~Fumetsu kept Makaru's joking words in his head. "Hm..." Fumetsu looked over to him and only gave a half smile. "Make yourselves at home. The tea is already set, the baths reach from the room behind Cestria and both rooms behind that." Fumetsu grabbed a rolled up map, and with the same hand, he pointed the opposite across the hall, "I will be three rooms down..." Fumetsu slid the door open and walked away, his katana and wakizashi clacking in hsi daisho. Making his way to the conference room, he entered, and bowed in the presence of the 6 men. "Lord Fumetsu..." The lesser general, Yokuya, spoke, and the rest bowed. "You arrival has been comtemplated, Lord Fumetsu. Have you finished the map? Our diversion is almost complete." Kyonobu's words approched the situation. Fumetsu placed the map on the table in front of him where the men were surrounding, leaving it rolled up. "This contains all outposts of the Tokugawa, and all positions where the men will be relieved of their duty to succeed with the battle diversion." Fumetsu and the guards discussed things for about twenty minutes. Fumetsu had now been wondering about Makaur and Cestria, he had told them he would be gone briefly, and this was not living up to his word. After about five more minutes, Fumetsu remembered something. "Lord Nimuro," Fumetsu spoke an appraoched the military advisor, one of greater rank than Fumetsu. The advisors gave a hand gesture, allowing Fumetsu to speak, "the ploy to have my brother enter the enemies ranks, I believe, has failed. A small run-in in the courtyard had occured, and others were around. He revealed slight information, as he left, he called me 'brother.' I do believe that this will get around, and it may ruin our attempts to prove our worth to the Uesugi army if my brother decides to foil our plan The only reason he would be able to do that would be to side with the Tokugawa. If we cannot defeat the Tokugawa army, we must make them surrender to us. The Ikoma armies cannot do that alone, we need assistance from the Oda. Even that alone may not be enough. Lord Nobunaga is already at war with the Takeda, enemies of the Uesugi. If Lord Nobunaga can defeat the Takeda, this battle ploy is no longer needed." A minor general spoke, "Lord Fumetsu, if I may..." Fumetsu nodded to the man as a 'yes,' "This assassin attack was your idea the whole time. Did you not say repeatedly that we had hired the Tokugawa to attack us, but to lose on purpose? Was that not your plan?" "Fool!" Fumetsu bursted, "Correct, this is my plan, and it is to prove our worth to the Uesugi army so that we might have allies, or so that do not declaire war against us. If Lord Nobunaga can defeat the Uesugi's enemy, this assassin attack is obsolete. Where Lord Nobunaga's victories lie, we follow him, he is our leader." Fumetsu thought he had heard someone outside, but it was probably nothing.~ ******************** There are tons of hints in there as to when you would overhear, Makaru. It's pretty much all set up, with all of the NPC Taishou speaking out. -=}N{=-

Fumetsu pointed to a few fresh post of tea and made some notion about wher the baths were. He didn't really care. He was famished. Reminded that he had not actually had a meal today, he would make good on this noble gesture. He sat down and started to drink some of the tea. He waved Cestria over to join him. The two sat down and started to enjoy the bounty Fumetsu had offered them. Makaru took a sip. He could not place the flavour, but each taste was brewed with intriguing taste. And strangely, it filled him like normal food would. After a few pots, Makaru was feeling in top form. He suddlenly felt the cup slip from his fingers to the floor clumsily. The cup spilled it's contents onto a rather expensive looking rug. Cestria giggled. Makaru blushed. He looked around for Fumetsu's servants, but saw none. He got up and headed for the room Fumetsu disappeared into, figuring they'd be with him. He headed toward the door and motioned to push it aside, but stopped when he heard voices talking. He leaned in closely and listened intently. After a long time of pretty much the same battle tactics Fumetsu bored him with earlier, he figured there was nothing much to hear after all. But then he heard one of his advisors, probably, say something most interesting. "This assassin attack was your idea the whole time.... ...repeatedly that we had hired... ...to attack us, but to lose on purpose... ...not your plan?" Makaru took a few steps back. He ordered his own assasination? He turned to the table and walked by. He grabbed a sword as well as Cestria's sheath. "We need to leave."

Makaru looked at Fumetsu and Cestria. He seemed to be appologetic, but she wasn't accepting. Whatever he had done must have really angered her. He wanted to persue what had happened, but it would seem to only end up angering her more. And he had seen her fight. Not a good idea. So he looked back at Fumetsu instead and answered his question 'why did you leave?' "Why did I leave? You hired an attack on your own land. You didn't just put yourself at risk. You put people's lives at risk. I'll be honest, I don't know the full schematics of your plans, but whatever the net result, it does not balance the lives lost because of it. I dunno, but people like that really put me off." Makaru took a step back. He was angry. He did not become angry. Ever. It was not of his nature. Plus he had just sounded like a mathemetician. Hints of his past were conjured, but he immediately put them aside. He was still angry, and he needed to vent. "So tell me, Fumetsu. What is the cause of all this? Why did you put your people's lives in danger? Justify yourself."

Ces listened to Fumetsu explain why he had hired the men to attack the castle and the city after Makaru called him up on the lies he had heard in the castle. It was clear to Ces now why they had run had she been given that information before she would have done the same. "Stop, please just stop!" Ces said out loud. Both men turned to look at her as she stepped forward slightly the moonlight shinning of her pale face. She turned and faced Fumetsu but kept Makaru in her line of sight for some reason his presence made her feel brave made her feel as though she could do anything. She was not one to lash out and maybe it was because her heart was vulnerable but she was hurt and she was angry and it was THIS! man who had done it. "You!" she said loudly. "You lied. How could you lie to me. You took me a girl crying in an alley over her lost family and you lied! Now you expect me to believe that you felt sorry for me?" Ces could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks but she fought hard to control her voice so as to not let it quiver. "Why did you really take me into that castle? Was it really to protect me? Why make up a story about your brother? Was it to get close to me? I don't need pity." Ces finished. Looking back at Makaru to gain more support and then turned back to Fumetsu. "I trusted you...and you let me down." she whispered finally letting her head hang down. She was exhausted both physically and emotionally. Tears that normally never fell were falling now and she didn't care. She didn't care if she looked weak or emotional she didn't care.

~Fumetsu realized her rationalities. If he lashed back at her, it would only bring her more sadness. There must be a better way to explain this. Her irrationality would only have him explain most of what her had already said, because her mind was blocked with the thought that she could not trust Fumetus. 'There must be a better way...' He thought in a mental whisper. "Cestria... If I would have left you in the alley, you would have surely been killed. A great warrior does not show much emotion in time of strife. You are not a great warrior, but nonetheless, you are a warrior. You could not kill..." Fumetsu's words stumbled. "If I was so heartless or so deceiving that I would want lie to you to start this mess, then your would have been captured, or even worse. I couldn't let someone like you who had shown pure emotion from the heart be stricken with fear or death because of my doing. The least I could do was protect you. Now... you have Makaru. I would leave you with him and go by myself to save time, but it isn't safe here for you, so I'm staying..." Fumetsu's face gripped the sadness of his words, for he could not strike in retribution at Cestria. "Your pain is as mine is. You cannot grip with the sadness of the loss of few, but your sadness is as if it were that of the loss of many. I can handle the loss of many, sometimes, but never the loss of the few I am devout to protect." Turning away from Cestria and Makaru, Fumetsu looked at the blood-soaked ground. "Whose blood this is, I do not know, but it is my fault..." He then looked to Makaru, "...you two fought when you did not want to, and it is my fault..." Then, looking at Cestria, "...if any of us die, it is my fault, and I will take no chances."~ ******************** A bit short, but heart wrenching all the same. -=}N{=-

Cestria listened as Fumetsu seemed to pour his heart and intentions out after she had voiced her feelings. Since she had met Fumetsu his face had been a mask of "non-emotion". But for once he had let his face show his true feelings and somehow this made Ces want to give him another chance, another chance to prove he could be trusted. But it also hinged on Makaru, his decision and reaction to what Fumetsu had said. "Now...you have Makaru." Cestria heard this line towards the end of Fumetsu's speach. The slight pause somehow seemed to speak volumes. But what had it meant exactly she couldn't seem to figure out. She looked over at Makaru and as their eyes met she blushed slightly glad that it was night and hopefully not visible. She liked him, well more than liked but was that what Fumetsu had meant when he said she "had Makaru" or did he mean that she had a companion now, someone to protect her? Cestria shook her head and mentally reminded herself that now was not the time to be worrying about that. She felt like a teenager, geez. Cestria truly did not know what to say, though many times her words had come easily now they wouldn't. She looked at Fumetsu and nodded slightly stepping out of the moonlight. She wondered if Makaru was going to go with Fumetsu or if he had other plans. What was the next move? ************ A little awkward at the end but it needed a post to finalize that dispute so we could move on so yeah :).

Makaru's horse continued to follow the beaten path. It whineyed lightly, but kept it's dull pace. The ride was making him numb. Both physically and mentally. He recalled his argument with one Fumetsu. from his standpoint, Fumetsu had clrear reasons for doing what he did. Unfortunately, he still had no justification as such, which made following him that much harder. "If I die, Makaru, take care of Cestria" The words would not go away. As much as he did not like or agree with Fumetsu's actions, he could not not commend him for his honour. In a different world, in another life, Makaru might have even been able to call him friend. But sadly, such circumstances were no longer valid. He thought of Cestria, though. From Fumetsu's words, Makaru dawned a thought. He couldn't just be her friend, could he? If they made it out of this alive, he wouldn't doubt even loving her. But still, such thoughts were circumstantial. First of all, they had to live through what Fumetsu had in store for them. Either follow him to the depths of hell, or to run and be safe. And not just him, Cestria too. Whom Fumetsu put in his care. The horses, their trust in their riders, trudged on without care or heed to their problems. They were blissfully ignorant to the precurring events. Makaru was slightly envious of them. He heard the whistling arrow. Fumetsu's signal. He turned to Cestria. Whatever he would do, it would be with her. "So. What do you want to do?"

"So. What do you want to do?" Makaru asked Ces as they road out behind Fumetsu. Steering her horse gently she came in close to Makaru so they could talk easier. "I am not sure I trust him again. He lied to me about his brother and it makes me wonder if there are other lies that were convienent to tell." Ces began looking directly into Makaru's eyes. She blushed a little and continued. "But are we indebted to him for keeping us safe? If what he says is true do we owe him our lives? Of this I am not sure but I am thankful." Cestria looked ahead at the scenery they were passing. It was an open field of high grass that swayed too and fro in the gentle breeze. Small bushes and trees stood in random places their leaves creating a natural symphony. The land was truly beautiful. "What are your thoughts?" Ces asked looking back at Makaru the breeze picking up her hair making it slap gently against Makaru's arm. Makaru's opinons meant a lot to her and she knew that if he said they were leaving or following Fumetsu she would follow. She trusted Makaru.

Cestria was tired, normally she could go for days without rest her body being used to such treatment. Problem was, it had been days and the brief nap she had taken at Fumetsu's castle had done little good. She was finding it increasingly hard to stay awake. The gentle sway of the horse was destined to lull her to sleep. Her senses were dull almost human like and that would do this group no good. She cursed herself for her one track mind on the bandits she had not slept to gain ground and walking or running for days on end was not something her body was used to at least without rest. She stifled a yawn as she listened to what Makaru had said. And what he said made sense. Though no matter how much she truly longed for a soft bed...any bed really, and some much needed sleep she would follow Fumetsu and see what fate had in store for them. She thought over Makaru's words. He had called Fumetsu a friend but had he really meant friend or was the term used loosely? She thought back to her time with Fumetsu over the last evening. He had been kind taken her in and taken care of her when she was crying and tired. But he had lied. It wasn't that she was not used to it, most people lied it was in their nature to protect themselves. But he had used her situation against her to gain her trust and to gain common ground. She had of course been hurt by such an unexpected lie. But she was willing to give another chance, she had always been a firm believer in second chances. Though it had gotten her in trouble many times. She was glad Makaru was with her though for he seemed to become a pillar of strength for her. He was strong and strong willed. She liked that he didn't enjoy fighting but that he would run to aid if needed. He was kind and gentle and seemed to be looking out for her. It was nice to have someone actually like you...not fear you because you are elven and different but to look past your differences and see the real person inside. Cestria shook her head to clear her thoughts she had almost fallen asleep, this was going to be a hard journey without sleep and without something to keep her mind occupied. She kicked her horse slightly speeding up to catch up with Fumetsu. Slowing her horse down to his speed once arriving there she looked at the warrior and smiled slightly. "I appologize for my outburst in the alley way. That was no time and no place for such an action." she began. But before Fumetsu could say anything she continued. "But I was hurt and hurt deeply because of the lie I had thought we had in common this great pain and in that pain was a connection between us. A similar experience that connected us, if you will. When I found that to be false I heard nothing of reasoning I only concentrated on the false facts. I am not myself lately...I am tired a deep tired and it makes me act and think irrationally. It is not an excuse it is the truth. However, I should not have jumped to harsh words and for that I am truly sorry. I hope you will forgive my childlike behavior." It was all true. Cestria had thought about it and realized how stupid she had been how child like. She had acted so below her age when she yelled at Fumetsu and she regretted it. She was still a little hurt there was still pain left but it would go away and trust was beginning to return.

~Their horses trudged on, with a mass crew of infranty soldiers ahead of them on foot. Having a messenger carry an army was bending the rules a bit, but there was not time to debate this between generals. Fumetsu rode along, listening to Cestria's apology. Her apology was unnecessary. Though Fumetsu had shared a great pain as she did, reasons were a bit different. Fumetsu felt embarrassed that he had to lie to her, and then she apologizes. But, it saved their lives. "This is my fault..." Fumetsu staired down at his horse, concentrating on what he was saying, "It could not be avoided. You have every right to be angry or disappointed at me, and should not be sorry. It is understandable... Don't wait for me if you ever think you need to. Your safety is more important. I will try to be there, and, again, if I cannot..." he paused and looked to Makaru, "You will always have someone who is still here." He only wanted to make sure that both Makaru and Cestria made it out of here, because Fumetsu dragged them into this. "But it is time to focus on what happens now..." A horn from on of the infrantrymen sounded. The soldiers lined in up six lines and let the three on horseback pass through. They were entering an enemy camp, which could not be approached by soldiers at this time by the rules of war. It would still take plenty of time to reach the actual camp setup, but there could be no more hostile advances yet. "We have yet to reach their camp..." A small stable could be seen in the distance. White horses were lined inside. "Days, maybe... During that time, hostile forces will use guerilla tactics as a hidden ploy. We may be targets, it is uncertain." Fumetsu was finally speaking in his emotionless voice again. When would they reach the camp? Fumetsu didn't know for sure, but it would take days. Their relief troops had to be left behind, and Fumetsu thought that idea in the rules of war to be inferior. He looked to Cestria and only smiled, and then looked away as his smile faded very slowly. He did not want his emotions changing, for that would change his purpose of the mission. But, what did Makaru think about her, and all of this?~