The Day of Thunder

"Once I would have said I aim to disappoint, but...", he shrugged as she slid away from him. "Because it's you, I'll do my best."

"Not arguing, just worried it's worse than we think", he answered. "As much as I like sleep, I've never thought of dreams as anything but something you forget when you awaken until now. We do have a lot of support though, we aren't only doing this for these villagers, it's for everyone. It's hard to...

"So we're fighting in it's territory", he realized, and smiled beneath his mask. "Our dream against it's dream..."

He returned the hands squeeze. "You don't have to tell me twice. Though...after hearing about a lot of things, now I wonder. What exactly are we going to do? Fighting a dream or nightmare? Is that even something a sword can accomplish? Feels like there's more in store than just a fight."

He returned the bow but instead of shaking her hand, he stepped forward and gave her a hug. "I would have it, every time, Yukara-san."

"I don't usually like to say things like this, but...I promise I'll do everything I can", he told her. "I don't want to let either of you down. And...", he bumped her with his shoulder playfully. "I'm happy at how much you've grown in a short time, you've been through a lot but you've kept going. It...

"Yeah...", he said after a while, staring into the starless night. "Though right now is really the only sure thing."

He reached out and took her hand.

When...

He looked away to gulp.

Then he cleared his throat. "Well...that's..." he looked back at her and nodded. "Right...just like that. Not even going to give me a chance to embarrass you first. I see how it is."

He scratched at the bottom of his mask as they walked. "Hmm...I have decided that this is one of the worst situations I've ever had the honor of being in, so little can be trusted or relied upon that I often don't know what to think", he admitted. "Though, there are a few things I've found that I ca...

"Why specifically someone they trust?" he asked. "Why not anyone willing?" He puffed his pipe. "I think there's no finer way to get understanding between sides that have had opposition and mistrust than to work together when everything is at it's darkest. I think you'll find that humanity shows thro...

"It's been a complete change of direction for me, I admit", he said, and he bowed again. "Everything you've done has been of immeasurable help, Yukara-san. Thank you." When he rose to face her again, his eyes were marked with resolve, it played opposite his usual carefree exterior. "Would you like t...

Kumori found her way to where Chuchu was and looked deep into the Nezumi’s eyes. “Fair S'si'chuchu-per'i'per'i'thich...” She tried hard to not butcher the name. “… I thank you for your part in this battle and the blessings you bestow to our people. You have fulfilled the promise your Chief-of-Chief...

Knowing someone was nearby was easy. Norikage had always been wary of his surroundings. Though he felt a familiar presence. In spite of whatever difficulty might lay ahead in this conversation, he smiled when he turned to face the Ryoshun girl. Sliding his blade into it's saya, he turned to her and ...

Norikage waited quietly to hear the commoner's thoughts on it. He didn't particularly think it was worthwhile to interfere that much personally. Though he wasn't always right. He took the moment to light his pipe.

Well we come right to it then. "I'm as surprised as anyone." He said after a long quiet of staring into the foggy, cold night. "There's probably some people who see this as glory, or a prize, or some kind of recognition but..." More quiet. His eyes cast down. "You know my whole life others with mor...

Norikage's approach to the house that night wasn't signaled by the crunch of dirt beneath his sandals, or the smell of his pipe or the sound of him whistling an annoying tune. He merely came out of the darkness, exposed by the blessing of Lady Amatarasu. He quietly crossed the rest of the street tow...

That afternoon, Norikage took some time to practice again. It was a dark, gloomy day, the threat of a storm lingering overhead. Yet, while the storm had yet to come, he still had time. Rather than the iaijutsu method, today Norikage performed his strikes, one after another. He knew he wasn't the bes...

He was visibly struggling with his amusement as he spoke to the Scorpion. "With your permission, I guess I'll be watching her back for a bit. You... try not to fuck this up, all right?" "You're probably better at it", Norikage admitted. Well, less distracted by here rear end, anyway. He bowed. "I'l...

"Tea is fine", he nodded and then stood up. "Chouri-san, last night some of the villagers were overcome by nightmares in their sleep. They were unaware of what they were doing, according to Hisomu Reo-san", he explained. "He, Shiba-hime, the ronin Yumi and myself restrained them. Fortunately the dam...

As any scorpion would, he felt uneasy from the monk's gaze, considering what they were looking for. When Nozomi spoke, he felt a small part of him screaming to run out of the area. Yeah...but if you do that, then someone else has to deal with this, if it's even possible to switch. That he would feel...