Crimson, Amythest and Jade. ((Mostly Closed))

[ACursedDreamer]

Name: Crimson, Amethyst and Jade
Genre: Darker/More Erotic/More Original
Setting: Feudal Japan Fantasy (nearly no basis in reality or actual history)
Contact: ACursedDreamer
Joining Info/Requirements: Mostly Closed.
NOTE: Looking for Creative Writers who want to add ideas, who posts more than just a few lines.

Further Info: The Emperor, Kenjiro the 1st, ascended to the throne when his father took ill, mysteriously, and died. He is the youngest Emperor in the regions history, the boy barely 19. This is his first winter court, and it is being hosted in his home, dubbed the Castle of Hidden Dreams. He has requested the presence of the Daimiyo's who served his father so that they may renew their service by swearing feality to him. There are a handful of major families who hold much land, and massive armies in the region, it is also suspected that the Emperor will try to keep the peice and appease many (and if he can all) of the Daimiyo's so that not a single drop of blood need be shed...

The Emperor has adopted the color Amethyst and added it to the color of all those who came before him, Jade. His messengers, and anyone who is under his protection, as well as most of those who are loyal to him display an amulet crafted with Amethyst and Jade. To attack someone with this symbol is considered an attack upon the Emperor himself...

Crimson, it is whispered, was added to the Emperor's Offical Colors by the Daimyo's whom think he had something to do with his father's death... as well as a small plague that seemed to follow him across the country on his sojourn.

The Emperor is looking for an Empress, so that he may continue his line...

Further Info OOC: Looking for as many players as possible. Please submit a PM, looking for this thread to be fun and entertaining for those playing as well as those just reading...

Characters: Looking for Original Characters. Don't care if you use a picture from a game or an anime but please don't use the name or the history of the character...

Anything else: Ask. I will probably edit the post and add it here after answering you.

-Dreamer-

OOC:
Name:Emperor Shinken Kenjiro
Age:19 years old
HT:5'7"
WT:131 pounds
Description: A somewhat taller, slender built young man, his hair was recently dyed a deep red. It's long, down to his lower back and usually held back in traditional samurai fashion. A pair of golden amber eyes adorn his face and draws most people’s attention, followed easily by his slightly pointed ears. He usually dresses in an Amethyst and Jade colored Kimono, and a pair of black hakama’s (Pants), and usually a pair of white tabi(split toe socks) with black zori(sandals). He also usually wears a Samurai's Diashio (Sword Set. Katana (Long Sword) and Wakazashi (Short Sword)). The Katana is the same one which every Emperor has held, the Wakazashi on the other hand is new, complete with an Amethyst saya (Sheath), the hilt of his sword however is red. Blood red.

History: The only son of Emperor Shinken Ikari. Kenjiro was raised with much of the right, and privalege of a Prince. He was taught the way of the sword by the Empire's best duelist from the time he was 5. He studied tactics and the art of war with the best Rikugunshokan (General) that the empire has ever produced, he studied the intricacies of court with his mother. Bringing an understanding to his father's side that was nearly unsurpassed...

He's never loved anyone, to the best of the Empire's knowledge. He's flirted with many and broken twice as many hearts, but never has he loved. Some think it's an act that his cold, young heart is incapable of... only the bride he chooses will truly know.

When he was 13, after his initiation into the Samurai cast the young prince wandered the land, encountering many. He did his best to spread the word of his father's greatness from the most Regal Daimiyo to the most lowly, humble peasent... around the time he was 15 and returning home, he disappeared for three months, only to turn up one night bruised, bleeding and in possession of the Wakazashi he still carries.... many whisper that dark magics possess the sword and now it's weilder.. but usually not within earshot of the new Emperor or his informants...

 

[ACursedDreamer]

The Beginning

The Emperor of Ankoku sighed softly. He sat, his legs tucked under him, alone in his room. He breathed in the burning incense, sitting next to the shrine of his family in his room. Nothing would take away the ache in his side. He'd had the healer look at it twice. He'd prayed for the healing powers of water to cleanse the wound and allow it too heal but it was not to be. At least, not tonight anyway. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at the portrait of his father. "I suppose this punishment is from you, old man. Still angry at my late arrival."

He clapped his hands infront of him and rubbed them together before hopping up out of his crouch and walked to the window facing the lake. He stared out it quietly, watching as the nightly mist rolled in off the lake and surrounded his castle. Surrounding it, Protecting it, Hiding it. He watched as the fog then began to roll over the walls of the castle, extinguishing each flame in the courtyard that it encountered.

He shook his head and sighed.
Then, the Great Emperor of Ankoku put out the light in his room and turned in for the night...

The Castle fell into darkness, and silence.
Creatures not meant for man nor beast to encounter hounded the walls of the castle. The Emperor's Onmyoji circled the inside of the wall, re-enforcing his wards. It would be a tiring night for poor Satsume.

 

[ACursedDreamer]

The First Breath of Day...

As the burning rays of light chased the Oni (Demons) back into their hells, the Castle Gates were flung wide open. Fresh Guards replaced the wiry. The Emperor's banners flew high in the morning breeze and the first light of dawn, the first of many caravans began to enter the Emperor's Home. Taka, the Emperor's Mouth Piece, walked silently to his room and knocked sharply.

"Come, Emperor and God of Ankoku! The sun has risen and so must you! The Caravans have begun to arrive! I swear, I would have an easier time.." The Emperor's hand wrapped around the old man's mouth from behind. "You speak too much, Taka-sama. I have been awake since before the first rays of dawn, since before those same rays chased off my family..."

The Old man stepped away and bowed, "My Lord! You must not say such things! Those beasts cannot possibly bare your noble blood."

"Taka, save your voice. You'll need it today."

With that, the youngest Emperor to sit upon that cursed bloody throne slipped his mask on and headed down to rest upon his chair. He would not kneel. He would never kneel again. All those who still wished to prosper in his lands would kneel, or be chased out and have their families killed... or so it was whispered...

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

Crimson, it is whispered, was added to the Emperor's Offical Colors by the Daimyo's whom think he had something to do with his father's death

~ Jai lay, naked and curled up, on the sparse fur that was provided for her to slumber upon. It was the same fur, and the same place, she had lain the night her Master passed to the realm of the dead. She had watched, golden eyes flickering in the darkness that surrouned the room, watched as He fought the demons that had come to claim His soul, demons that she herself could see, that she herself had called forth. Did she control these, hauntings? These chilling, ethereal angels of death that burned red? No, Jai had no control over these demons, she merely called them forth when told.. and even then it was not something she did willingly. She had cowered in the darkness while the battle between the powerful dying Elder and the Oni.. the Demons.. raged... She had no control, none at all... She was merely a vessel for those Demons to move, from the pits of Hell to the realm of the living. She was the gateway...

Who told her would be the next question...

Was it the young, new ruler, Shinken Kenjiro, who was now the Master of her body and soul? Was it Satsume, His mystical Guardian, whom Jai hid her soul from? Or was it another, a darkner entitiy that slithered about the Keep, the Castle of the Emporer that only she and perhaps the Emporer Himself could sense?

She had watched as those demons battled with the dying Emporer, until He could fight no more, and was dragged screaming into death's grasp. She watched, just as Kenjiro had. She had seen Him, tho perhaps the Healers and others had not. She had seen the crimson of His eyes, peering from beneath the mask He had donned. It was the look of death, she had seen it in His eyes. And... it had not been the first time..... Had those eyes been watching the epic battle for the old man's soul? Or her? Of that she was not sure.... and that scared her..

Jai had been in the Castle, the collared beast, pet, slave, of the elder Emporer, since she was 16 years old. She had not been touched by the Elder, she was too be gifted to His son, Shinken Kenjiro, when He retired from the rule and handed the lands and the power to Him. That was to be His 21st birthday, her 20th. But that day was not to come. She now belonged to the Young Ruler.... She wondered if He knew or realized the power that lay within her, to summon the demons, to open the pits of hell, to... bring death. Power? Was it power? She could not wield it, again she was merely the vessel, the gateway.. She was nothing more than a slave girl to the new Young Emporer, just as she had been to His Father.

Jai hated what she was, yet, she loved it as well.

She lay in the darkness this night, just before the sun split the shadows. The searing rays of heat and light once more casting back the evil chill of the night, bathing the world, and the Emperor's Keep in that warmth. Jai shook her head as she awakened, her mane of fire, a bright red, letting the silken tendrils tumble down her shoulders. The color changed the same night her young Master's was changed, His to blood red, her own to the firey mane you see now. Jai has no memory of why or how.. Many say the Young Ruler did it because He preferred that color, and it marked her as His. But He never laid a hand on Jai, at least not yet. The color of her hair, and His, seemed to tell all of the bond that was forming between them. A bonding of ... blood.... and death...

*******************************************

Jai, the Emporer's slave

************************************************


Name: Jai .. Named by the late Elder Emporer

Age: 18 seasons old

Appearance: she now has a mane of bright fire red, a rarity in this land. She is tall for a female.. standing at 5feet 7inches, where as most females were 5feet 4 or so. She is slender, lithe, supple, creamy white flawless skin, and golden hued eyes that flicker and sparkle in the darkness, much like the Young Emporer's when He is angered, but His glow crimson.

History: SHe is not of this land, having been purchased by the Elder Ruler as a ascention gift for His Son. She a captured slave from a rival land to the North. She was 16 when purchased, partially trained, the Elder in the process of completing her training when He met death.

Jai is a mystery, for she does not speak of her life before the Castle.. many fear her, especially now, with the changes to her hair and the light that glows in her eyes. None know that she was there the night the Elder died, other than His son.. none know of her ... abilities.

She is virginal, having never been touched intimately by a man, altho the Elder was training her to pleasure by having her witness His.. dalliances with various concubines, she would only be claimed by the Younger Emperor, a gift was to always be pure, and she was pure, at least in body.

*****************************************

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ The sun rose, casting back the pall of darkness, almost a pall of evil, the enveloped the Castle. Jai was already awake, having risen at almost the same moment as her Master, even tho they were rooms away. She bathed, having been granted that one luxery by the Elder Emporer, to bathe before the others awoke. Clean, pure, she was always to be when at His feet. And this day, she again was clean, and pure. As pure as she could be.

A kimono of ebon silk curled about her otherwise naked form. A collar of slender steel graced her throat. The Young Emporer had yet to change the collar, perhaps He never would, perhaps He would after claiming her as His. The decision was His and His alone. For now Jai wore the collar that proclaimed *Jai ~ Zaisan Senpai* (Jai ~ Property of the Elder), all knew that to mean, the Elder Emporer.

The great door to the throne room swung open. Already Jai had heard the Guards changing, speaking of the arriving caravans. The maids and cooks had been busy preparing the morning and afternoon meals. The scent of roast lamb, and fresh baked bread, wafted gently thru the throne room from the kitchens, which were all the way on the other side of the mighty Keep. The scent was delicious, and Jai found herself pausing to let herself enjoy that wonderful aroma. Visitors, she had learned, always meant good food. And her Master, the Elder, had always allowed her to eat well. The Young had not begrudged her that either, which for her was a small blessing. The door swung open, and quickly, all who were in the throne room fell to their knees before the Young Emporer. Jai sank back into the little shadows that still lingered along the walls, she too already down upon her knees.

She watched Him move, His gait powerful and steady, the Young Emporer glided across the marbled floor to the grand throne. The mask hid His features, only those eyes, those dark fathomless eyes, could be seen beneath.

Once He was settled, she emerged from hiding, crawling, prowling along the floor.. looking more like a prized feline than a human, she slinked silently along the floor to His feet, coming to rest there, her head still lowered, moistened lips brushing each, shiney tendrils of her bright flaming hair caressing each as she kissed... She did not speak, for this was her greeting to her Master.. submissive, trembling slightly, she awaited His voice or motion before daring to move to her usual place behind the thone. The steel about her throat glittered in the flicking lights of the candles and torches that illuminated the great room, from above streamed in the sun's rays ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

The Young Emperor sat and looked to Taka, he nodded his head slightly to the older man, who cleared his throat and began to speak. "The Son of the Divine welcomes you all to his court. He will see you all, one daimyo at a time. We will proceed from now, till the sun burns high over our castle. At that time mid-meal will be served. After mid-meal you are all welcome to enjoy the baths, the gardens, the town beyond our high walls. Just know the castle gates close at sunset and will not be opened, for any. Please, will the Daimyo who has traveled the farthest to get here please step forward..."

This was the way of things. The Emperor would not speak through the entire morning. Allowing Taka's words to be as if they were his. Taka had been the Hearld for more years than Kenjiro could remember. He mused quietly to himself as he watched the line form, and saw each member of his Father's court kneel on the silken pad before his throne, present his father's seal infront of him and swear fealty to him. Truely. It bored him greatly. He ached from something more from his life. He ached for these damn proceedings to be finished. He realized that this would be the order of things for many days...

The young Emperor's eyes rested upon his father's prized possession, Jai. She had been around for the past two years in his father's court. Always at his feet, always submissive, always serving. Yet never, that he could remember, had she been trained by his house, or punished by the lash. He wetted his lips under his mask and turned his eyes to the man grovelling before him. After each deligate rose, they would then move to Taka's assistant who would give them a seal of office. One with Kenjiro's colors mixed into the family crest.

He shifted in his chair, leaning to his right, his hand resting under his chin. One slender delicate finger resting on the mask that covered his face. His bright crimson hair tied back behind him. He hated the traditional samurai top-knot and "style" of keeping their hair. As Emperor, he chose not to abide by it. It had caused a little trouble at first as he simply broke a long lasting tradition, but many followed in his footsteps. Only the staunch old Samurai kept that tradition alive...

In this mass of men, throwing around their weight, the Emperor's gaze turned once more to Jai. He guestured for her to sit closer to his throne, so he need not turn his attention noticably to see her. So that instead he may pretend to be paying attention to the Daimyo's who'd as soon see a Shogun in command as opposed to an Emperor, and study her. She was different, that was true.. he just hadn't pinned down what was so different about her...

...yet.

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ Jai disliked these displays of loyalty, if one wanted to call it that, almost as much as the Emporer did. She had been to many, kneeling at the side of the throne of the Elder, or curled up behind, watching quietly. She never trusted most of the men that knelt before the throne. That knelt and swore to obey, to protect, swore their loyalty. More often than not, as she watched, she could sense, the flicker of deceit that gleamed in those men's eyes. How often had she wanted to tell her Master, tell Him of what she saw, what she sensed, what she... knew... But never did she dare, always afraid she would be wrong, and if so, she would be beaten and killed.

"ahhh but you are never wrong, pretty one" came that voice again and again to her, whisperings, chilling, she could almost feel the breath of the one talking, yet there never was anyone there..

The night the Elder had fought the Oni.. those horrible demons, and lost, she had again heard the voice, urging her to stay still and quiet, silencing her whimpering cries as if a hand had slid over her mouth. She had seen the Young One, her Master's Son, staring at her then, she was sure of it, she had not moved, not uttered a sound, while her beloved Master died.

This day, this morning, was no different, except for the fact that the One sitting upon the throne was the Younger now, and Jai could feel the hatred, eminating from the older Daimyo's that stepped forth. She had to still her trembling as the ones whom it seemed to flow from the strongest came forward.

She did not miss His gesture, His beckoning her closer. Lifting, she shifts, moving closer and toward the front of the throne, well within His eyesight, as well as the eyesight of the visiting Daimyos. She was upon her knees, her legs slightly spread for comfort, and when each Daimyo knelt, and raised their eyes, they could see her most nether regions. She was a slave, she had no expectation of privacy, but the Elder had kept her relatively modest, allowing her long robes, but He was no longer in power, obviously. Altho the Younger had not specifically said anything, her longer robes had been replaced by the more traditional, shorter, kimonos.

Her attention upon the Daimyo's was suddenly diverted, by the caress of His eyes. She could almost feel the slither of His gaze, feeling like the touch of a serpent's tongue, along her form. Her breath caught, she letting those golden eyes close for a moment. She dared not return His gaze, she keeping her eyes lowered, but a soft whimper, almost a moan, slips past her lips, the caress of His eyes so intense that she felt her heartbeat flutter, her skin warming.. ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

He smiled under his mask as he heard those soft sounds pass her lips. His patients were growing exceedingly thin. His eyes traced over those slender exposed legs. Wetting his lips under that mask again. He then returned his attentions to the man groveling before him and dismissed the man with but a gesture.

He stared quietly. Taka making things run as smooth as possible, allowing him much time to think and mull things over. He couldn't seem to focus his attentions on one particular thing. Everytime he tried to focus himself on a memory, or thinking about a particular family line as someone approached him an image of her flashed into the forefront of his mind. A low growl, barely audible passed from beneath that mask.

He could feel the darkened tendrils of something reaching out into him. Tugging at him. However, with a crowd this massive he would just have to sit.. and wait. He couldn't afford to make a scene with so many people having doubts of him already... and as was his luck, Satsume was no where to be found...

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ She could feel those same dark tendrils, curling around her, slithering, hissing, like a live snake that coiled possessively over her form, not just her skin, but deep inside as well. For a moment she could feel the presence of His Father, the Elder, it was as if He were trying to get to her, to warn her, warn her away from His Son, a Son that He had loved, yet misjudged, trusted, only to die before realizing the truth.. but what truth? Even Jai did not know that. Or was it something even deeper, that shadowed touch of lust, the same feeling of His eyes caressing over her form, only intensified 100x.. she shuddered involuntarily, feeling His desire, an obscene need to rape her, mate her, make her His, totally...

Her own low whimperings did not cease. And even tho she dared not turn to look, nor would she have seen if she did, she knew He was smiling under that blank mask, smiling at the sounds He drew forth from the slave, with the mere touch of His eyes.

The dark touch was interrupted, as another Daimyo stepped forth, this one considerably older than most, perhaps the same age the Emporer Father had been. He stared upward to the throne, the hatred that flowed from those eyes was palatible. He said nothing at first, He staring at the Ruler. When he did speak, it was thru gritted teeth, the barest minimum of words, and already Jai knew, what this one said, was nothing but all lies, he coming forth to simply placate the Emporer. She closed her eyes as he spoke, concentrating on his words... what she saw in her mind's eye horrified her.

His daughter, she saw his daughter, a beautiful girl, with dreams of romancing the Young Emporer to be, the dream of many a young girl in this land. She lay dead, the young Emporer standing over her. She had indeed been romanced, used, and cast aside. He had not killed her, do not think that, instead she had taken the sword to herself at the Young Ruler's rejection. His standing over her was how Jai saw it. She usually saw not what had actually happened when she saw this visions, but instead what happened and why, the why sometimes distorting the actual event. She did not see the girl impale herself with that vicious, razored sword. She only saw her dead, with Kenjiro standing over her.

Jai gasped at the vision, lifting her eyes to focus those golden hued orbs on the man. He visiably cringed back, as Jai stared foward, slowly shaking her head no. His thoughts of killing the Young Ruler laid bare to her.

The voice came then "He seeks to end Your Master's life, stop him, NOW" Jai blinked at the warning, which seemed to come from so close. She was on her feet in an instant, silent, fast, lithe, as the Man kneeling before the Young Emporer loosed a dagger at His head. Jai managed to stop it, the blade instead impaling into her hand. The pain was a flash of searing agony before it was gone, as if those dark tendrils absorbed it. She came to a stop before the man, the traitorous Daimyo, pulling the dagger free of her palm and turning it to him, he staring back in disbelief at the actions of a mere... slave. She did not move for many moments as what happened sank in to the many around the throne room, her blood dripping to the floor seeming to be the only sound.. ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

The Young Emperor stood slowly, having just seen his possession prevent his assination. He growled gently, his anger seeping from between his teeth and from under that mask, "You dishonor yourself. You dishonor your family. You dishonor your Ancestors, and perhaps, most importantly you dishonored the memory of your daughter. It you are man enough to save your family from having to bare this disgrace..."

The Emperor stepped around his slave, Jai. He held out his wakazashi to the kneeling Daimyo. "Right here. On this spot." He flicked his thumb, and the blade jumped free a bit from the crimson saya. "Three Cuts. They will save your family, and save your lands. If not. The lands I granted you, will be taken from your family. Your family will be considered Ronin, and chased out of our lands... forever."

The Court went silent. The only sound was the Daimyo's labored breathing and the soft spatter of blood on the hard wood floor. "Jai, have the healer look at your wound. Then come back to me after it is bandaged. You need not see this. As for the rest of you, let this serve as a lesson."

The Demon Sword almost sang as it was drawn forth by the trembling hand of the Daimyo. The Emperor wanted them all to know what would happen when they faced off against him. He wanted blood to be shed. He wouldn't even allow the man to pen his final Haiku, or change into the cerimonial white robes. A stain to this man's honor would be rectified this very instant, especially since it stained the Emperor's honor as well...

He nodded to Jai. She had more than served well this day...

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

The Demon Sword almost sang as it was drawn forth by the trembling hand of the Daimyo

"ahhhh, the sweet taste of blood" Jai heard, as if someone were standing behind her and speaking, the words clear in her ear, breath warm against her skin, or so she imagined. "I did not desire Yours this day Pretty One" the voice whispered "altho the spilling of such pure blood is a.. treat... each drop that strikes the floor, each drop that is spilled this day, only feeds the darkness you feel, until the Beast is sated"

She was still staring at the Daimyo, as her Master spoke to her. "Jai, have the healer look at your wound. Then come back to me after it is bandaged. You need not see this. As for the rest of you, let this serve as a lesson."

Jai nodded, even tho she had seen blood spilled, watched the Oni who dragged her Elder Master away, she would not disobey His order. The dagger she held in her hand still was dropped to the floor with a strangely muted clang. It was as if that darkness, that darkness that wished to feed on the blood that was about to flow, had cast a pall over the throne room. Jai let her eyes wonder for a moment, seeing the looks on the faces of the others. There was a mingling of fear, of disgust, and of acceptance, depending on who you looked at. Despite the fact that in this room there were enough armed men to rush and kill the Young Emporer, there was no doubt Who was the Dominant one...

She looked down at her wounded hand. It was strange, but she felt no pain, and for a moment she just stared at her hand in wonder. "I savour your pain, Pretty One" came that voice, and she understood, turning her golden eyes to the Wakazashi, that Demon Sword, that seemed to thrum with anticipation. Already it was feeding on her pain, and allowing her comfort from that same pain.

Swallowing, she lowered her eyes, and lifting to her feet, she quietly slipped out of the Chamber. The Healer, having been summoned by Taka, awaited her just outside the closing door.

Jai closed her eyes, trying to ready herself for what may, or may not, be heard from that Chamber in the next moments, as the Healer cleansed and bandaged the still painless wound ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

The Old, hardened, Daimyo flipped the sword around and breathed out. He then jammed the sword deep into his stomach, a bit of a gasp coming out of his mouth. He then pushed the imbedded sword across, and pulled it up and then across again.

The Emperor stood there. Watching. Watching as blood began to ooze and gush out of the Daimyo's stomach. He fell over, toppling ontop of the demon sword. "You are all dismissed, for now. We will resume tomorrow morning after the first rays of sun touch my Castle."

The Emperor crouched down and pulled the sword free from the man's stomach. He wiped the bloody sword's blade on the Daimyo's kimono and then turned and walked out of the Court. He restheathed and blade and stepped into the hall. "Jai. After your hand is bandaged. Bring me lunch. Out in garden. We have much to speak of."

The Emperor then turned and headed out to his garden. All the while inside the court, hushed whispers passed through the room. Something dark had definitly settled over the castle...

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ No scream came from the Throne Room, only that hushed groan. She canted her head, listening, and could hear the muffled sobs of the Daimyo's mate, Jai immediately sensed that the woman wanted to scream, to beg the Emporer for mercy, mercy for her old husband, but a hand had silenced her, slipping over her mouth, a whispered warning to not cross the young Ruler. The poor woman sobbed behind that hand, as her husband ended his time on this earth. The Demons were not called forth, the Sword had taken the man's soul, there was nothing to fight over.

The sadness washed over her, bringing tears to her own eyes, she letting them fall quietly as the healer finished with her hand. That sadness was mingled with the satisfaction of the feeding sword, a moment later it falling silent, the Emporer having drawn it from the lifeless body, cleaned and resheathing it.

The door the to Great Room opened, the Emporer stepping thru. The Healer fell to his knees, Jai, again, already was upon hers.

"Jai. After your hand is bandaged. Bring me lunch. Out in garden. We have much to speak of."

"yes Master" came the answer. She watching as He made His way down the long hall, her eyes studying every motion, every step. He was as strong as a panther, and as dangerous as a cobra, that was obvious. Lethal, very lethal. For a moment she wished her beloved Elder Master were still alive, He was kind, His touch gentle to her face. She missed the late night talks they had, and the games of chess.

A nudge from the healer brought her back to reality. Lunch, she was to fetch Him lunch. She got to her feet, slipping into the still hushed Throne Room. Taka, almost as shocked as the rest of them by what had happened, was doing his best to keep things under control and quiet. Making arrangements for lunch to be served in the smaller dining hall, or brought to the rooms of the Visitors if they wished. The body lay covered, the widow quietly weeping aside her dead husband. She looked up when Jai entered, and if looks could have struck her down, she was sure that she would have been lying as dead as the offending Daimyo.

Jai quickly looked away, staying close to the wall, she made her way into the kitchen. She did not bother the cooks nor the servers, who were busy trying to get things organized and served. Choosing a small tray, she gathered some freshly baked bread, sweet honey, some fresh fruit, and a bit of of the roast lamb. This complimented by fresh water and herb tea, if He should desire.

The tray balanced in hand, she slipped unnoticed out the back door, which lead to a small courtyard and out into the garden. The sun was high now, the warmth overspreading the area. A light breeze allowed the flowers to dance, a rainbow of color that fluttered in the sunlight.

She found Him near the hot springs... she approaching from behind. She knew better than to sneak up on Him, she had made that mistake once with the Elder, and had been spoken to, but not punished because of it. Not punished this time. But she remembered well, being told, sneaking up on one with such power is like sneaking up on a sleeping lion, panther, or wolf. It will get you killed....

"Master" she whispered as she drew up beside Him, then stepped before Him, the tray easily balanced upon her non-injured hand, she lowered to her knees, offering the tray with the array of fruits, bread, and meat, to Him. "I brought You a variety, a light lunch, Master, I hope my choices please You." She let her eyes rest upon His torso, then downwards to His feet, a tendril of red falling forward to tumble over her shoulder and brush a silken covered breast. ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

"Yes, Jai, the selections you have made please me greatly." He found himself a place under the shade of one of the Sakura Trees. He gently lifted the mask from his face and set it beside him. He wetted his lips and picked up the cup of tea, sipping it. The young Emperor's face was beautiful, nearly as much as the mask he usually chose to wear. The only thing that marred it's perfection was a scar on his cheek, under his eye.

"Tell me, Jai, how did you know that Daimyo meant me ill will?" The Young Emperor looked at her, he beckoned her closer, under the shade of the tree. Pinkish peddles falling down around them from the tree. "Please, Jai, come closer. Allow me to bask in your beauty while you entertain me with how you knew to step up infront of me. I am not angry. Quite the contrary."

The Emperor's attention was drawn for a moment by the throng of people exitting his castle, upon seeing him and his servant occupying the garden, a great deal of the vistors decided it best to spent time elsewhere...

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ She had not risen her eyes, but knew He had removed the mask. She liked looking upon His face, she had many times in her 2 years at the Castle. The Young Emporer was truely a vision to gaze upon, showing the same handsome features of His Elder Father, but obviously some of His mother shone thru, a woman that had never been mentioned by neither the Elder nor the Son. Jai never asked why, she knew not to. She thinking perhaps it was for the same reason that she never spoke of her past, her family... it was not something she liked to think about, not at all, and further more, if she indeed did, she may find herself as dead as that Daimyo, with His blade tasting of her blood.

"Tell me, Jai, how did you know that Daimyo meant me ill will?" The Young Emperor looked at her, he beckoned her closer, under the shade of the tree. Pinkish peddles falling down around them from the tree. "Please, Jai, come closer. Allow me to bask in your beauty while you entertain me with how you knew to step up infront of me. I am not angry. Quite the contrary."

She set the tray down on the flattened rock that sat beside the Emporer, more than likely placed there for this very reason, for this spot was a convetted one. She then moved closer to Him, she daring to lift her eyes to look up at Him as He spoke to her.. her skin blushing slightly at His words about her beauty, she not thinking she was all that desireable, because she was so different looking than the women of this land.

She would not lie to Him about this, she hid enough as it was, she could not hide anymore within her...

"I heard it in His voice Master, I sensed it. When I closed my eyes, I saw His pain, I.... " she paused, but taking a deep breath, she manages to continue "I saw His dead daughter Master, with You standing over her... that was when the voice called out to me, telling me that He meaned to harm You and that I had to stop it"...

She dared not meet His gaze, hoping that He would not think her lying, or making up stories. His Father understood her... visions... she spoke to Him often of them... but would His Son ?? ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

"That explains those private talks my father used to have with you then, and here I thought he was trying to prepare you for something more.." The young Emperor sat back quietly. He looked up into the tree's thinking.. soon after. His voice poured forth once more like flowing water, "The Daimyo's daughter. Her name was Minhua, she was a very pretty girl. When I had journied across the lands of my Empire I stopped at each Daimyo's home and spent some time in his lands. Minhua showed me to my room. She sat and spoke with me, we ate together.. she brought me tea late at night and we would sit up speaking till the sun rose. Then she'd sneak off back to her room, and I'd sleep for an hour or two before rising and bathing... Her Death. Her death hurt her father. He blamed me. Still to this day apparently. You mentioned a voice? What voice do you speak of?"

The Emperor gave her a curious look. He was very interested in the answers to the questions he had posed her. His fingers ached to touch her. He wanted to comb his fingers through her hand dyed hair.. He could feel the tendrils of darkness grasping him, causing a chill to cool the air around them. He closed his eyes but a moment to refocus himself and lessen his desire...

When he opened them he felt more at peace. He reached and took a peice of the lamb, peeling it off the bone. He brought it to his lips and then paused a moment. "Here. You must be hungry. Eat this..."

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ Jai listened quietly, but in reality she was not just listening, as He spoke she let her eyes close, the vision from His words forming in her mind. The girl, truely a pretty girl, quiet, fascinated with the young future Emporer.. Jai saw her lead Him to His room, saw her mind dreaming, felt her attraction, her growing affection for the Young One. Jai knew that many of the land's girls dreamed of Kenjiro, dreamed of being the one, the one to tame His heart.

She saw the darkness, before the moon would rise, saw the girl, Minhua, sneak from her own room to go to His. Saw the sparkle in the girl's eye when He smiled at her, touched her hand as they spoke.

"She loved You, from the moment her eyes touched Your face Master, Minhua loved You" she whispered without thinking.

"The... voice" she repeated back to Him. Jai, in all honesty, was not sure how to explain the... voice. It had spoken to her almost from the moment she had been brought into the Keep, chained, at the feet of the Elder Emporer. That voice had calmed her, had scared her, had caressed her as she slept, had informed her, had warned her, and now, had even guided her to save the Young Emporer's life, and had taken away the pain in her wounded hand. Jai knew from where it came. She dared not say anything to her Master, for what if then He truely thought she were lying, for the Sword, the Wakazashi that He Himself carried.

As her mind raced, she too felt that touch of shadows, her body tensing, a soft humming seemed to fill her ears, her mind. Her eyes open, drifting to the Demon Sword, but it was quiet, but for a moment she thought she heard it laughing at her confusion, and her dilemma...

"Here. You must be hungry. Eat this..."

His voice interrupted her thoughts, she bringing her eyes back to Him, glancing down at the food He held in His hand, a slice of tender, roasted lamb. Her belly came to life at that moment, emitting a loud growling sound, one that made her and He pause, as she looked down at the offending part of her body...

"yes Master, as my belly has already annouced, I do hunger" she leaning to the offered food, not taking it with her fingers, but as she had been trained, taking it with her lips, the softness of those teirs, as well as the pink tip of her tongue gliding over His fingers as she does to, eating from His hand, for it was the Master that always provided the food. The lamb was delicious, as she savoured the bite, licking her lips with her tongue once more ... "thank You, Master"

She swallowed, before whispering "the voice" and once again, she hesitated. Did He hear that voice too, she had to wonder ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

Kenjiro nodded slightly as she spoke. He pulled himself a peice of the lamb and ate it. He then spoke once more, "Yes, she did love me. Many have loved me. Or at least the idea of me. Many women in these lands dream of being chosen to bare the next divine heir to the throne of Ankoku. However, I don't know that many of them realize the true cost of such a thing." Kenjiro then pulled another peice of meat and offered it too her, along with a sip of his tea.

He looked around, inspecting his courtyard. He saw the soldiers all standing proudly, presenting an image of strength to all those who cared too notice. Strength, and Unity. It had been a hard year on the soldiers. There were uprisings, new rules, a new ruler, not to mention a small skirmish with outsiders. Kenjiro had to have many of the Royal Guard retrained. They just didn't have the focus they needed...

He wetted his lips and tore off a peice of the bread, dipped it in the honey and enjoyed the sweet taste. He then offered the same thing to Jai. He'd noticed her lack of want to answer the question of the voice. "Tell me, how often do you have those visions? Do they show you anything interesting about me? Are they only visions of the past?"

He watched her, studied her. She was an interesting creature. She was exoticly beautiful, and enticing. Yet, she was a slave. Something that was no more than property to him. Or atleast, that is how their relationship began.. now she was proving herself to be so much more...

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ "visions of the past" she whispered as she took the offered sweetened bread and the welcomed sip of His tea. The words were more her repeating what He had said, not answering, not yet at least. She had visions of the past, of the present, and of the future. It all depended on what was happening and if she had formed a.... connection... with someone within that vision. She could not just glance at a Soldier and see what would happen to Him. But indeed maybe she could, if she and he met eyes, she delving past his outter person and into his heart, his soul. That was what had happened with the Daimyo, that and the fact that His thoughts revolved around the Emporer, someone she indeed did have a connection with, however dark that link was...

"it depends Master" she finally answered, her voice soft, she lowering her eyes from His as she spoke. "I am not a *seer* Master, but instead I simply seem to tap into people's emotions, love, fear, anger, hate, revenge... and those emotions manifest themselves in my mind"

This had been something that Jai had been able to do as a child. It had naught to do with *voice* but the Demon behind that voice certainly knew of her abilities, as did her father, who had begun her training as a slave, a slave and something more dangerous. Jai knew of her mission, but now was not the time, not the place, not yet. The Young Emporer was to be allowed to live for now, to see if He indeed could prove Himself. But it did explain, at least in principle, how a slave could ward off an assassination attempt against the Ruler. Jai wondered for a moment, if the Demon in the sword knew all about her? Or only her... abilities regarding her visions.

Jai hated what she was, but she also loved it. At least she was different than the other concubines that ran about the Castle, vying for the Soldiers attention, vying for His attention.

"I have seen You Master, in my visions, I saw You....." she hesitated, then went on "standing over the Minhua's dead body, I felt her pain at not winning Your love, her emptyness, and the darkness that feeds off of that. I saw You, Your eyes were glowing red... Master"

She went silent, lifting her eyes slightly to see His reaction to her words. ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

A thin smile drew across his delicate face. "Red? Truely? That's interesting. I cannot remember my eyes ever glowing red, but I am not the visonary you are. Perhaps you mean to suggest that there is something dark inside of me..." He reached out, and grabbed her under her jaw and pulled her forward. Close to him. His cheek brushed a long hers, and those tendrils flared to life once more as he touched her, the cool breeze seemed to be eminating from him, his touch chilling. His voice took on a deep, low, soft rumble to it, "Perhaps, you know too much little Jai. Can you feel the thing inside of me? Can you sense it's presence? Can you feel the maddening touch of lust that has cursed me.."

His left hand moved between them, moved between her knees, up under her short kimono and between her legs. He petted her gently, his smooth soft fingers tracing her nether regions. "I am at war, Jai. With myself. With whom I know I am, and with who I am told I should be..." His fingers lingered, explored, familiarized himself with her most sensitive nether regions. He wetted his lips and a soft growl passed from him to her ears...

"You see precious. I don't need to exert any control over him. Something has changed in him. Something is taking hold... something much stronger than I."

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

She felt the chill, along with the shadows, even before He reached His hand out and stroked under her jaw, His fingers closing to draw the now trembling slave forward, closer, closer to the shiver, closer to... Him. When His cheek touched hers, she nearly screamed, having to bite hard on her lower lip to stay silent. The cold snaked into her, dark, deepening, Jai whimpering slightly as she trembled...

"Perhaps, you know too much little Jai. Can you feel the thing inside of me? Can you sense it's presence? Can you feel the maddening touch of lust that has cursed me.."

She dared not answer, she fought herself to say silent. The Beast was coming forth, the Beast she had been sent to draw out, draw out and kill, if she could, if the Emporer could not control it, and at the moment He could not. She quickly tensed, surrounding her thoughts and her soul with what little energy she could. She could not let Him in, if He sensed, if He knew, He would gut her right then and there.

His hand lowered down as His warm breath caressed her ear, His soft growls vibrating, she closing her eyes, meeting His growls with her own deep purring moans. She was nothning more than human, no matter her visions, her training, her soul. Her body was human, female, and at His touch her body reacted, her body and her mind, for the Young Emporer was already beginning to assault her mind, seeking to warm, or was it possess, her heart.

His fingers delved within the untouched folds of her sex, a small cry squeaking past her quivering lips.. smooth, soft, gentle, He stroked her, petting her, bringing forth her aroused juices, warm and slick, coating those slender lengths, the scent, the sweet aroma of her most virginal of places, delicious, succulent, mingled with her soft moans that tickled His own skin as her head fell forward slightly, lips and breath brushing the curve of His own throat. Jai moved, without thinking, without any thought at all, straddling the Emporer's outstretched legs, her own parting further to His touch...

"I am at war, Jai. With myself. With whom I know I am, and with who I am told I should be..."

Her eyes shot open at that... for a moment the Beast stepped back and she felt the much kinder, gentler Emporer beneath. Would she be able to do this, if the kinder indeed was there? Or would she fall under His spell, would those dark tendrils enter her and claim her??

The words of the Demon Sword echo in her ears "You see precious. I don't need to exert any control over him. Something has changed in him. Something is taking hold... something much stronger than I."

A vision hit, she, head to toe covered in the black of a ninja, her lithe supple body moving along the long hallway, using the shadows that coated the Castle, ascending the stairs to His room, the door, unlocked.. strange that He would leave Himself so, vunerable....

She is in the room, she drawing His own sword, the deep thrumm heard as she strikes............................

The pain rips thru her, The emporer drawing back the dagger, Jai feeling the blood run, her blood, and the voice.."Mmmm sweetness"

Jai cries out as the vision ends, her body shuddering as His finger penetrates her, thick droplets of her wetness gliding down over His hand, she grasping His shoulders as her back arches ... the cry dying on her lips ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

"My virginal, untouched Jai. Your cries are delightful. I swear I could almost drink them.. I should not be doing this to you Jai, especially not here in full veiw of any who dare look. I should be saving you for my 21st birthday as my father would have wanted.. but I can't. I find it harder and harder to tear my gaze from you. I find myself wanting to see your slender naked form on my bedding. I find myself desiring you in ways I have wanted no other.." Kenjiro's fingers pushed deeper into her slick virgin pussy. Pushed until he came into contact with her virginity. He then withdrew his fingers slightly, a small twisted smile upon his features, touches of red burning in his eyes.

"I bet you have dreams of how your first time will be.. don't you Jai? Full of romance, and love. Your deflowering occuring shortly after your marriage to some handsome man. Dreams. You have dreams, don't you Jai?" He withdrew his finger for a moment, only to reinsert it. His own arousal grew, concealed deep within his kimono. Pressing against one of her spread thighs. He released her jaw, but continued his torturous abuse of her pussy, his hand moving down along her curves to the obi that held her kimono closed. He slowly unbelted the obi and spread open her kimono exposing her paler flesh to him...

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

"Dreams. You have dreams, don't you Jai?"

She felt the web of His darkness, curling around her, tightening... dreams... She always had dreams. He was feeding on her, trying to get deeper, not just physically, His finger pulling back for that moment after brushing against that barrier that marked her as untouched, but mentally, emotionally..

"Dreams. You have dreams, don't you Jai?" "Dreams of how your first time will be.. Full of romance, and love. Your deflowering occuring shortly after your marriage to some handsome man."

She cried out, her moans attracting the attention of the nearest Guards, who glanced over, seeing their Ruler and the young slave, and quickly glancing away. There was no doubt what was happening, the rocking of her body, the flush of her skin, He opening her kimono, baring the swell of her breasts to Him, the peak of those rose colored nipples, the taut plane of her belly. Jai cried out, because He had gotten in, He had gotten past her defenses, and she had grown weak.. Dreams...

She had Dreams and the dream had been the same ever since she could remember..

Dreams of her first time, but never were they the romantic, loved filled joining of a 2 so deeply in love. Her dreams, always, were of ..... of....

Chains, the singing of chains was the only sound in the darkness of the room, that and the chilling cold, forcing the naked and bound slave to shiver violently against the wall.... that hard surface as ice cold as the air around her. She blinked her eyes, desperate to focus on something, anything in the darkness, but could see nothing. She was not aware of day or night, her body ached, muscles groaned, and her fear grew.

The door swung open with a loud thud, as it did every... night? Was it night? or morning? She was not allowed to see the sunlight, feel the warmth of a breeze, scent the flowers in the air.

This night He came to her, she could see the red gleam flickering deep in His eyes, this night He ripped her virginity from her against that wall, she chained and helpless.. raped by a Beast... the Young Emporer..

That.. was her dream... her nightmare....

Jai screamed, silenced only by the feel of His lips to hers as He drew her to Him, His finger buried once more in the tight confines of her sex ~

 

[ACursedDreamer]

((Probably my last post for the day.)) Kenjiro sneered slightly, pulling his lips away from hers. He pushed her off him and knocked the tray away from himself with a growl. He snatched up his mask and stood, placing it back upon his face. "Get away from me. Father should have sent you far away as soon as I had returned. Damn Him. Go. Summon the healer to my room. Rouse Satsume, tell him I need him. Then bring a fresh bowl of water and kimono." Dark thoughts had poured forth into Kenjiro's head during that momentary brush of lips, enough to cause him to react the way he did. He felt his soul slipping away. He could feel a tightening in his chest and suddenly he found himself growing slightly weaker and more tired. Everytime he fought.. he grew more tired... everytime.

Kenjiro walked into his home and slid the door shut behind him, staggering and clinging to the wall for support he slowly made his way upstairs, to his private chambers. He wouldn't go into his bed room, not yet. Instead he went to the room next to it. His study. He had scrolls, upon scrolls, most of which had to deal with the history of his lands and the lineage of his family. He dropped down to his knee's once inside the room and groaned slightly. "Damn it. What is happening to me? I don't.. I can't.. continue this way. Ancestors. Please. Help Me."

"They Don't Hear You Boy. No One Hears You. Except me. ... and those Oni who constantly batter your walls at night. They hear your blood crying out to them. Things crawl through the dark that would shatter your little mind... steal your soul.. and consume you turning you into the Tyrant ruler your great ancestor was. Only I can help you. Only I can keep your black chi in check. You need me.."

The Emperor pulled his mask off and his head fell into his hands as red, hot tears mixed with blood ran down his cheeks...

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

"They Don't Hear You Boy. No One Hears You. Except me. ... and those Oni who constantly batter your walls at night. They hear your blood crying out to them. Things crawl through the dark that would shatter your little mind... steal your soul.. and consume you turning you into the Tyrant ruler your great ancestor was. Only I can help you. Only I can keep your black chi in check. You need me.."

Jai, having been cast aside in a moment of anger, frustration, confusion, by her Master, now stood outside the closed door of His study. It was not that she could *hear* the words being said, not that way, she heard them deep in her mind. She saw Him, the staining of tears and blood trailing down His cheeks. She wanted to go to Him, her own heart breaking, He was already getting to her, this Young Emporer, her Master.. A sudden hiss, as if a warning, made her draw back, shaking her head to try and rid herself of the voice and images. Her own cheeks felt moist like His.

She turned and ran, daring not be caught there. She had been told to fetch the Healer and Satsume. The Healer was easy, He sent to the Emperor's study by the kneeling, nearly naked girl.

Satsume was an entirely different story. He was most feared by the majority of the servants in the Castle, as well as the Guards. The Elder Emporer also had... reservations... about His Son's mystical Guardian, but did not question. Jai had seen those flickering eyes in the darkness on more than one occassion, and heard the screams of the Oni, the Demons, that the Mystical One drove away. She had also heard the screams of men, men and women, that Satsume had *dealt* with, especially in the first hours of her Young Master's rule.

But what spooked the slave the most, was it had been Satsume who had silenced her, kept her quiet, and restrained, the night the Elder Emporer had died. Only when she thought of the Guardian, did she realize it had been Him, wrapped around her trembling form, keeping her quiet and in the darkness while the Oni attacked and dragged her Beloved Master away... She had lain in the darkness, held tight in the grasp of something, Someone perhaps even more powerful than those Oni.

The Temple was a ethereal place, dark, no sun penetrated unless Satsume desired, and then only thru the skylight above, when it was opened. It was quiet, and reverent, and when Jai entered, she could almost feel the entities of both heaven and hell, the warmth and the chill, slowly slithering thru the large room. She shivered as she wrapped her arms about herself, slowly making her way deeper into the dimly lit Temple. ~