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Logging Started: 09/10/2000 at 0:38:12
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Vash says, "OOC Okay, I'll go with plan B :0"
Vash says, "OOC which will let me use Shizumaru and Hiko, who can both play
 without fear of being called away :)"
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says,  "Yay!  I can play with Shizu!"
Shizumaru OOCly o.O;;
Hehe.
That night, both of you get a good night's sleep.
The next morning, you both find invitations to breakfast with Juri.
Shizumaru reads the invitation, nods, and quickly washes up and dresses for the
 day. He takes his umbrella out of habit, his sword out of caution, and then
 inquires with a nearby servant on how to find Juri.
The servant directs Shizumaru to Juri's quarters.
Hiko the Firechilde reads the invitation and nods.  She gets dressed, choosing
 a knee-length skirt and the uniform jacket, putting both the gold dragon ring
 and the silver ring on, one on each hand, belting the dagger to her hip, but
 leaving her sword behind.  She finds her own way to Juri's quarters.  It's one
 of the few things she's memorized.
Shizumaru bows, thanks him, and follows his directions.
You both arrive at Juri's door at roughly the same time.
Shizumaru blinks, and bows. "Good morning, Cousin Hiko," he says, quietly. "Are
 you also breakfasting with Aunt Juri?"
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Yes, I am."  She bows in return, then opens the
 door.  "After you?"
"Thank you." Shizumaru steps inside, then calls out, "Aunt Juri? Good
 morning...."
Juri is seated at the table, reading a book.  She hastily stuffs it onto the
 second shelf of the trundle cart which holds the food, pretending it was never
 there.  Then she rises and nods to both of you.  "Good morning."
Hiko the Firechilde crosses to Juri and kisses one cheek.  "Good morning,
 mother."
Juri kisss Hiko on the cheek.  "Good morning, daughter."
Juri says, "Good morning, nephew."
Juri gestures to a waiting servant, who begins serving pancakes.
Shizumaru smiles and bows yet again. It's quite a natural movement for him.
 "Thank you for the invitation, Aunt Juri," he says, softly. He looks on mutely
 as Hiko greets her mother, and a faint pang for his own mother strikes him.
 But he brushes it aside and advances toward the table.
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Catching up on light reading, mother?"
Juri looks slightly embarrassed.  "Yes.  I felt the need to relax a little."
The servants pour everyone a nice glass of apple juice, and set out butter and
 jam for the pancakes, then put out bacon and sausage on plates, along with
 bowls of fruit.
Hiko the Firechilde sits down at the table, her hand on the table.  "I can
 understand that."  The silver ring is prominently showing, and she smiles. 
 "I've barely had a chance to relax."
Shizumaru waits quietly for the food to be served. And he also waits for Juri
 to serve herself before taking any. He is still silent, loath to interrupt a
 conversation between mother and daughter, unless spoken to first.
Juri gets some fruit for herself, and some bacon, then begins putting butter
 and jam on her pancakes.
Juri asks, "Did you both sleep well?"
Hiko the Firechilde gets fruit and one pancake.  "Like the dead."
Shizumaru takes a small stack of pancakes and an assortment of fruit. "Very
 well, yes. Yesterday had been very eventful."
Hiko the Firechilde raises an eyebrow.  "Oh?  Do tell, cousin."
Juri says, "I understand you were attacked by monks down in the city,
 Shizumaru."
Shizumaru has a forkful of pancakes and quickly swallows before answering.
 "Yes. The...Monks of the Red Lotus, I believe, attacked Fuyutsuki-sama. They
 called him a heretic and tried to kill him for that."
Juri frowns intensely, gazes deeply into Shizumaru's eyes for a few seconds,
 then nods.  "Those maniacs again?  I thought we'd killed them all off."
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Monks?"
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "What are those?"
Shizumaru blinks at Hiko for a moment. "Ah...they are men devoted to a
 religious path and usually take on some kinds of vows in that respect."
Juri asks, "The Cult of the Red Lotus...Are you familiar with the story of the
 Shining One, Hiko?"
Hiko the Firechilde says, "I am not."
Shizumaru continues eating and listens with attention. He's unfamiliar with the
 Red Lotus himself.
Hiko the Firechilde looks on with much interest.
Juri begins cutting an apple into eigths as she talks.  "Sind, for hundreds of
 years, was calcified with a caste system, with hereditary priests, and a
 highly ritualized faith."
Juri pauses to remove the core parts.
Juri says, "The Shining One was a prince, who decided to seek enlightenment."
Juri says, "He wandered off into shadow along the Unicorn Tracks, and returned
 years later to announce he had found the ten spoked wheel of enlightenment."
Juri says, "A way in which any one could achieve enlightenment without needing
 the priests."
Shizumaru nods slowly and bites into an apple while Juri continues her story.
Juri pauses again to take a bite of pancake.  She smiles at the taste, then
 pushes one of her pancakes to one side, cutting it into ten 'pie pieces'
Hiko the Firechilde nods, picking at her pancake.
Autolyca has connected.
Juri points to the pieces.  "Each of the 'spokes' was some sort of practice,
 such as 'right thinking', 'deep meditation', etc."
Juri says, "The result was religious turmoil, as the peoples of the cities
 flocked to the new faith, revolting against the priests."
Juri says, "In the end, however, nomads were called in by the priests and
 nobles to aid them, and the Shining One's disciples were driven from Sind for
 the most part."
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly patpats and hands Rod a cookie.
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Why would they attack Fuyutsuki-san?"
Shizumaru finally speaks up. "They accused him of being a heretic, of claiming
 to have created everything, when it was the Shining One who truly did so."
Juri says, "In the process, the pacifist teachings of the Shining One were
 turned by some of his followers into a militaristic faith, which conquered
 Siam."
Juri says, "The Red Lotus are a particularly fanatical splinter sect."
Juri says, "They now worship teh Shining One as an avatar of Rhama the Creator."
Juri says, "And believe he created everything, as Shizumaru said."
Hiko the Firechilde nods, then gets an idea.  "Anyone know what this Shining
 One is supposed to look like?"
Shizumaru nods and finishes off a pancake.
Juri says, "A bald man with a big belly."
Juri shakes her head.  "They keep showing up every century or so for another
 shot at Grandfather."
Hiko the Firechilde says, "Hmm, there goes that thought."
Juri takes a sip of her apple juice, then begins eating her apple.
Juri asks, "What were you thinking, Hiko?"
Shizumaru nods again, then speaks. "Fuyutsuki-sama managed to get some
 information from one of the monks we captured. That was indeed their intent
 again...but there was something else. A man in a golden mask directed them to
 the restaurant where we ate--even though we did not realize we would be going
 there until just half an hour before we went."
Autolyca has disconnected.
Hiko the Firechilde says, "I was just wondering if the Red Lotus was connected
 to the bastard."  At Juri and Shizumaru's confused look, she amends her
 statement.  "Annadil."
Juri frowns.  "It is possible.  It does seem quite a coincidence."
Shizumaru shakes his head, picking at the remnants of his breakfast. "You must
 tell me about this Annadil sometime. I imagine he is all our adversary...."
Juri says, "I can tell you he has been watching us for at least three hundred
 years."
Hiko the Firechilde says, "And he's a Bastard."
Juri finishes off her apple juice and gets another glass of it, then begins
 covering her example pancake with jam and butter.
There is no emotion in her voice, but you start to see that the apple she's
 currently cutting is starting to look like it's gone through a Cuisanart.
Shizumaru sweatdrops quietly. "I...see." That's right, Aunt Wakaba had
 mentioned that Hiko had gone through some bad experiences with that man....
Juri notices, but doesn't say anything.  "He seems to be a shapechanger.  And
 he's skillful with sorcery and possibly trump."
Juri says, "He is probably allied with Chaos, but we cannot be sure."
Hiko the Firechilde looks down at her apple absentmindedly and spoons the mush
 onto her pancake.
"Chaos?" Shizumaru takes a drink of juice. "I know little of Chaos, save that
 they are opposed to the order of Amber."
Juri says, "Few of us know much of Chaos."
Juri picks up an orange.
Juri points to the small circle at its top.  "Imagine this is Amber."  She then
 traces along the surface of the orange, an ever widening circle.  "This is
 Shadow, spreading out from Amber."  She passes the midpoint with her finger,
 and spirals down it to the gathering point at the bottom.  "And this is Chaos."
Juri says, "As you move further from Amber, reality becomes more and more
 random, malleable, strange.  Until finally, you eventually reach the Courts of
 Chaos, huddled around the Abyss, which marks the end of reality."
Shizumaru watches, fascinated by Juri's example.
Juri says, "Those who dwell in Chaos are similarly malleable, shapechangers who
 wield strange powers over black ribbons that we don't really understand."
Juri says, "Legend speaks of the Logrus, a sort of Anti-Pattern, from which
 they draw their ribbon powers, and thirteen great houses who struggle for the
 Throne of Chaos."
Juri says, "And then, there is the legend of the Cave of Worlds."
Hiko the Firechilde nods, not really listening, but perking up when Juri
 mentions a cave.
Juri says, "A cavern beneath the Logrus, from which you can pass into any
 shadow you can imagine, with but a single step."
Juri says, "The Chaosians use it to get out into Shadow."
Juri says, "Trailing a ribbon behind them, which they use to get home by
 following it."
Shizumaru murmurs, "That could be a fearsome power. The ability to move so
 easily and quickly through Shadows."
Hiko the Firechilde nods again, not familiar with the idea of shadows just yet,
 but wanting that ability to move.
Juri nods.  "Chaosians can pop up just about anywhere, but they have a harder
 time getting home.  The ribbons can only be seen if you train in using the
 Pattern as a lens to look at things."
Juri says, "It's said to be a sure way to identify one, though."
Juri finishes off her food, and gets more bacon.
Shizumaru sighs softly. "The Pattern. I hope to be able to walk it soon, but I
 feel like I must prepare so much before I am ready."
Hiko the Firechilde is mentally taking notes.  "What's it like, walking the
 pattern?  I mean, I remember it... but I don't, if you follow me, mother."
Juri nods.  "I recently walked it again, so it is fresh in my mind."
Juri says, "First of all, imagine walking into a high wind, that gets stronger
 with every step."
Juri says, "Sparks shower upwards, you must ignore them and keep walking
 without ceasing."
Juri says, "As you walk, any spells on you are broken, any tampering with your
 mind is undone.  Diseases are purged, insanities heal."
Juri says, "For the pattern restores you to what you were intended to be."
Juri says, "But it also tests you strongly; every time you walk it, you must
 once again prove you have the strength of will to keep going."
Juri says, "Never try to walk it if you are tired or injured."
Juri says, "Or it may aggravate your wounds or even kill you."
Shizumaru makes mental notes himself. "I see...."
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Insanities healed?"
Juri nods.  "When you finish walking the Pattern, you become as sane as you
 will ever be."
Juri says, "Lost memories are restored, your mind is healed of its infirmities."
Hiko the Firechilde's hand shakes.
Juri says, "Is something wrong, daughter?  Your hand is shaking."
Juri sounds a little worried.
Hiko the Firechilde says, "No, I'm fine."
Shizumaru frowns and looks to Hiko, ready to lend a hand if she requires one,
 somehow.
Juri nods slowly, but still looks concerned.  "Alright.  Anyway, walking the
 Pattern is fairly simple.  Just follow it to the center, and don't ever stop
 or step off it.  Or you'll die."
Autolyca OOC Turning in for the night... see y'all!
Juri exclaims, "OOC G'nite, Jeff!"
Autolyca has disconnected.
Shizumaru shudders lightly at that. "Even a small hesitation," he murmurs.
 "Yes. I will definitely have to meditate a lot, summon my will before I take
 this endeavor."
Juri says, "Once you reach the center, the Pattern will send you wherever you
 desire."
Juri says, "And you gain the power to walk through Shadow and find anything you
 can imagine.  With study, you can learn to use it as a lens to examine things
 and learn what they really are, and do many other things."
Hiko the Firechilde murmurs, "Wherever you desire..."
Shizumaru pauses, and looks at Juri. "Even if you want to go to...a person, not
 a specified location?"
Hiko the Firechilde blinks.
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Who would you want to go to?"
Juri says, "Yes, you could tell the Pattern to send you to your father."
Shizumaru face drops slightly. "My father is one, but also...my mother.
 She--she disappeared, shortly before I came here to Amber with Aunt Utena and
 Aunt Corinne."
Juri frowns.  "How did she vanish?  Did you see it happen?"
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "You don't know where your father is?"
Hiko the Firechilde realizes that she's asking out of turn, and hushes up.
Shizumaru nods at Hiko, as if to say that he'll get to her in a moment. "Aunt
 Corrine believes that it was by trump. I did not actually see her go, as I was
 fighting the Silver-Armed Man at the time."
Juri nods, and frowns.  "Well, the Pattern could send you to her, or you could,
 once you walked it, seek her in Shadow, which while slower, also reduces the
 chance of ending up buried underground or in a shadow full of fire, or other
 possible disasters."
Shizumaru blinks several times, and nods. "Oh...I see." He hadn't thought of
 that, obviously. Not to mention the fact that walking the Pattern drains you
 quite a bit, too. He shakes his head, and now addresses Hiko. "I know that my
 father is Touga, but I have never met him. One of my goals, since I was young,
 was to seek him out and ask him why he abandoned my mother and me."
Hiko the Firechilde nods.  "That's an understandable quest."
Juri starts to say something, then does not.  She passes her empty plates to
 the servant waiting by.
Shizumaru glances at Juri, frowns when she cuts herself off. Oh well, shouldn't
 pry. He obligingly hands his plate toward the servant as well, then finishes
 off his juice.
Juri says, "I am inclined to hope he was not aware that your mother was
 pregnant."
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Is there something wrong, Mother?  What's Uncle
 Touga like?"
Juri says, "Touga is a very complex man."
Juri says, "I think he was the most like Father of any of us."
Juri says, "For good and ill."
Shizumaru is silent for a moment. "I...am not sure if he did know at the time
 he left. But my mother did contact him, she said...says, after I was born. So
 I am certain that he did know about me."
Hiko the Firechilde says, "Maybe he's a bastard, too and just didn't care."
Hiko the Firechilde shrugs.
Juri says, "Touga, like our father, loved Amber above all things."
Juri says, "Including above family, at times."
Shizumaru's eyes harden, and he nods. "Certain things do point in that
 direction, Cousin Hiko."
Hiko the Firechilde says, "I don't give much credence in the loyalty of
 fathers, cousin."
Juri says, "He could be petty, and cruel, and use people as pawns.  Yet, in the
 end, everything he did turned out to be good for Amber.  Well, almost
 everything."
Juri says, "And he had to slay his own mother because she tried to destroy
 Amber. "
Shizumaru looks out the window. "On the other hand, some of the fathers in my
 village were willing to die for their families, during a fire a couple years
 ago." He then goes silent and listens to Juri.
Juri sighs.  "I could not have done that.  If mother had destroyed Amber, I
 could not have brought myself to lift a finger."
Juri stares at her calloused hands.  "He was the only one who stood up to
 defend mine and Juri's honor when Sakura had us branded traitors.  Yet, he
 treated women like playthings, toys for his amusement."
mine and CORRINE's honor.
Hiko the Firechilde nods, considering.
Shizumaru scratches his head, looking mildly puzzled.
Hiko the Firechilde explains for Shizumaru.
Hiko the Firechilde says, "Mother and Aunt Corrine were betrayed by Sakura, one
 of King Gendo's wives.  Your father helped them regain their honor."
Juri asks, "I take it you have not heard the story of the Traitor Queen?"
Juri grinds her teeth not very subtly at the necessity of mentioning the
 Traitor Queen.
Hiko the Firechilde holds her mother's hand.  "Though why he did not come
 sooner to help you is something I cannot forgive."
Shizumaru shakes his head. "No, no, I know about...my grandmother, now. I was
 confused by my father's actions. Alternately honorable and despicable."
Juri says, "Touga came as soon as he could.  He was never a very good
 fighter...if he had come for me directly, Ludovicus would probably have killed
 him."
Hiko the Firechilde nods at that.
Hiko the Firechilde gives her mother's hand a squeeze and picks up another
 piece of fruit.
Juri says, "I understand you trained under a Lipunese master in the art of
 fighting, Shizumaru."
Shizumaru nods, glad for the change in subject. "Yes, that is right. I met
 Haohmaru-sensei several years ago, and have trained in the arts since then."
Hiko the Firechilde looks at Shizumaru.  "How can you fight without a sword?"
and HAS trained ME in the arts....
Juri says, "Would you be interested in a friendly match, then?  I am interested
 in taking the measure of your mettle."
Hiko the Firechilde would like to watch.
Shizumaru blinks at Hiko. "Ah...well, I have managed to adapt my umbrella to a
 style of combat--it is less lethal than a sword. And I have also trained in
 unarmed combat." He stops, then turns to Juri. "I would enjoy that very much,
 Aunt Juri. I welcome the chance to face a new opponent and expand my skills."
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly fixes.
Juri rises from the table, and gestures to the servant to clean up.  "Let me
 arm myself, and then I will meet you at the base of the stairs of the dueling
 arena.  Do you know where that is?"
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "I think I'd like to watch.  Shall I be your second,
 mother?"
Shizumaru shakes his head. "Aunt Corrine led us to the arena by trump. Someone
 would have to lead the way, or at least give me directions."
Juri nods to Hiko.  "I would appreciate that.  Hold on while I get my sword."
Shaft OOCly  "Sorry I'm late, long story X.x;;;"
Shizumaru OOCly says, "Yo. I'm about to face Aunt Juri in a friendly sparring
 match. :)"
Aerianne OOCly says, ""[Corrine OOC awwws, and doesn't know who to root for!]""
Shaft OOCly "You bitch."
Hiko the Firechilde smiles.  "I've squired for my brother Nouma.  I shall
 squire for you."
Juri retreats into the interior of her chambers, then emerges now wearing a
 silver ring with a rose on it, similar to the one you've seen Mikage wear. 
 She is also carrying a long rapier with red runes along its blade.
Juri says, "I need to talk to Anthy about getting you a dueling arena key,
 Hiko.  Remind me later."
Juri asks, "OOC Ready to play, Shaft? "
Shizumaru stands before Juri. "Shall we face off sword to sword, or may I use
 my umbrella as well, Aunt Juri?"
Aerianne OOCly says, ""[Corrine OOC continues to work on Shaft's trump of
 Whalekiller.]""
Shaft OOCly "Good to go"
Juri says, "Fight in whatever manner you find most comfortable."
Juri says, "Now, follow me to the arena."
Shizumaru nods. "Thank you. I will use both, then." He turns and follows Juri
 toward the arena, memorizing the way as he goes.
Hiko the Firechilde falls into step behind Juri, behind and a foot to the right.
You pass through the maze of passages, then go down two flights of stairs to
 the ground floor.
As you follow her, you come upon Shaft, who has just finished walking Kasumi
 back to the castle.
Hiko the Firechilde nods.  "Hello, Ota-san, No-- Kasumi."
Shizumaru bows to Ota and Kasumi. "Hello, Cousin Ota, Kasumi-san. I trust your
 day today was more pleasant than yesterday evening."
Shaft yawns, scratching his back. "Hey, 'mornin, guys.  Not a bad mornin, no..."
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly reeeeally wants to use the 'fucking NotDead Kasumi'
 line someday.
Shizumaru OOCly says, "..."
Juri asks, "Good morning, Shaft.  Shizumaru and I are about to have a friendly
 match.  Would you like to come watch?"
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Was Ota-san there when Fuyutsuki-san was attacked?"
Juri says, "OOc Yes, he was."
Shizumaru nods to Hiko. "Very briefly, yes. One of the monks tried to kidnap
 Kasumi-san, but Cousin Ota rescued her."
Shaft raises his eyebrow.  "You challengin' him?"  He cracks a smile.   "Take
 it easy on the guy."
Hiko the Firechilde smiles at that.  "You're a regular knight errant.  Or
 should that be knight on an errand?"
Shizumaru OOCly says, "Wow, it's almost 3am. o.O Good thing I napped earlier."
Shaft laughs at Hiko.  "Either or, cousin, either or."
Juri smiles.  "It's merely a friendly match."
Juri takes you to the entrance to the arena stairs, a door which resembles a
 giant stone rose.  She holds up the ring she wears, and a droplet of water
 erupts from the ring splashing onto the rose, which spirals open.
Shizumaru watches the process in fascination. "That...is interesting," he
 murmurs.
Shaft looks at Kasumi.  "Y'wanna watch the mornin' dual?"
Kasumi says, "I've never watched one of these before.  Sure."
Shaft asks, "anyone mind if we watch?"
Juri says, "Come right along."
Shizumaru shakes himself out of his reverie, and continues following Juri.
 Looking around as he goes, of course.
Beyond the door is a garden full of flowers, in the center of which, a ten foot
 across pillar rises to the heavens, surrounded by a spiral staircase.  Music
 begins to play as you walk in.
Shaft, out of habit, hums along with the tune.
Juri strides determinedly up the spiralling stairs, which rise a good eight
 stories to the rose shaped dueling arena high above.
Juri moves swiftly, obviously used to these stairs.
Shizumaru stares upward as he goes, trying to fathom how far they must walk to
 get there.
The arena stands a good three stories above the roof of the palace.
Foxtrot has disconnected.
>> Byeeee!  It was really fun!
Shizumaru OOCly says, "...d'oh."
Shaft OOCLY "Noooooooo!"
Shizumaru OOCly whines.
Aerianne OOCly says, ""whups.
OOC Trish's keyboard has locked up.
OOC We'll have to go on w/o her for now.
Shizumaru OOCly whines some more.
Shaft exclaims, "tell'er to unplug-replug!"
Shaft exclaims, "and reboot!"
Queen Anthy, to your surprise, is at the top of the stairs, holding a red and
 an orange rose.
Anthy hands the red rose to Shizumaru, and the orange one to Juri.  Juri pins
 hers in place over her heart.
Juri then moves to the far end of the arena.
Shizumaru blinks. "Queen Anthy?" He accepts the rose, then after a glance at
 Juri, does likewise. That's right, when Dworkin duelled Annadil, they both had
 roses, and it ended when Dworkin's rose was plucked. He then likewise moves to
 the opposite end.
Shizumaru OOCly says, "45 minute warning. z.z;"
Shizumaru OOCly says, "Though earlier would be nicer."
Queen Anthy says, "Let the duel begin."  Music begins to play, and above you,
 Tir'na-nog slowly begins to come into view.
Juri says, "OOC Type fast, then :)"
Shizumaru takes a somewhat defensive stance, umbrella at the ready, and starts
 to circle Juri.
Juri draws her sword and moves into a fighting stance, watching you circle,
 then begins to circle the other way.  To your surprise, she's fighting
 left-handed.
Shizumaru patiently continues to move, shifting his stance every few steps just
 slightly, continuing to watch Juri's moves constantly.
Shaft OOCly "Fox's onnerway back"
Foxtrot has connected.
>> We have arrived, you may kiss my foot, now.
Hiko the Firechilde goes about the room glomping everyone
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says,  "Back!"
Shizumaru OOCly re's. The duel's begun, but we're both just circling each other
 so far.
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says,  "What did I miss?"
Juri then suddenly launches herself forward, moving in a blur, sword raised to
 strike down at your umbrella holding hand.
Shizumaru tries to spin out of the way, to deliver a swing at Juri's side with
 the umbrella.
Hiko the Firechilde stands by, watching her mother with great interest.
You swing out of the way, and the sword darts down and around to parry your
 blow, leaving you open for Juri to aim a kick at your left knee.
Shizumaru grunts as Juri's kick connects glancingly; he wasn't able to get out
 of the way quite fast enough. He brings his arms overhead to deliver a
 blow--but not with his umbrella, instead with the sword that he whips out from
 its sheath.
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly could say someting nasty, but just points at 'whips
 out from its sheath' and lets imagination do its work.
Shizumaru OOCly says, "My imagination is either too pure or too tired or both.
 o.o; So don't explain, please."
She grabs the tip of the Umbrella with her right hand and brings the sword up
 with her left to parry the overhand strike.
Shizumaru quickly follows this up with his own kick--targeting the muscles of
 her thigh, which would take the blow better than her knee.
It's like kicking a rock, but she does seem to fail to anticipate it, and it
 knocks her back out of immediate contact with you.  She moves into a defensive
 position and seems to be contemplating her next move.
Shizumaru resheathes his sword with an easy, practiced move, and takes the
 umbrella again. His foot tingles slightly from the impact; that was
 unexpectedly solid. He hangs back a moment as well, then leaps forward,
 slashing in a tight arc with the umbrella, at Juri's rose.
Hiko the Firechilde exclaims, "Watch out, Mother!"
She parries the blow, pushing your umbrella aside with practised ease, which
 leaves you open for her to simply reach out with her right hand and grab at
 your rose.
Shizumaru's eyes widen, and lets the umbrella fly away, freeing his own hands
 to snatch at Juri's rose in response.
Juri snatches your rose, just before you can grab hers, as you didn't bother to
 defend your own rose.
Juri holds it up to her nose and smiles.  The music rises to a triumphant
 crescendo, then fades, and Tir'na-nog fades away above.
Hiko the Firechilde applauds, offering a sympathetic smile to Shizumaru.
Shizumaru sighs, and gives a small smile. "You have bested me, Aunt Juri. I see
 I must train more." He bows to her, conceding victory with grace.
Queen Anthy says, "The duel is finished, the struggle done."  She smiles at
 both of you.  "Would we had more duels like this than the one likely to be
 later today."
Juri says, "You fight very well, Shizumaru.  I see you were trained well."
Aerianne OOCly says, "[Corrine OOC cheers on Juri!]"
Shizumaru bows to Anthy. "Thank you for officiating, Queen Anthy." He pauses,
 and nods. "Ah, yes...the duel between Aunt Kozue and Madoka-dono." He shakes
 his head sadly.
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Another duel?  OH, the one between Madoka and Kozue?"
Queen Anthy nods.  "Likely a forgone conclusion, but I have been surprised
 before."
Juri says, "Madoka, sadly, cannot win, unless Kozue shows up hideously sick."
Hiko the Firechilde smiles.  "I don't know how good either of them are in
 combat, but I pray that Madoka wins.  I don't like the feeling I get from
 listening to Kozue."
Shizumaru moves to retrieve his umbrella. He picks it up, and leans on it like
 a cane. "I will be present to observe, if it is allowed," he says, quietly.
Anthy says, "I suspect the arena will be quite crowded for that match, given
 its seriousness.  I saw Madoka talking to Drake at breakfast.  Picking up last
 minute fighting tips, I suppose."
Hiko the Firechilde says, "I think I'd like to see this duel also."
Hiko the Firechilde says, "I don't know much about armed combat... or any kind
 of combat."
Juri says, "We shall have to rectify that.  As I'm sure Ota can tell you, it's
 a very useful skill."
Shizumaru looks at Hiko. "Observing battle is a good way to begin to
 understand. The best way is to train actively, of course."
You hear the sound of someone running up the stairs.
Shaft snores blissfully.  Kasumi, hearing them mention his name, pokes him
 nervously.
Shizumaru turns to look toward the footsteps. "Who is that?" he asks
 softly--not to anyone in particular.
Hiko the Firechilde says, "How did you start training?"  She turns her head
 towards the stairs.
Shizumaru OOCly would like to cut real soon. z.z;
Juri says, "OOC no problem."
Ramon comes running up the stairs.  "Did I miss it?"
Anthy nods to him, and he sighs.
Juri says, "I was trained by my mother."
Aerianne OOCly thinks it was a really cool scene, anyway. ^_^
Juri says, "Queen Haruka was a valiant warrior."
"Ah, Cousin...Ramon?" Shizumaru dredges that name up from his memory; he's only
 met this cousin once so far. "Hello."
Hiko the Firechilde says, "I was trained to do different things."
Juri nods.  "Well, it's never too late to learn."
Juri sees Shaft snoozing.  "Hey, lazy butt, wake up!"
Shaft says, "wha... ha... oh, did I fall asleep?"
Hiko the Firechilde's face darkens.  Suddenly she realized why she was never
 trained in combat...
RAMON Actually said that
Shaft asks, "who the hell you callin' a lazy butt, shieldy?"
Tybalt falls asleep.
Ramon says, "Shaft is short for 'Garbage shaft', right?"
Juri rolls her eyes and ignores the two butting heads men.
Shaft's eyebrow twitches.  "You wanna start somethin', dumbass?"
Juri says, "If you wish me to teach you, Hiko, we can start whenever your
 ready."
Shizumaru regards Shaft and Ramon a bit nonplussedly. "Ah...perhaps there will
 be another duel before the main one today."
Shaft stands up and stomps over to Ramon, until only a centimeter is between
 them.  The two men glare at each other with maximum hostility.
Ramon laughs.  "You've got drool running down your chin, you know."
Hiko the Firechilde is drawn out of her reverie by the sheer waves of hate
 emenating from Ramon and Ota.
Anthy quietly extracts two more roses from somewhere, one yellow and one pink.
Hiko the Firechilde asks, "Ota-san?  Ramon-san?"
Shaft blinks, then wipes off the drool on his chin.  "Hey, you want a piece'a
 me, let's go right here, right now."
Shizumaru OOCly says, "Say that I just go off to the sidelines at this point
 and watch. o.o; If someone could send me a log of what happens afterward, I'd
 appreciate it. I gotta sleep."
Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says,  "Gotcha, Droo."
Juri . o O (Nanami was probably talking about how Shaft does such good work for
 her and why won't he work for her again.)
Juri exclaims, "OOC That works, g'nite, Drew!"
Shizumaru OOCly waves out. z.z
Baiwaibaibaiwaiwaibai! Come back soon!! ^_^
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Logging Stopped: 09/10/2000 at 3:49:37
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