03-09-2015, 04:02 PM
July 2030, Beijing China
Ichiro and his companions, Yoshiro and Haruki, disembarked from the plane. It was not often they left Japan, but they had been asked by one of their Atharim sisters for assistance, and Ichiro had accepted and brought along two of his friends. The Chinese were dealing with a rougarou infestation.
There was still some tension between the Chinese and Japanese - particularly in those of the older generations - but the passing of time was healing the old wounds from World War II. Ichiro had no hatred of the Chinese and neither did his companions, but he could feel the eyes of some of the Chinese following them warily as they approached the young Chinese woman.
The woman was their contact and sister, Cai Mai. She was a hunter with a decent reputation with the Chinese Atharim. When she had called for aid, Ichiro hadn't hesitated to accept. She was his sister, and it had to be done to save countless lives. Cai bowed to them and they returned it before following her. They retrieved their baggage and weapons before heading to Headquarters for a briefing.
The briefing was typical. They had found the rougarou nest and now was the time to attack. They planned the attack, going over maps of the caves. The rougarou had holed themselves in a cave with two entrances. It was agreed that they should surround them in a pincer attack. Cai Mai and the Japanese would come in from the rear where the rest of the Chinese would come in from the front. They sat and planned, going over different contingencies and figuring out what to do in case of victims.
The briefing finished, the team began to check their equipment. Ichiro retrieved his blades and pulled out a whetstone and began to sharpen his katana. He saw Cai Mai checking a rifle and stifled the urge to wince. He understood that technology was a big thing, but he still didn't like the uncivilized guns. As he looked, Cai Mai looked towards him and smiled before eying his sword. "Is that handmade?"
Ichiro returned her smile and nodded. "Hand folded. It was a gift when I received my Ouroboros. Would you like to see?"
Cai Mai nodded and approached. Ichiro sheathed the blade and handed it over. Cai retrieved the weapon softly and pulled the blade out. She looked at it and admired it. Ichiro had used the blade and the rest of the set for nine years, but it still looked new. He had taken care of it. "It is very beautiful."
Ichiro nodded his thanks and took the sword back when she had finished. Ichiro then turned to his wakizashi. He gave it the same treatment. He picked up the tanto last and held it for a moment. The tanto was as immaculate as the other two blades, however, it had never been used. It had one purpose and he would hold onto it in case it was needed. After a few moments, he unsheathed it to check it's sharpness.
When they were prepared they headed out. Cai Mai led them to their cave entrance and when the signal was given, they headed stealthily into the caves. China was Cai's home, so the group of Japanese had no issues following her. This was her mission after all. When they arrived in the central cavern, they came across the rougarou nest. There were some victims there, but Ichiro couldn't tell if they still lived.
Cai Mai knelt behind a boulder and aimed down the sight of her rifle. Ichiro heard her breathing and then it stopped as she held her breath and fired, taking out one of the several rougarou. That was the signal to begin and suddenly Chinese and Japanese Atharim jumped into the cave. Ichiro unsheathed his katana as Yoshiro and Haruki did the same. They approached as Cai Mai release another shot into the group of rougarou.
The rougarou were smart enough to realize that they were outmatched and surrounded. Blades sliced through bodies like butter and shots rang out in the cave. Two rougarou came at Ichiro. He moved, positioning himself they they had to come at him in straight line. The closest one got in the way of the next and Ichiro impaled him with his katana, spun, and sliced the next with his wakizashi as he unsheathed it. Like most battles, it was quick. They had surprised their foe and were victorious. Some of the Atharim had scrapes, but no one was seriously injured. Of course, this was the first of many nests they had to exterminate, and the rougarou might here of the loss of their comrades. The rest might be better prepared.
Ichiro retrieved his katana and flicked the blood off before sheathing the blade. Cai Mai had entered the cave and smiled at him. As a group they approached the victims. One was alive, but he wouldn't make it. The man was pale as a sheet from blood loss. They wouldn't have time to get him to safety and save him. The look in the man's eyes suggested he was in pain, but didn't know where he was or what was going on.
"End it. It's the merciful thing to do."
Ichiro said calmly and everyone looked at him. There was understanding in their eyes, but it was overshadowed by the sadness. Ichiro sighed. He knew that taking a life of an innocent was hard, but the man would die. They dishonored his sacrifice by letting him struggle in pain that wouldn't end until he breathed his last. Ichiro was about to do it himself, but he wanted to give the Chinese a chance - the victim was one of their own.
One of the older men pulled out a blade and moved to the man. He understood at least and was going to end the man's pain. Ichiro watched and knelt down in seiza on the cave floor. He bowed to the victim as the man ended his life, respecting and honoring the man for his sacrifice. The group quietly left the cave and headed back to headquarters. The mission was just beginning.
Edited by Yoshimura, Mar 9 2015, 04:06 PM.
Ichiro and his companions, Yoshiro and Haruki, disembarked from the plane. It was not often they left Japan, but they had been asked by one of their Atharim sisters for assistance, and Ichiro had accepted and brought along two of his friends. The Chinese were dealing with a rougarou infestation.
There was still some tension between the Chinese and Japanese - particularly in those of the older generations - but the passing of time was healing the old wounds from World War II. Ichiro had no hatred of the Chinese and neither did his companions, but he could feel the eyes of some of the Chinese following them warily as they approached the young Chinese woman.
The woman was their contact and sister, Cai Mai. She was a hunter with a decent reputation with the Chinese Atharim. When she had called for aid, Ichiro hadn't hesitated to accept. She was his sister, and it had to be done to save countless lives. Cai bowed to them and they returned it before following her. They retrieved their baggage and weapons before heading to Headquarters for a briefing.
The briefing was typical. They had found the rougarou nest and now was the time to attack. They planned the attack, going over maps of the caves. The rougarou had holed themselves in a cave with two entrances. It was agreed that they should surround them in a pincer attack. Cai Mai and the Japanese would come in from the rear where the rest of the Chinese would come in from the front. They sat and planned, going over different contingencies and figuring out what to do in case of victims.
The briefing finished, the team began to check their equipment. Ichiro retrieved his blades and pulled out a whetstone and began to sharpen his katana. He saw Cai Mai checking a rifle and stifled the urge to wince. He understood that technology was a big thing, but he still didn't like the uncivilized guns. As he looked, Cai Mai looked towards him and smiled before eying his sword. "Is that handmade?"
Ichiro returned her smile and nodded. "Hand folded. It was a gift when I received my Ouroboros. Would you like to see?"
Cai Mai nodded and approached. Ichiro sheathed the blade and handed it over. Cai retrieved the weapon softly and pulled the blade out. She looked at it and admired it. Ichiro had used the blade and the rest of the set for nine years, but it still looked new. He had taken care of it. "It is very beautiful."
Ichiro nodded his thanks and took the sword back when she had finished. Ichiro then turned to his wakizashi. He gave it the same treatment. He picked up the tanto last and held it for a moment. The tanto was as immaculate as the other two blades, however, it had never been used. It had one purpose and he would hold onto it in case it was needed. After a few moments, he unsheathed it to check it's sharpness.
When they were prepared they headed out. Cai Mai led them to their cave entrance and when the signal was given, they headed stealthily into the caves. China was Cai's home, so the group of Japanese had no issues following her. This was her mission after all. When they arrived in the central cavern, they came across the rougarou nest. There were some victims there, but Ichiro couldn't tell if they still lived.
Cai Mai knelt behind a boulder and aimed down the sight of her rifle. Ichiro heard her breathing and then it stopped as she held her breath and fired, taking out one of the several rougarou. That was the signal to begin and suddenly Chinese and Japanese Atharim jumped into the cave. Ichiro unsheathed his katana as Yoshiro and Haruki did the same. They approached as Cai Mai release another shot into the group of rougarou.
The rougarou were smart enough to realize that they were outmatched and surrounded. Blades sliced through bodies like butter and shots rang out in the cave. Two rougarou came at Ichiro. He moved, positioning himself they they had to come at him in straight line. The closest one got in the way of the next and Ichiro impaled him with his katana, spun, and sliced the next with his wakizashi as he unsheathed it. Like most battles, it was quick. They had surprised their foe and were victorious. Some of the Atharim had scrapes, but no one was seriously injured. Of course, this was the first of many nests they had to exterminate, and the rougarou might here of the loss of their comrades. The rest might be better prepared.
Ichiro retrieved his katana and flicked the blood off before sheathing the blade. Cai Mai had entered the cave and smiled at him. As a group they approached the victims. One was alive, but he wouldn't make it. The man was pale as a sheet from blood loss. They wouldn't have time to get him to safety and save him. The look in the man's eyes suggested he was in pain, but didn't know where he was or what was going on.
"End it. It's the merciful thing to do."
Ichiro said calmly and everyone looked at him. There was understanding in their eyes, but it was overshadowed by the sadness. Ichiro sighed. He knew that taking a life of an innocent was hard, but the man would die. They dishonored his sacrifice by letting him struggle in pain that wouldn't end until he breathed his last. Ichiro was about to do it himself, but he wanted to give the Chinese a chance - the victim was one of their own.
One of the older men pulled out a blade and moved to the man. He understood at least and was going to end the man's pain. Ichiro watched and knelt down in seiza on the cave floor. He bowed to the victim as the man ended his life, respecting and honoring the man for his sacrifice. The group quietly left the cave and headed back to headquarters. The mission was just beginning.
Edited by Yoshimura, Mar 9 2015, 04:06 PM.