend was. "But one," he lowered three fingers, leaving the index raised, "Was stolen, by none other than a certain Xiahou Dun, who serves Cao Mengde. If the latter, or, more likely, Kenshin, knows the proper ritual... we could find ourselves pursued. The chances of that increase the longer we tarry. Hideyoshi, you are dimissed." Hideyoshi hesitated slightly, then gave one final bow and withdrew, celebrating his freedom already. "The rest of you, remain where you are. I will begin the spell now."
Focusing, he began to chant under his breath. Slowly, the three crystal fragments in his outstretched palm began to glow and rose into the air slightly. After a short while, the light spread, enveloping Yamiken and his army.
They then found themselves at the Centre of the Universes. Yamiken glanced around, as did his men, though the latter with far more shock and awe than him, who had, of course, already been here. He, instead, was looking for someone...
"My Lord," Katsuie greeted Yamiken with respect as he and the rest of the Oda army reached Yamiken's position. Hideyoshi and the other commanders also made their obeisance. "I regret to inform you that-"
"Yes, yes," Yamiken waved away Katsuie's apologies impatiently. "I'm aware."
"How did the serpent break free... my Lord?" Hideyoshi asked cautiously. He hoped he wasn't being too obvious...
"Frightened I'd decided you'd outlived your usefulness, Hideyoshi?" Yamiken grinned, causing Hideyoshi to colour. "No," the Demon King went on. "I was forced to break Oroken, severing my control over him. You have Mitsuhide to thank for that." He held up a hand to stall Katsuie, who had been on the verge of making some sort of vehement outburst. "Yes, yes, unforgivable, but I expect he's long gone now. Besides, we have more pressing business." Here, he paused, as if considering how to phrase his next announcement. "We are leaving this universe," he stated at last.
This brought a considerable hush among his generals. "Leaving... my Lord?" Ieyasu murmured in something between shock and wonder.
"... to where?" Katsuie supplied the rest of the confused question.
In answer, Yamiken simply shrugged. "I haven't yet decided," he admitted. "But I know we must go." He gazed over the landscape stretching in all directions. "We've spent too long here... made too many enemies," he said quietly. "It is time to start afresh." At that, he remembered the fragment of crystal stolen by Xiahou Dun, but pushed that from his mind. If he was lucky, they wouldn't be able to track him. But he'd have to move fast to even have a chance. He gestured to the army arrayed before them. "Despite this defeat, we still have a mighty army at our disposable..." His gazed then shifted to his officers. "... and many capable generals." He held his hand out into the air and made a slow grasping motion. "We can have the universes at our feet if we will only make it so." Realising he was beginning to shift into speech-making, he decided to curtail himself there. He was fairly certain he had the generals convinced... with one exception... "... of course, it would be foolish to sever all ties with this world," he ammended. "Hideyoshi, I will entrust you to keep tabs on what is going on here."
Hideyoshi started somewhat at this unexpected assignment. Could it be... he asked himself worriedly, not daring to finish the question even in his head. Instead, he merely bowed. "Don't worry, milord, I'll do my best." Well, either way, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, I guess... heh, always did like that one.
Yamiken smiled tightly. "Oh yes, Hideyoshi, I know exactly how hard you'll try," he lauged, and undertone suggesting he did, indeed, know more than he was letting on about Hideyoshi's intentions. Well, it's not like he'll be useful if he's liable to defect at any moment... Yamiken reasoned. Ever since he leanred Yukimura's back, he's been jittery.
"One more question, my Lord," Ieyasu interjected. "How exactly are you planning to... transport us... to a new universe?"
Yamiken smiled knowingly. "Why, with these, of course," he answered, withdrawing the three fragments of crystal from his robes. "Orochi's final gift is great indeed." He laughed once more, then grew serious. "Ask no more questions," he adressed his subordinates. "We have little time. There were originally eight of these. Four," he raised for fingers on his other hand, "I gave away freely, to a friend." He chose not elaborate on who that friend was. "But one," he lowered three fingers, leaving the index raised, "Was stolen, by none other than a certain Xiahou Dun, who serves Cao Mengde. If the latter, or, more likely, Kenshin, knows the proper ritual... we could find ourselves pursued. The chances of that increase the longer we tarry. Hideyoshi, you are dimissed." Hideyoshi hesitated slightly, then gave one final bow and withdrew, celebrating his freedom already. "The rest of you, remain where you are. I will begin the spell now."
Focusing, he began to chant under his breath. Slowly, the three crystal fragments in his outstretched palm began to glow and rose into the air slightly. After a short while, the light spread, enveloping Yamiken and his army.
They then found themselves at the Centre of the Universes. Yamiken glanced around, as did his men, though the latter with far more shock and awe than him, who had, of course, already been here. He, instead, was looking for someone...