The story of Asho (open)

[Akio Nyuhara]

Akio layed out three cards in front of him. Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder. Raviel, Lord of Phantasms. Uria, Lord of Searing Flames. In his current deck he only utilized two. He put all three on a tombstone and he was sitting beside it. The tombstone had the name of another Nyuhara, but one hardly related to Akio. It was his replacement, the one who his aunt and uncle had taken in when he was thrown out, shortly after being removed from his parent's home.

Asho. Asho wasn't his enemy, he had no emotion towards Asho, but he couldn't regard him as a friend.

After pocketing the three cards laid infront of him, he stood up. He knew that Asho was watching, or rather, he felt Asho was watching because of a small amount of shame that had fallen on Akio for not knowing his so-called "brother". He stayed out of his home life. He stayed out of other's lives. He just stayed out, only butting in when he was wanting.

Asho. The name rang in his head once more. Akio's antagonist, where Asho had hardly known Akio existed. Asho was the opposite of Akio, one of the party children who had, shortly after getting accepted into a clan, died in a part accident. Akio somehow knew, though, that without Asho, Akio would never have been where he is today. He wouldn't have met a monk. He probably would have ended up as Asho was now. So, truth be told, Asho had unknowingly sacrificed himself to Akio. The past is weird when you thought about it.

[Mizuki Kiyoura]

"Here lies One whose name was writ in Water, doomed to be forgotten unto all those who read his Grave"

The lines were ... old, although the first was true, the rest was fiction, she had made it up, mainly because it sounded sort of remorseful, as if to contradict the former and yet to also agree with them as well.

Mizuki walked through the evening mist like a sort of wraith, and indeed the way she was dressed she probably be confused for a ghost, the priestess robes were something of an oddity in Hatsu Itonami, yet there was an archaic beauty and flow about it, plus it was comfortable then some of the other things she had worn in the past.

In one hand she carried a small lantern, darkness was coming soon, so the light was a sort of comfort, yet the lantern also doubled as an incense holder, the small flame within burning the sweet small of dried lavender, the incense was supposed to calm the Souls of the Dead supposedly, although they probably didn't mind.

The night chills was beginning to set in, and the mists ... the mists were getting restlessly thicker.

[Akio Nyuhara]

"It seems like there is someone else in the graves." Akio stood up and walked towards the other person. She was dressed up in priest garbs, with Akio's background he knew exactly what those had looked like. She also carried a lantern, that must've meant that it was going to get dark pretty quickly. Akio already knew that, but he also knew the Kuma territory well enough to navigate in the darkness.

Akio then walked towards the person, "So what brings you here? Do you need help finding one of the passed?"

[Mizuki Kiyoura]

Mizu heard the voice and turned slightly, her face relaxed and slightly interested, she bowed slightly in his direction respectfully.

"Thank you for your concern Sir, but is not the dead One seeks here, but the living. Night is falling, and so many people get lost in here at night and One has to make sure that they are guided safely out" she said wryly, the statement was pretty self-explanatory itself, and people these days had such a bad sense of direction.

"What is it that brings you here on this night if I may be so bold as to ask Sir" she asked, with exquisite politeness, the question itself was important, something merely to pass the moment, the polite calm of conversation.

[Akio Nyuhara]

"I am here to view the grave site of my enemy." Akio said this simply, though it was an odd concept. "It isn't for revenge, I'm glad that he had replaced me." He looked at Mizuki. "You seem to have some ceremonial clothing on. Might I ask what they represent?" He knew this answer, he just wanted to stray the topic away from himself. He blinked a few times, awaiting a response. In his mind he began to judge Mizuki as one of the calmer and more polite of the duelists. Quite the ally to have indeed. She reminded him a bit of a much, much nicer version of Tsu're.

[Mizuki Kiyoura]

Mizuki gave a wan smile in the boys direction, most people didn't bother to inquire, they just ... stared, awkwardly, which really was very impolite indeed.

Ceremonial? .... I suppose so, although its usage if more tradition then anything, but at least it is warm, so there are worse things to wear on one's-self"" she said politely, her expression a little blushed, she was supposed to be used to talking to strangers, and yet ... she could never quite get over it, she gestured to the robes she was wearing with her free hand.

"The garb itself represents one's willingness to devotion to the Holy Mother, and that one is willing to give up individuality for a short time in order to serve a greater purpose"

The free hand now moved, gently resting on Alastor's hilt with great reverence.

"The blade represents that one is willing to defend those who cannot do so themselves, as well as to show that one has committed one's-self fully to one's vows, without any half measures"

Leaving the hilt with perhaps the slightest hint of longing, her hand now reached one of the two long, white braids of hair, wrapped with a red ribbon a piece, which fell down either side of her face, just out of her field of vision.

"and the braids represent that one is willing to aid those in need without discrimination or bias of any form, be it race, gender, clan or otherwise non-disclosed"

Finishing, she tucked the braid behind her ear cutely, feeling a little embarrassed, her face tinged with pink.

"M-m-my apologies" she said, bowing hurridly.

"I did not mean to be so personal"

[Akio Nyuhara]

"There's no need to appologize." Akio said, after regarding the seperate articles of clothing and their importance. "In fact, I find it to be very interesting." Akio smiled. "I don't really have anything such as that on myself. You see, I'm training to be a monk. We hardly go with any clothing at all." Akio gave a small laugh. "Well I have a long ways to go before I'm there. You seem quite young though, if I may say so. You must have quite the spirit to have already obtained such symbolic clothes."

She was polite, yes, but she was still young. Akio sensed that about her, and actually found it a bit cute. She acted as he had before he had taken full control of himself.

[Mizuki Kiyoura]

Mizuki blushed at his compliment, and her face flushed again, although she had most probably misinterpreted his comment, but even the slightest of or thought of a boy, any boy for that matter, without any clothes on was enough to turn her a mild form of scarlet, but then there was the more ... interesting side of things, he was ... planning on becoming a monk ... well she had to admit that he must have been the first willing volunteer she had heard of in a long time.

"Oh, you are are you?" she said, she had to pause for a moment for no particular reason, there was something about that ... statement which her grey matter really didn't seem to comprehend, then it worked itself through the kink and carried on as normal.

"I thank you for your kindness, however the sisters seem to value one's mental maturity over the age of one's physical body, but I must admit I do not mind, being out among the people has its advantages too" there was something a little ... airy about the way she said this, like there was a maturity which didn't quite fit with her stature or chronological age, that was perhaps why she was out on the streets instead of one of the older sisters, because she had that ... sense of good sense so to speak.

"Well at least out here I have a little free will of my own, continuous prayers is refreshing but ... breathing the same air for several hours does get a little tiresome" She spoke the the sense of someone who is not 100% convinced of what they have been taught is right, yet is willing to accept it out of courtesy if nothing else, she gave another wan, happy smile and tucked the other braid behind her air so it wouldn't interfere.

[Akio Nyuhara]

"Yes, it's because of Asho that I wanted to be one. My parents didn't want me so they chose Asho. Then a monk took me in and I learned a lot from him. I owe it to him and to myself to become a man of peace. But it will take a lot of hard work before I can reach that level of spiritual freedom." Akio smiled, listening to her next comment. He didn't respond to it though. Then her final comment came up.

"Ah, there's a funny saying with free will. It goes something like, 'with free will comes free sin. Remove the will, remove the sin.' I've never lived by it though." Akio stared at her, she seemed to be a bit nervous for some reason. She'd blush a couple of times, she'd pause a couple of times, it was all adding up to nervousness. He didn't know why she was nervous, though. He didn't think that he had done anything to put her in that state of mind.

[Mizuki Kiyoura]

Mizuki cocked her head to one side, looking at him curiously.

"Asho? ... it sounds like you are unsure whether or not to hate him, or to thanks him, even in death" It was not so much a question as it was a statement of fact, that was probably one of Mizuki's flaws, she had a few issues with perhaps being ... unsubtle so to speak, a bad habit which she had spent years both trying to and being tried to forced out of for a number of years ... there was a brief pause, then Mizuki realized just how rude that must have sounded, she clamped one hand over her mouth to prevent herself from saying anything else, then she hastily apologized.

"Holy Mother forgive me, sorry, I should not have said that, it was personal, I beg your forgiveness" she blurted out, her expression both mortified and shocked, she was really going to have to watch her mouth, she was going to get a name for herself if she carried on like this.

[Akio Nyuhara]

Akio smiled, "If I did not allow you to say what you wanted, I wouldn't be a very good monk. Relax, I assure you that I will not be offended at a majority fo the things you say. And you are right, I'm not quite sure as to which of the many emotions pertains to him. One of life's puzzles I suppose."

Akio was going to change the subject, but really didn't have anything in mind to change it too. He decided to allow the course of dialogue between them to flow normally.

[Mizuki Kiyoura]

Mizuki blushed and bowed again, her expression still a little mortified.

"My thanks for your acceptance" she said, her voice perhaps a little more relaxed then it had been before, showing her absence from exposure to other people.

It was then that she looked passed him to observe the tombstone which he had been looking at, it was simple, unadorned, one might almost daresay ... cheap? ... she immediately brushed the rebellious thought from her mind, surely everyone respected the Dead, friend or foe ... but then again that was also why she was on duty here in the first place, to stop those people who could not leave those that had passed on in peace.

Taking a few steps forward, she gracefully passed the boy by to observe the gravesite more closely, bowing towards the stone, she murmured a line or two to herself, although aloud, a sign of respect.

"May you find solstice and peace beyond"

She straightened, glancing at the cards on the tombstone with a curious look, they seemed ... not familiar, but there ... there was something about them. Although she could not see the images themselves, they had a ... worrying presence, she moved to pick up the card, to read its text so she might identify it further. As she picked it up in her hands, she felt ... something, it was like a mild electrical shock, her hand stiffened and she dropped the card, letting it fall to the floor, as an image flashed in front of her eyes, a dark image, something cruel and angry and waiting and...

Her eyes wide with shock and .... was that fear, whatever it was, she crossed herself, setting her hand firmly on Alastor's hilt.

"Holy Mother protect me, what was that" she said, her mind reeling, she touched her forehead, feeling a little woozy, and she felt her heart flutter in her chest .. something was not right here, what .... what were those cards?.

[Akio Nyuhara]

Akio raised an eyebrow, "Uh...what do you mean?" He asked when she felt his cards. He looked at the lord cards, no power from them had ever radiated to Akio. He never felt anything. He looked back at the person in front of him. "Did you feel something? I didn't." Akio blinked a couple of times, she looked a bit dizzy so he rushed to her aid, helping her sit down.

"Are you ok?"

[Mizuki Kiyoura]

Mizuki felt ... well she didn't know how she felt, she had felt fear before, being scared was nothing new, and yet ... this was and was not fear at the same time, fear and anger and ominousness and fury and-

She shuddered as she sat down on the grass, attempting to steer her train of thoughts away from the subject and failing miserably, she was maybe just a little too weak-willed enough so so that her own curiosity could outweigh the possible danger of exploring further.

"Did you feel something? I didn't."

"I ... I don't know, maybe" she said, her voice a little panicky, Mizu looked down at her hands, and found that they were trembling violently, she could feel her heart hammering in her chest, and the possible verges of a headache beginning to form somewhere in her skull.

She had heard, albeit in rumors and the few stories, of cards being corrupted by their owners, really generally not very nice people who showed no respect for anything but ... this boy seemed to nice for this, he did not hold the complexion of, indeed even the attitude of someone who could do something of that caliber, although whether or not that was a compliment of an insult she was unsure. And then there were the more scary ... well there were not so much tales or stories as they were Myths, Myths that told of card which corrupted their owners rather then the other way around, but she had always considered that just what it was, a Myth, but then...

She gently massaged her temples with her forefingers, helping to ease the immense amount of ... stuff?, which was going on inside of her head, one of these days she was going to have to ask for a bigger head, hopefully then she could think better or faster without all of the clogs which this very big brain in a small head had.

"Are you ok?"

"I wish that were the case" Mizu sighed, pulling her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on top of them, this was here 'thinking' position, and she found it very ... relieving?

"I apologise to have caused you so much trouble" she said, slightly regretfully "My .... gift? ... no, my curse you could call it, does not often seem to ail me, yet ..." she paused, then she turned her gave from the tombstone to his face, her eyes imploring, and perhaps .... just a little ... scared?

"Why .... why would you use such ... such evil cards?"

[Akio Nyuhara]

Akio saw her pull her knees up to her chest. He forced himself to feel fear, though he in all honosty didn't feel anything. He understood why she acted the way she did, and knew of the further reactions that would come with it. As she apologyzed he walked over to the cards and placed them in a deck holder. He looked at her. She asked him why he would use 'evil' cards.

"They aren't evil." Akio stated, walking back towards her then sitting down. "Just because something has a dark presense doesn't mean it's darkness in itself." Akio smiled. "The 3 lord cards, Hamon, Uria and Raviel...we share a bit of a connection really. The true difference between us is, I suppose, that I'm not a little playing card." Akio located the Hamon card and placed it between himself and Mizuki.

"Tsu're gave me Hamon, making my collection of the lords complete. He had given me one of these cards on each of my birthdays. The 15th, the 16th and the 17th. He told me that each one represented a milestone in my life." Akio stared Mizu in the eyes. He had a look of calmness in his eyes.

"Uria. Uria was the first he had given me. He told me that he my attitude had flared up about the war so he gave me the lord of fire. Uria the lord of searing flames is, by legend, the angriest of the lords. A divine dragon-shape being made entirely of flames...quite the story in deed." Akio grabbed Uria and placed it in front of him, on top of the Hamon. He then located Raviel and placed it on top of Uria.

"Then I got Raviel, lord of Phantasms. The being of shadow, the manipulator, and the powerful king. Tsu're told me that upon recieving Uria, I began to gain control of my emotions. Then with Raviel, I got more control." Akio's blank face shortly curved into a small smile. "The shadow king...he represents Obelisk the Tormentor because he's the shadow of Obelisk the Tormentor. Tsu're told me it was time for me to step out of shadows, so he gave me the king."

Then Akio moved Raviel to the right and Uria to the left of Hamon. "Hamon the Lord of Striking Thunder. The final gift. I haven't really gotten much of an explanation yet. Tsu're stopped talking that much. All he told me was that 'lightning struck twice in the same place'. I haven't the faintest idea as to what that could mean."

Akio looked from the cards back into her eyes. "I'm probably boring you though. I'm sorry."