Topic: It's Been Seven Days

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2009-11-14 10:09 EST
(revamp of character, post removed)

Li Angelo

Date: 2009-11-14 14:40 EST
Brother,

Patience. The honor our family has lost shall be returned. I am not following a ghost, I know he's real. I have found him. The ancestors favor me in restoring out honor.

Provide our family with strength and honor. That is your duty for our family. Be wary of the past and its shames, my brother. If you learn from them, than we will restore our family to its former glory. Do not loose hope. For when I return we will have honor for our name.

I keep the diet of our family, always. I must maintain a pure body. Clothes are uncomfortable. A few of the fabrics are even foreign to me. I miss the silk and try to wear it as often as possible. I do not forget the old ways. Buildings here are crude in design. Made of brick and wood in box shapes and flat roofs. No decorative objects here at all to honor the ancestors of these people.

The women. Though beautiful, are crude mouthed and forget their places in the presence of a man. They are equal in this world and I must remember that well. How is our mother and our sisters" Is our father still ill" How is Yoshino, my wife? Tell her I think of her always and of our son. Teach him honor brother.

Liang

人の振り見て&# 12431;が振り直せ Hito No furimite wagafurinaose Learns wisdom in the stupidity from the others.

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2009-11-15 11:46 EST
(revamp of char, post removed)

Li Angelo

Date: 2009-11-16 17:09 EST
His head was bowed before an idol representing his ancestors. He was on his hands and his knees. A silent prayer was uttered for blessing from them. Li desperately needed their favor. The time he had been traveling, how far he had gone from Japan, all of it made him worry he may just lose their favor. So he would pray, each morning and each night. He would need to pray and beg them more desperately. His heart would always be there for his family, seeking to restore their honor. The scent of jasmine, something pleasant, was there to keep the ancestors happy. An offering would be burned to them in a china bowl. All this was done so that Liang would not have to search any longer.

He had heard the name.

Once he had finished his prayers to his resting family, he turned to his existing family. The picture of his wife and son, hand painted, but still so beautiful. The child was no more than an infant in the picture. He had left only weeks after his son's birth. Li's father was a warrior, a noble lord until his elder brother shamed their name; he would never forgive him. His brother was strong and proud, if he failed, his brother was all his father would have left.

Yoshino, his cherry blossom, was fair; one of the most fair women in Japan besides her mother and the emperor's brides. She was tender, patient, graceful, soft spoken, and kind; fine features for a noble Japanese woman. He wanted nothing more than that for his brother. She had beautiful black hair, long, straight, and like silk whenever he touched it. Her face was like a porcelain dolls, smooth, pale, and perfect in every way, not even a blemish or freckle. Her waist was dainty and slender enough for her to hold poise but wide enough to bear him a son. She had the feet of a girl, small and stunning. She was everything that reminded him of his mother, so fair, so pure, and gentle.

He wondered so many times what his son looked like. The questions of if he was strong, if he was proud, and if he was holding the family name strongly like a good son always kept him wondering. Li silently feared if his search was all in vain. What if he never saw his son again? A father's love for his child was unfailing and only matched for his love for his wife and family. He knew his son would make him proud.

Morning rituals started with him practicing. He would keep himself poised and prepared for all that there was to come. His body would be worked, pressured, and forced to remember the training he had gone through to be the best warrior he could be. Only then, when his body was prepared would he read the letter he had received.

Besides him was a bottle of ink, a brush, and a scroll of parchment. Nothing would be forgotten. It was his way, everything must be done perfectly. He had to remember his way.

Brother,

Yoshino is a good woman and knows her place. She has always been understanding and will be as patient as she should be. However, I am eager to return home to her. Does she still look as fair as she did the day I left her"

My son is getting so big. It makes me wonder sometimes if I am doing the right thing. I should be there raising my son and doing my duties as a husband and a brother. I fear you helping my wife and raising my son is keeping you from building your life. You deserve a beautiful wife and plenty sons. I regret not giving Yoshino the daughter I know she wants.

Tell father to remember the pride and honor we had before. I am certain I have found where the traitor resides. From the looks of it, he has been hiding here for some time. He is even taking a wife. It is insulting to think that he is taking the pleasures of an honorable life. He has not earned it, not fought for it properly. He brought his emperor shame.

They are made from this thing called cotton. Made from the backs of sheep and other live stock meant to bear and feed. I find myself wearing pants, made of a material called denim. A rough material that serves its purpose in keeping the elements from my legs, but when wet it is heavy and hardly flexible. The shoes I wear are bulky and any where I went would have the best of the Emperor's hunts men on my trail before I traveled a few feet.

I believe a majority of our culture in this world would help this world, but for now I must blind in and be one with them. No matter how much I despise it. I have not seen a shrine here at all. Not even a candle to honor their ancestors or their gods. They have many here. Not a single faith like home, but many.

I cannot tell you where I am. I cannot do so yet. I need you to understand that my brother. It is strictly for my safety and our family's protection. Should I fail, you may never know or you may know. I will work hard in bringing you honor my brother. For the family and for our children's future. Our family will have its honor returned.

Liang

笑う門には福&# 26469;る Warau kado niha fuku kitaru happiness goes towards those which can laugh.

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2009-11-17 19:32 EST
(revamp of char, post removed)

Li Angelo

Date: 2009-12-05 14:13 EST
Elation! He was having the rush of a life time. There was no wasting time. Once he was upstairs and despite his weariness, he rushed to the ink, brush, and parchment.

Brother,

I have found him! He gave me his name himself! Soon, brother, soon. We will have our honor returned to us. We will have our glory back. Tell my wife I will be home soon, that there is still hope. I will be home to my son in no time.

He may be injured, but once the time is right, once I know him, I will strike. The gods are on my side. Our ancestors have blessed me and answered my prayers. I will not fail our family. I cannot fail you or my son. I will give us our honor.

Liang

This time when the letter was sent, a hint was given to his location. A bit of the Rhy'din Post was rolled up with the parchment. If Liang didn't want his brother to know where he was, he had slacked in his efforts. However, the only word apparent was," Rhy'd." Not enough to give a proper location.

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2009-12-10 17:46 EST
(revamp of character, post removed)

Li Angelo

Date: 2009-12-17 18:45 EST
Liang had been at the Inn for a while now, but never usually was seen. One late night he had made the acquaintance with a young woman by the name of Maria. This woman was a good natured woman with a several few troubles. It was like talking to Yoshiro with this woman. A relaxing development in this time away from his wife and son came welcome to him.

She had given him a small Christmas card, a sweet gesture from friend to friend. He had seen her in tears, but was never given an explanation, he never asked for one. It troubled him to see a woman cry, especially one so kind. It showed that she had been humbled by an outside force.

Being able to speak with such a gentle, free woman made him miss his wife.

Brother,

It is in these long lingering years that I find myself home sick. I miss my wife and her sweet, grace filled smile. I miss the way the cherry blossoms turned orange with the sunset. I often wonder about my son, if he is well or even aware how much I love him. These gifts are for the family. Each one is labeled. Tell them that I love them.

Liang.

It was short, and brief. Each present was wrapped and labeled for each member of the family. His brothers was slightly larger than the others, but the value never changed. His son had received a katana care kit, so that when he was ready he could train to be strong like his father. Yoshiro got nothing but the best jewelry Liang could find. An honorable gift was given to both his mother and father. To his brother he gave a taxing gift.

It was a full address of his location. Images of the one he had searched for and as well as a picture of Maria along with a note. A letter for only his brother's eyes.

Brother,

This is Maria Anne Michael, a good friend to me in this place. If anything happens to me, she will know. She reminds me of Yoshiro with a kind and simple grace only fitting of my wife. There seems to be an air of understanding about her that I cannot understand. How do women always seem to have such patience when I find myself having none?

I want you to understand, that these few coming months will be dangerous, but this woman, in the short time that I've known her, has gained my trust. She is honorable, kind, and good hearted. I am sure if you met her, you would see the same qualities.

I must only ask you one more thing; I will not demand it for you have always been so rebellious. Do not come looking for me. Write her. Ask her. If something should happen to me do not come here to pick up where I left off. Please. Live your life brother, do not waste it as I have on such ventures.

Liang

When he sent these things away a foreboding feeling started to take him over. A sense of wary and warning throbbed in his chest. He already regretted the gift he had given his brother. Deeply.

Back Alley Phoenix

Date: 2009-12-18 09:38 EST
(revamp of char, post removed)

Yoshiro

Date: 2009-12-23 02:21 EST
It had been too long, things were bound to snap. Patience was worn thin. Yoshiro was tired of waiting. Very tired of waiting. Late one night she was caught pacing and perhaps it wasn’t a good thing. The idea came, and she was not going to back down.

Bag after bag was packed in the hopes that she was doing the right thing. Several items were tossed aside in the process. Once she was done she stopped to think. It was possibly the wisest thing she had done thus far. Without hesitation she moved to her brother’s door and knocked, but she didn’t wait for an answer.

“Jirou...Jirou, either way, with or without your help… I am going to go find my husband. I have already spoke with your mother on this issue, she has agreed to watch Masamoru. Please, I cannot do this without you, but I cannot wait.” Leave it to the woman to make up her mind. Hopefully it was Jirou’s mind as well. She said she wouldn’t wait and she meant it.

Yoshiro had already prayed to the ancestors. Prayed for their blessing in what was to come. Several hours were spent in wait, several years in fact, and she would not let another year pass without her beloved husband.

“Jirou… I’m going to get my things and my horse. If you will come, please, my brother, meet me with your horse and things.” They had to go before day break. If they did not, they risked angering his father. She did not want to be there for his wrath.

As soon as what was said needed to be said she turned and went for her things. It took her no more than twenty minutes, but when the time was right, Yoshiro ran for her horse.

Her horse was a honey colored mare with a black mane. It had dark eyes, almost as black as night. She was tall, but she was beautiful. A small whicker showed she was ready for a long journey, a very long journey.

When All was set, she waited. It was only a few moments of time, a few minutes to say the least. Hope was growing and fading all at once. Without Jirou, Yoshiro would be lost for sure, but she would finally be able to see her husband. It didn’t matter how long she traveled, she’d find him. She had no doubt in that, but a lone woman journey was not something she was looking forwards to.

“Jirou..”