My God can move mountains

My God can move mountains.

My son likes to go to an Axis church. In one of the songs we sung the other day had that line in it. In part, the lecture covered singing and celebrating in praise. I connected with hinduism because of that very reason. There is always singing and praising and lots of times.. dancing.

I dont recall ever reading in the bible, any passage that mentions Yhwh ever actually moving a mountain, just that people say he can.

laye sanjivan lakhan jiyaye
sri raghuvir harashi ur laye

You brought Sanjivan (a herb that revives life)
and restored Lakshman back to life
Sri Raguvir (sri Ram) embraced you with his heart full of joy.

For those who do not know the story : Lakshman was harmed in the battle to regain Sita from the demon of Sri Lanka who had stolen her. Ram, her husband had rallied soldiers for this war, Hanuman his greatest compatriate. Lakshman was Ram's brother.

Hanuman (an incarnation of Shiva) was told to get sanjivan, for only that could save Lakshman from certain death. He few accross the Himalliays to find the sanjivan, however couldn't distinguish which plant it was. So, he grabbed the whole mountain and braught it to where Laksham lay, and Ram waited.

Indeed Hanuman could and did move mountains. Jai Hanuman !


Another theme that was discussed was the ability to conquer death. (see above)

There was also mention of hardships durring life, the deceavers who atempt to convince you that god is not good ie evil forces/demons. By believing in Yhwy and jesus, one is protected and delivered from these things.

Bhoot pissach nikat nahin aavai
mahavir jab naam sunavai

All the ghosts, demons and evil forces keep away
with the sheer mention of your great nam oh Mahavir!

nase rog harai sab peera
japat nirantar Hanumant beera

All diseases, pain and suffering dissappear on reciting
Sri Hanuman's holy name !

Sankat se hanuman chudavai
man karam vachan dyan jo lavai

All disease, pain and suffering dissapear on
reciting Sri Hanuman's holy name.

The plan of Jesus taking upon all our since, doing our own payment of hell for us was also mentioned.

Sub par Ram tapasvee rja
Tin ke kaj sakai tum saja

All who hail, worship and have faith in
Sri Ram as the Lord and the King of penance
You make all thier difficult tasks very easy.

The lines above were taken from the Hanuman chalisa, something I sing often.

Notes : dr ashby bookAnunian theology

Pesdjet (eniad) the creative principles.
ntr cosmic principles of creation
Ntr of Pautii
Kheper Ra Atum
shu
tefnut
geb
Asar
Aset
Set
Nebt-het

(all above are how creation manifests)

Het-heru - life force
Djehuti - mind
Ma'at- order/truth

Anpu is not listed here. Dr.Ashby's (and most people's school of thought is that Anpu is the son of Asar. However, through archiological research it seems that there is another, older myth stating that Anpu is the son of set. I am a subscriber to that beliefe. It is a theory due to some evidence that the cult of Asar, through the unification changed the myth as in southern land Set was reveard)

So looking through this book we see, what some of us are used to seeing as far as the qaballic tree of life, in kemetic terms.

For some reason, today it strikes me of the first Trinity of Ra
Khepri, Ra, Atum

Daily Message : Brahma

~Daily Message~ pt 1
Brahma - The Absolute, The All, The Undefinable. In the Bhagivad Gita Krishna tells Arjuna we are all connected, we are all part of Brahma as 'we' or 'ourseves' as seperat is an illusion. The Atma is the great truth, the Truth is Brahma.

O lord of all creatures ! Non other than you excels all these and other created things. You are above all. You are supreme. May you fulfill our cherished desires and may we possess bounteious wealth and other things in this world.

I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

I was outside waiting for my son's buss to arrive and began to think on Ms Sara. She is such a beautiful and wonderful person ! I am truely blessed to have her in my life. She is so much FUN !!!!! What a gift !!!!! I was, at the time concerned that EVERYONE would see my *big hair* and that it would, quite possibly cause a few car accidents due to its hugeness (thankfully everyone who drove past was too busy on thier cell phone to be distracted by my mamoth hair) I bet Ms Sarah never had to deal with such hair !!! And she stoped on her way out and we spoke, in which she told me that I should wear my hair down more often ! LOL we truely are our own worst critics.

Mantra to dispell fear

its the shanti mantra.... for peace actually, Im not sure it would dispell fear, Im thinking more of Genesh or Hanuman for that....

Chandi - Atha sapta Sloki Durga - Verse 5 -
"Sarvasvarupe ... durge devi namo-stu te"

"The Intrinsic Nature of All, the Supreme of All, and the Energy of
All as well; YOU REMOVE ALL FEAR FROM US,Oh Goddess; Reliever of
Afflictions; Oh Goddess we bow to you"


Chandi .

Chapter 11 - Verse 26 -
'Jvalaakaralam.....namostu-te"

"With intensive brilliance , exceedingly sharp, the fierce destroyer
of all thoughts , may your trident protect us from all fear. Oh
Excellent She who is beyond All time, we bow to you"


Chapter 11 - Verse 34
'Devi Prasida.... Mahopasargan"

"Oh Goddess , please be pleased. As you have just now saved us by
slaying thoughts , in like manner always save us from fear of foes.
Eradicate all evil from all the worls, as well as all confusion and
disturbance".


http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/devi-mandir/59211-compiling-mantras-removing-fear.html

Mantras for Abundance

Mantras for Abundance

Mostly we are looking at Laxmi, the goddess of Abundance. There is also a good one that includes Genesh, remover of obstacles... so the idea is pretty good, removing obstacles on the way to achivieving a more stable 'income'

Generally when I say my mantras I say them on my mala (108 beeds)

my favorite Laxmi mantra is Om srim hrim srim kamalay kamalalaya
prasidah prasidah
srim hrim srim
om srim maha laxmi devya namaha

the one with Genesh:
Om laxmi Ganapataya namaha
(simple and easy)

Jai Devi

Durgey Durghat Bhaari Tujvin Sansari
Anath Nathe Ambey Karuna Vistari
Vaari Vaari Janma Maranaache Vari
Haari Padalo Aata Sankat Nivaari
Jai Devi Jai Devi
***
Jai Devi Jai Devi Mahishasur Mathini
Survar Ishwar Warde Taarak Sanjivani
Jai Devi Jai Devi
---------***
Tribhuvan Bhuvani Pahata Tujh Aisi Nahi
Chari Shramale Parantu Na Bolave Kahi
Saahi Vivad Karita Padile Pravahi
Te Tu Bhakta Lage Paavasi Lavlahi
Jai Devi Jai Devi
***
Jai Devi Jai Devi Mahishasur Mathini
Survar Ishwar Warde Taarak Sanjivani
Jai Devi Jai Devi
---------***
Prasan Vadane Prasan Hosi Nijdasa
Klesha Paasuni Sodi Todi Bhavapasha
Ambey Tuj Vachun Koun Purvil Aasha
Narhar Taallin Zala Pad Pankajalesha
Jai Devi Jai Devi
***
Jai Devi Jai Devi Mahishasur Mathini
Survar Ishwar Warde Taarak Sanjivani
Jai Devi Jai Devi

Lotus

The lotus flower is a lovely symbol. The flower is beautiful, rising above the mud and pure. This symbolism is fascinating when one looks at it. Wouldnt it be nice if we all did that? To remain pure and untouched no matter where we came from and what was in our past? That is our mud. Like Asar, Like Khepri To be reborn anew each day in our most pure and perfect form !
Nuk Ba Khepri
Nuk Ba Ra
Nuk Ba Uab !

Devotion and Desire

Bhagavad Gita
A Walkthrough For Westerners
Jack Hawley
copyrite 2001

The Answer is not to try to restrain your nature but to progressively improve your nature. Examine this thing called 'nature' more closely. One's own senses are major stumbling blocks to spiritual attainment. Senses derive their power from the many likes and dislikes imprinted in the mind (by family, by culture, and by one's actions in this and previous lives.) This deeply embedded, largely unconscious system of likes and dislikes is what gives rise to one's thoughts, deisres, and tendencies. This mental pattern is in lage part what is meant by one's 'nature'.

Arjuna, the best thing to do with these thoughts and deisres is to transmute them into a devotional attitude, a desire for God. When this attitude takes hold, the system of likes and dislikes melts away, which causes the fierce power of the senses to gradually dry up. Desires are enemies when directed outward, but allies when pointed inward, toward divinity.

Dreaming of Me (lyrics)

Depeche Mode
Dreaming of Me

Light switch, man switch
Film was broken only then
All the night, fused tomorrow
Dancing with a distant friend

Filming and dreaming, I picture the scene
Filming and dreaming, dreaming of me

So we left, understanding
Clean cut, so were sounding fast
Talked of saddness, I talked of war
I laughed and climbed the rising calm

Filming and dreaming, I picture the scene
Filming and dreaming, dreaming of me

Quickly, I remember
Fused and saw a face before
Timing reason, understanding
Like association whore

Filming and dreaming, I picture the scene
Filming and dreaming, dreaming of me

Dreaming of me (oooh, la la la ...)
Just dreaming of me
Its only me
Just me

Shiva thandava stotram

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwMyiDbQrjY&feature=related


Jatatavee gala jjala pravaha pavitha sthale,

Gale avalabhya lambithaam bhujanga thunga malikaam,

Dama ddama dama ddama ninnadava damarvayam,

Chakara chanda thandavam thanothu na shiva shivam. 1



From the forest of his matted lock , water flows and wets his neck,

On which hangs the greatest of snake like a garland,

And his drum incessantly plays damat , damat, damat , damat,

And Shiva is engaged in the very vigorous manly dance,

To bless and shower, prosperity on all of us.





Jata kataha sambhramabrama nillimpa nirjari,

Vilola veechi vallari viraja mana moordhani,

Dhaga dhaga daga jjwala lalata patta pavake,

Kishora Chandra shekare rathi prathi kshanam mama. 2



The celestial river agitatedly moving through his matted hair,

Which makes his head shine with those soft waves,

And his forehead shining like a brilliant fire-daga daga,

And the crescent of moon which is an ornament to his head,

Makes my mind love him each and every second.



Dara darendra nandini vilasa bhandhu bhandura,

Sphuradigantha santhathi pramodha mana manase,

Krupa kadaksha dhorani niruddha durdharapadi,

Kwachi digambare mano vinodhamethu vasthuni. 3



The consort of the ever sportive daughter of the mountain,

Whose mind rejoices at her side long glances,

With the stream of merciful look which removes hardships,

Makes my mind take pleasure in him who wears the directions as apparel.



Jada bhujanga pingala sphurath phana mani prabha,

Kadamba kumkuma drava praliptha digwadhu mukhe,

Madhandha sindhura sphurathwagu utthariya medhure,

Mano vinodhamadhbutham bibarthu bhootha bharthari. 4



He, with the shining lustrous gem on the hood

Of the serpent entwining his matted locks,

He, who is with his bride whose face is decorated

By the melting of red saffron Kumkum,

And He who wears on his shoulder the hide

Of the elephant which was blind with ferociousness,

Makes my mind happy and contented,

In him who is the leader of Bhoothas*.

* can be taken to mean as souls or

mythical beings guarding Kailasa.



Sahasra lochana prabhoothyasesha lekha shekhara,

Prasoona dhooli dhorani vidhu sarangri peedabhu,

Bhujangaraja Malaya nibhadha jada jhootaka,

Sriyai chiraya jayatham chakora bandhu shekhara. 5



May he whose foot stool is decorated

By the ever flowing flower dust.

Falling the bent head of Indra and other Gods,

And may He, whose matted locks are tied by the king of serpents,

And may he , whose head is decorated

By the crescent moon who a friend of Chakora*

Shower prosperity for ever on me.

* A mythical bird which lives by drinking moon light.



Lalata chathwara jwaladhanam jaya sphulingabha,

Nipeetha pancha sayagam saman nilimpanayakam,

Sudha mayookha lekhaya virajamana shekharam,

Maha kapali sampade, siro jadalamasthu na. 6



May he with the raging fire

In his forehead, who burnt the God of love,

May He who is forever being saluted by king of devas,

And may he who has collected

The cool ambrosia like crescent moon on his head,

And may he who wears the collection of skulls,

Bless us to create wealth for us.



Karala bhala pattika dhagadhaga jjwala,

Ddhanam jayahuthi krutha prachanda pancha sayage ,

Dharadharendra nandhini kuchagra chithrapathraka,

Prakalpanaika shilpini, trilochane rather mama. 7



May He in whose dreadful forehead, fire burns “Dhahaga”, “Dhaga,”

May He who burnt the one with five arrows* as an offering to fire,

May He who is the only one who can write decorative lines,

On the tip of the breasts of the daughter of the mountain,

And May He with three eyes make mind enjoy in him.

* The God of love



Naveena megha mandali nirudha durdharath sphurath,

Kahoo niseedhi neethama prabhandha bandha kandhara,

Nilimpa nirjari darsthanothu kruthi sindhura,

Kala nidhana bandhura sriyam jagat durandhara. 8



May He whose black neck is as dark

As several layers of new clouds,

Packed closely on the night of the new moon.

May He who wears the celestial river on his head,

May He who killed the Gajasura with an elephant head,

May He who is very handsome because of the crescent that he wears,

And may he who carries the entire burden of the world,

Bless us with all sorts of wealth .



Prafulla neela pankaja prapancha kalima prabha,

Valambhi kanda kanthali ruchi prabandha kandharam,

Smarschidham puraschidham bhavaschidham makhachidham,

Gajachidandakachidham tham anthakachidham bhaje. 9



I salute him, who shines with a black neck

Similar to the well opened blue lotus,

On which all the temples depend for prayer,

And him who destroyed God of love, the three cities,

The worldly problems and yaga destroyers,

And him who destroyed elephant faced Asura and also God of death.,



Agarva sarva mangalaa kalaa kadamba manjari,

Rasa pravaha madhuri vijrumbha mana madhu vrtham,

Suranthakam, paranthakam, bhavanthakam, makhandakam,

Gajandhakandhakandakam thamanthakanthakam bhaje. 10



I salute him who is like the bee who drinks the sweetened honey ,

That flows from the flower bunch of collection of arts of the Goddess,

And him who destroyed God of love, the three cities,

The worldly problems and yaga destroyers,

And him who destroyed elephant faced Asura and also God of death.



Jayathwadhabra vibramadbujaamga maswasath,

Vinirgamath, kramasphurath, karala bhala havya vat,

Dhimi dhimi dhimi dhwanan mrudanga thunga mangala,

Dhwani karma pravarthitha prachanda thandawa shiva. 11



Victory to the great Shiva , who has the fire burning in his forehead,

Which is increased by the breath of the snake wandering in the sky,

And to Him who dances to the changing tunes and fierce sound,

Of Dhimi, dhimi, dhimi coming out the auspicious drum.



Drusha dwichi thra thalpayor bhujanga moukthika srajo,

Garishta rathna loshtayo suhrudhwi paksha pakshayo,

Trunara vinda chakshusho praja mahee mahendrayo,

Samapravarthika kadha sadashivam bhajamyaham. 12



When will I be able to worship that eternal shiva,

With a feeling of equanimity towards snake and a garland,

Towards great gems and dirt or friends and enemies,

Or Towards a blade of grass and lotus like eyes,

Or emperor and ordinary men.



Kada nilampa nirjaree nikunja kotare vasan,

Vimuktha durmathee sada sirasthanjaleem vahan,

Vilola lola lochano lalama bhala lagnaka,

Shivethi manthamucharan kada sukhee bhavamyaham. 13



When will I live the life of pleasure , meditating on Shiva,

Sitting near a hollow place near the celestial river Ganga,

Releasing all my bad thoughts and with hands clasped above my head,

After releasing all passion for the pretty women with shifting eyes?



Imam hi nithya meva muktha muthamothamam sthavam,

Padan , smaran broovan naro vishudhimethi santhatham,

Hare Gurou subhakthimasu yathi nanyadha gatheem,

Vimohinam hi dehinaam sushakarasya chithanam. 14



This greater than the great prayer if read,

Remembered, or recited daily by man,

Will make him pure, eternal,

And he would get devotion to Shiva leading him to salvation,

For remembering Lord Shiva, is a sure method of removal of detachment.





Poojavasana samaye dasa vakhra geetham,

Ya shambhu poojana param padthi pradhoshe,

Thasya sthiraam radha gajendra thuranga yuktham,

Lakshmeem sadaiva sumukheem pradadathi shambu. 15



He who sings this song composed by the ten headed one,

At the end of every worship or ,

Reads it after worship of Shiva on the Pradosha day ,

Will get by the blessing of lord Shiva, chariots, elephants and horses,

As well as the affectionate sight of god of wealth.



Ithi Ravana krutham,

Shiva thandava stotram,

Sampoornam,



Thus ends the prayer of the dancing Shiva,

Composed by Ravana.

1843- 1853

1844 - 1853
Nothing to significant happened, oh yeah except for everyone wanting a piece of trade with japan. Im sure the opium wars had everyone nervous, but probably not as nervous as the over haul of changes this new Bakunin was bringing about in order to show power/dominance. As in the 1830's everyone was vying for more power. Also, there were more than grumblings about the state of the Samurai in general. The idea that many resorted to extortion and gambling is not at all far fetched, personally, Im thinking that it was the norm more than the exception.

The only information I have of anything occuring in 1844 is a list of people born at that time. Im refraining from putting what they 'are going to do'. I really want a small bio of these people, but allas... that is not possible rt now.
Kawamura Naka
Matsumae Nrihiro- the son of Matsumae-han daimyo
Todo Heisuke
Yamaguchi Hajime

This guy is the central figure of what Im writing. There is MUCH speculation about him as there really isnt much known, and those who know are not sharing much. Im going to try to write this as a mirror to historical events. Sure its, a 'fantacy/fiction' piece, but that's no excuse for being slovenly or inaccurate about it.

Differant people will give you differant answerd as to his actual birthday. I will stick with Arman's time line and say he was born Monday, February 19. He was born in Edo to Yamaguchi Yuusuke and Masu in Edo.

I think Yusuke deserves special mention here. I just think he was a kinda neeto guy. Initially he was of the rank ashigaru, a foot soldier (not a very high rank) and was beholden to the Akashi Clan in the Banshuu, Harima. When he was 21 he decided to hand everything over to his younger sister and go to Edo. I recall reading somewhere ... (Im looking for it now) that he had provided benificial information in regards to.... (something???) and was given a special comodation, and taught some of the aizu clan noble children swordsmanship.

There he served as a lower samura for "Suzuki" (its speculated Suzuki Shigesuki) in Kanda, Ogawa, Edo. Durring this time he saved his money and baught stocks(or so I have read Im not sure about this part). I know he baught the rank of Gokenin - shogun's direct vassal. --- Im not done here, Im going to add things after I feed the starving child that is my son.

Initially I wasnt going to have hajime and fujin meet later, probably when they were about 12 or so, but when I think on the arrival of the black ships and how traumatising it probably was. It shook the already shakey ground of japan esp after the reforms that did not stick and intensity of social messes of the climb for more notable positioning and business and commerce issues. Im not sure how much this would impact a nine year old (10 year old) but Im pretty sure that it was at least MILDLY terrifying, and it would be good to have a confidant or best freind. So Im changing the original idea.


When fujin walked into the shop, all eyes turned toward her. It was rather unusual to see a geisha unacompanied by a man, and certainly unheard of for her to stop in a small resteraunt such as this. The woman behind the counter made her opinion on this imediately known.

"Oy ! You ! No prostitues allowed!:" she snarled.
Fujin continued walking as if she were def and sat at a table near the back left corner, directly in view of the kitchen and front doors.

The business woman glowered down at her "ARE you def??? I said no prostitutes are allowed !"
Fujin raised her eyebrows slightly. "As I am not one, you could not have possibly been reffering to me." She then gave a small smile. "I would like the bread and chicken dinner please. I would also have tea, of course."
The woman groweled out the price, in which case Fujin provided the coins. Then she took something out of the bag she carried and handed it to the surley woman.
"What is this for!?" she asked eying it suspiciously.
None in the resturaunt heard what she said, but the woman turned red in the face, glared and stomped off. Keeping the bottle.

Fujin looked around with polite interest and was braught the bread and tea in short order, in which she ate with perfect neetness. She was very awaire of the men starring at her, one pointedly NOT. She looked at them for a moment with raised eyes and slightly bemused look, then promplty stood and to thhier great surpirse, joined them.

"If you are going to strain to stare at me, the least I can do is help so you dont ruin your eyes." She said pleasantly, continuing to eat her bread.

Harada and Shinpatchi broke out into gales of luaghter while Heiskei turned a deep red. No one really expected Saitou to have any change in demeanor and accepted his tacturn non challont , nonreaction as a matter of course.

"HA ! So you have a sense of humor !" Harada boomed.
She only smiled in response.
"E-excuse me..." Heisuki attempted..."What is a.... lady such as yourself doing here?"
The woman glowered deeply as she aproached the table with the house special chicken dish.
"Ah, I have heard many a time of the bread and chicken here. Many people compliment it and talk of when they can next return." She looked up at the woman and gave her a polite nod.
The woman in question, actually blushed, looking uncomfortable. "Thank you." she said harshly
"It is not false praise if it is earned." she smiled at the woman.
"TRUE TRUE Shinpatchi exclaimed... "no... lets have that sweet bread you make too !!!!!!"
281

1830 - 1844 Trying to Keep it Simple

Special thanks to arman for all his research and translations
In part some of this campe from Ito tetsuya's saito hajime nenpu
(since Im illiterate)

So as well al should know : japan was isolated. This didnt sit well with a lot of people. And Im not talking about the ones outsied of Japan eather. The Samurai had grown 'softer than women' and were the largest debters around. Merchants and wealthy farmers were the ones that usually 'govorned' the smaller provinces. The Pharon had pulled in with some shipwecked saiors, and a few missionarys (oh that couldnt have gone over well, esp when you consider WHY japan was isolated) and the bakufu was not in the mood for such things.

There wasnt much outside trade so you can imagine the market as more of a canabalistic thing that dog eat dog. So even though there was prospereity to a point, there was also civil unrest that couldnt be contained. Most of the Bakufu's power lay in the city so many of the land was rather unprotected (not satsuma though) so when the Pharon was turned away, people complained through publication. They were then arrested and questioned. Some ended up committing seppuku others were imprisoned.

It didnt hep that some people were extrodanarly paranoid about the russians. It wasnt with out bias, but a bit before its time. And its interesting when you look at the literature of these men in the early 1800's it was almost as if they were predicting the future, because all thier concerns seemed to come to pass.

There were some things in the western world that the schollers though would be rather beneficial to society, esp in the medical field. In all seriousness the only people the Japanese seemed to be able to tolerate were the dutch. Im sure I read about the chinese ships docking.

One thing I want to stress is that the foriegners who came to visit, stayed in one place far out of the public eye and their movements were controlled.

As far as the 'philosophy' of the day goes, we are looking at a synthasis between (in my mind anyway) of Confucionism, Buddhism and shintoism. I think to drastically simplify it would be LOYALTY to Emporer, Lord, Family in that order. The GROUP / WHOLE is greater than the individual.

As for the Samurai vs Ninja... another oversimplification would be Samurai was a RANK. The POINT of a Samurai was to die for thier lord at any given time and should be prepared for such. The Ninja were expected to survive and report back and was NOT a rank.

Around the time of the 1830's we see that rural leaders esp in the Shikoku domain of Tosa, who were snubbed not just bay Samurai of rank, but petty samurai of barely any rank, not to mention the more urban representatives, demanded surnames. Remember these leaders didnt exactally have rank. They had MONEY. After all of this in the 1840's these leaders (shoya) decided they were more prestegious than Samurai. To quote the Cambridge history of japan (insert copyrite data here) " Should we not say that the shoya, who is the head of the commoners, is superior to the retainers who are the hands or feet of the nobles?" (secret document)

T some point in time that my book is not mentioning, Aizawa talked to/questioned/interrogated some English whailer that had landed on Mito cost in Otsuhama. It says his suspicians of agression were confirmed, though he spoke no english and a small bit of Russian. "The Europeans, he con-eluded, "now endeavor to annex all nations in the world, The wicked doctrine of Jesus is an aid in this endeavor. Under the pretext of trade or whatever, they approach and become friendly with peoples in all areas, secretly probing to see which countries are strong and which are
weak. "9°

This might seem like an overblown xenophobic statement, untill you recall the fiasco where 'the church' attempted to anex a bit of japan. Also the Christian doctrine is directly conflicting to the beliefe system at its basic core of Honoring the Son of Heaven.



In the 1830's there was horrid weather bringing about famine. Even before this the Bakufu had been having to regulate prices of goods especially rice, This did absolutely nothing to help the matter. There was the added mass hysteria due to the every 60 yr eruption of Okagemairi. This time period is also known for its mass civil unrest. For example : 1831, in Choshu, for example, "a routin edemonstration against the domain's cotton monopoly suddenly spilled over into fourteen similar incidents, in which more than 100,000 people terrorized the entire area.1* In 1836, too, during the famine, the Gunnai region north of Mt. Fuji saw an incident involving an estimated 30,000 angry, hungry protestors - an event without parallel, according to one contemporary observer, "even in old military histories
and chronicles." Just a month later, another 10,000 demonstrators plunged the province of Mikawa into uproar, while in 1838 almost the entire island of Sado - some 250 villages in all - rose in anger.1'"

In 1837 The Morrison had a repeat of the Pharon... castaways, missionaries anchored in Edo bay. They were shot at, they were shot at again at Kagoshima a few days later. This same year, a rumor that Great Brittan was planning on annexing the Bonin Islands. (it was discussed yes, but was concluded to be a pointless endevor) As if people weren't paranoid enough. Then, in 1840 there was that bit o fighting in china. Im sure it didnt help much to quell people's feelings.

Keep in mind that nothing such as this had happened before under the Tokagawa Bkakufu. Perhaps here and there, riots or a civil unrest coupled with all this disturbing visitations not to mention 'information' sppeing in. There were roughly 1/2 million Samruai... all now beurocrats, not warriors. For the most part they were unable to protect thier nation. Whether in an insular way or from outsiders.

I think one of the lowest points if all the above wasnt enouth, there was the Rebellion of 1637. Most Samurai were much poorer than their ancestors; yeah they had stypends but infation happens. They couldnt afford things like equipment and such. It is said many resorted to drinking heavaly and gambling. Not only this but they borrowed money and never payed it back. Other problems included daimyo were not adiquitely utalizing thier own rescources as effectively, taxation was an issue. People moving into the city decreased the agricultural community. And when you think about it, many families produced much of thier own food, but now famers were more for commercial business. And it was the 'wealthy' land owners hiring laborers to work the land. Taxes just didnt work.

Even the Shogun was in debt. The political order was on very shakey ground at this time, and the bakun taisei was under question. "Under this system, political
authority was delegated by the emperor (whether he liked it or not) to
the shogun, the head of the Tokugawa house. The shogun in turn,
while commanding an establishment of his own to coordinate certain
national functions like foreign affairs and defense, delegated much of
the responsibility for local administration to 264 local rulers. These
daimyo (or their bureaucracies) governed their own domains, collected
their own taxes, and maintained their own armies. As vassals of the
shogun, they were obliged to give him whatever assistance he might
require, no matter what the cost to themselves, and so should they
prove negligent or miscreant, their lands and rank were to be forfeited"

To say the order had degraded by the Tempo era would be putting it mildly. Not to mentiont that the Shogunate, the Samurai could not protect Japan from outside invasion should it occure. They couldn't even keep the peace INside of the borders. Even now, while the Shogun enforced isolation, people were calling for an end of it, in the name of national security. I have not yet explained why it seems most Samuarai in the city ? Why were they now beurocrats?
Weren't they supposed to be ... everywhere???

Technically I suppose.... however, Tokagawa Iasha initiated the HOSTAGE system in order to enforce OBEDIANCE. So for one year the Samurai and his family, I beleive the diamyo's as well had to live in the city, and one year in their own domain.

There were many reforms around this time but one in particular stood out in my mind. The daimyo could now choose to repudate his depbts. Now 'comercial developements' were regulated, which cut taxes, not increased them. Oh wait, there is more ! Most do do with money, lack there of and monopolies. People of rank forcing people to give them loans. Business owners suffocating under regulations of what they can and cant produce and can and can't sell it. It was about this time that Satsuma, Choshu, Saga and Kumamoto, began to arm itself in a very proactive serious way. They were even sending people to be trained at Takashima Shuhan's school. The reforms sucked, no one was happy with them.

THe police were increased. Not that it helped
"The crisis in foreign affairs also was uniquely the shogun's concern.
His very title, supreme commander of the pacification of barbarians
{sei-i tai shdgun), made it impossible for that particular responsibility
to go to anyone else"
Keep in mind the port of Nagasaki was the ONLY port for outsiders.
Ineari Tokagawa retired in 1837 but with the help of his political friends, eps the ones refered to as: The Three spycophants. In 1841, Tokagawa Ineari, fell ill and died. Imediately the psychophants were dismised with in three months. Of all the senior officails only two remained.

In 1941 is where we see a major change in the Bakufu's isolation policy. This actually pleased quite a few people. They now allowed ships to dock and get supplies and retun cast aways. The ecconomic reforms at the time cenetered around the people leavign thier farms and seeking employment elsewhere. The bakufu became very strickt about staying in your POSITION there fore one's job reflected one's rank. The enforced monopolies were broken.

No tatooing !!! weird. The bakufu declaired war on imorality and frivolity. That probably didnt work very well. No senf indulgance for you !! The prostitution that was illigal (there was legally sanctioned prostitution by the way) was so out of controll that there were edicts issues as to restrict the occupations women in that profession would engage in as a cover for thie 'illicit' activities.

Then the bakufu 'retook' so to speak part of the daimyo's land. After ... two centruies, they were reminded the position of the Bakufu, this could not have been pleasant.

("you really arnt capturing the 'mood' All that is technical stuff. You dont mention the ......desolation there. We were all poor, we were frustraited. High ranking samruai were a flat pain in the ass, they treated lower ranks with the same disgust as ...well... everyone else. It was being locked into a desolate situation where you couldnt get above it no matter what you did. There was RAGE there. Sure you had the bussiness guys all puffy and offended and what that boiled down to was their money. But for us. we had no honor or pride. We were supposed to, but it just wasnt there. The whole time period was a keg filled with explosives for everyone. Everyone was paranoid, everyone looked down on everyone else. All people wanted was a better station in life and we COULD NOT have it !" )



greed, paranoia and a great desire on everyone part for changes, the only problem *is* what should those changes be? Its not like everyone could agree on anything. All of the politics, and decisions were not what the common man saw, just the results or lack there of. whether is was a lifting of a monopoly or a control on ethics. Lets just face it made it much harder to have fun and forget your troubles. What the common man worried about was not just putting food on the table but having the respect of those around him. While he watched people and thier greedey quest for power, he is on the sidlines toiling, sweat and tears. Bushido though unexplainable in western terms is tangible here, an achievement. Here almost every fascet of your life was governed by the rule of the Bakufu. Unfoturnately, even if the system was believed in, it was hardly effective. The bakuful could not keep the peace at this time nor put its people at ease. If I would describe this time period littered with woe, volcanoes erupting, famine running rampant, and wealthy land owners vying for power, that bakufu itself, had to show it was still strong by userping land from the daimyo. The drastic change of utter isolation to allowing ships to harbor for resuply and to bring back castaways. This is the way the age ends.

Astrology . com : Saturn and Uranus

Change is in the air. Again! Saturn and Uranus will be exactly opposite each other again on September 15, forming what is known as an 'opposition' in astrology -- two planets positioned 180 degrees apart. This is the third of five such oppositions that started on November 4, 2008, and it will continue until July 26, 2010. These oppositions always come in a cycle, and happen approximately every 45 years. The last time these two planets formed oppositions was 1965 to 1967, and before that from 1918 to 1920. The Saturn-Uranus opposition that sent us on a roller coaster ride last fall and earlier this year returns for an encore to evoke more major shifts, both in your personal life and globally. Think back to November 2008 and February 2009 - what was happening in your life back then?

You may be in for another round of changes - this month and beyond - which will no doubt accelerate your personal growth. It isn't always fun, but it's sometimes necessary.

Saturn is the planet of authority and experience, and represents the tough and conservative disciplinarian, while Uranus is wild and unconventional -- the maverick planet of change. Saturn rules the status quo, while Uranus rules reform.

Saturn and Uranus are mortal enemies in mythology, and their combined energies in astrology signal tension and transformation. Issues that have been festering beneath the surface emerge, and the rules of the game shift. Uranus energy brings innovation through instability. Sudden and unexpected events shake our foundations and force us to look at things in a new way.

In order to make wise decisions during these times, we need to look at where Saturn and Uranus is located in our charts to help us assess where to make changes in our lives, and how to break out of established routines. Astrology shows us the themes that are in play, and guides us by providing important information. Yet, we are the ones who have to decide what to do with that data. Make sure you're not on the sidelines now. This is the time to get involved!

Saitou Hajime quote (or was it fujita gorou when he said this ?)

"Yamaguchi Jiro. Age at death, 27. A former Tokugawa retainer, he joined Shinsengumi in Kyoto, serving as an assistant commander. He was a skilled and fierce swordsman. Coming to Aizu, he fought and won distinguishment, becoming unit commander. On the 4th day of the 9th month of Keio 4 (1868 ), he fought alongside 13 comrades at Nyoraido in Aizu, surrounded on all four sides by over 300 enemies. Taking the Choshu men down with him, he died a resplendent death. Truly he was a splendid, faithful, and brave warrior."


Sure, we were feared, but we were fools, too. Kyoto people don’t take outsiders easily. We could say we were Shinsengumi, under the command of Aizu-han, but if you looked closely, we were just a gathering of freeloading men with no station in life. Ill-behaved and ill-mannered. Anyway, we borrowed the local town hall north of the temple; this made our encampment larger, and we picked up recruits there. It worked better than we thought. After all, we'd been recruiting in Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo, too. I was hanging around Osaka then. Sure, I had name and sword, but I was the second son of a nameless foot soldier peon too small for chopsticks or staff, so I wasn't anyone important enough to be classed as a "deserter" from a clan. I was young, too, so I left home.

translations by Armen Bakalian ( you are a beautiful man !)

All Paths Lead to Me -Krishna to Arjuna - Bhagivad Gita

the
Bhagavad Gita
A walkthrough for westerners
jack hawley
copyrite 2001

Bhagivad Gita - Krshna to Arjuna - I have no favorites. Whatever path a person travels to Me is My path. In whatever way a person approaches Me, I return like for like. If they treat Meas father or mother, I treat them as My children. If they serve Me as master, I accept thier services as thier Lord. If they worship me as a child, I approach them as a child. Those who pine for Me, I pine for. Those who see Me as friend, I am friend. Even for those who perceive Me as enemy, I approach as an enemy. All paths lead to Me, Divinity.

I dont think people really pay attention to their presentation

THIS is what I got in my email.... at first I had NO IDEA who it was

I dont remember what started it, but this guy really offended me a while back when I was working in a metaphysical shop. I gave him the nickname of Toilet Man... I wonder if my voodoo priestess remembers why....

John September 12 at 9:17pm Report
I still think you have a nice ass

Radha Govinda September 13 at 1:07am
you couldnt even start off by saying hello?

John September 13 at 7:25am Report
hello

Radha Govinda September 13 at 10:12am
its a little late for that now

John September 13 at 10:36am Report
i cannot take it back

Radha Govinda September 13 at 12:05pm
nope ya cant, but you do understand that getting an email like that is stalkercreepy right ?

John September 13 at 12:53pm Report
yes i do i did not mean it in that way just wanted to compliment you on your rear

Radha Govinda September 13 at 11:47am
can you possibly speak to me as if Im something *MORE* than a life support system for my ass, boobs and vagina ?

Kakumai : Prelude

The crisp breeze surrounded Yahto Mitexi and her parents as they walked through the woodlands, just outside Saint City Proper. Even though she was only seven years of age, and even though she had never set foot outside the City of The Anointed, she felt relieved to be there. It was as if a weight had been lifted.

Since her parents were concentrating on going toward their destination they were quiet. Yahto knew it was more than likely her imaginings but it felt as if the ground was aching, as if the wind was singing a lament of sorrow. The trees seemed to also be in a state of morning. She was only surprised by her imaginings, not the state of things...

She imagined she sensed the animals picking up on their scent, giving them a wide birth. Occasionally, they would walk through sun patches, and she could feel the warmth on her face... she imagined she could hear the chatter of the trees... as if they were telling her in which direction she should go... which did not happen to be the one she was headed in.

"we are almost there." Her father said sternly. Both of them looked mildly disgusted.

"Do you understand why we have brought you here?" her mother said in a low, dangerous voice.

"To show me where the cleansing and divine punishment took place." she made sure to keep her tone respectful and voice soft as befitting to someone of her stained soul.

"yes." her mother clipped.
"You were one of the chosen ones." Her father began his litany, and she knew better then to allow her attention to wander while he spoke. "It is your duty to repent for the sins of depravity of your previous family."

"Vile, dirty sinful savage beasts." her mother snarled.

Yahto looked down. She had been told these things many times. This, however was the first time she'd been taken to where her tribe had lived.... where The Missionaries of Purity had cleansed the land of the evil that had been her origins..

She bumped into her fathers back, her mother gasped. She looked up and around...

She saw... the yellow eyes of a wolf.....
"You two stay here." He pulled out his TAG-U... she backed up slowly.... heard him call the Missionaries of Purity... to come and finish an extermination.....

She kept backing up...Yahto had been told that the wolves and humans of this place were Abominations unto this earth, but she didn't want to see them killed. Her feet took flight and she was then able to follow the chatter of the trees.

She wasnt sure how long she'd ran, but when she stopped, she knew she was out of breath and she didn't think she could take another step.

"are you lost little one?" A kindly voice asked.
She jumped, looking about her. There were three Clansmen. Of course, this was the Territory of the Animal Clans, it was only expected that one clan would branch off and take this aria since the other clan was .... (her clan, her mind whispered) was removed.

She wondered if they too were abominations. Her parents had told her that the A.C. Territories were filled with primitive people and thusly they were dirty and sinful, but she wasn't really sure if that made them all abominations or not....

"here." the elderly man handed her a water vessel. She looked at him a moment. Was it tainted? Since all A.C. were tainted she was sure she'd been told all their food was as well....

but she was thirsty... she tentatively took hold of it.

"how did you come across this place?" the elder asked softly.

"My parents... " she didn't want to insult the man, or his people so she attempted to choose her words carefully. "we came here to ... pay respects to the vanished clan."

One of the two remaining men, warriors by the looks of them snorted, glowered, but said nothing. All three of them looked her over.

"as do we." the elder told her. "My name is Tiama, what is yours?"

"Yahto." she told him quietly. She wondered if he would know she was from the A.C. Tribe that was an abomination.....

"well, Yahto, once a year we come here to respect the ... lost tribe, we leave food offerings and sing laments for the dead. Perhaps if you walk with us, you will find your parents, since we are traveling to the same place."

She nodded. It seemed like the best idea, since she had no idea where she was, or how to get back to where she had been.

"Did your parents tell you anything about the Clan that lived here?" Tiama asked.

She thought it wiser to lie, so she shook her head.

"They were a people sacred to the land and spirits. They were of the wolf..." he said in barely a whisper. "they had bridged the gap between human and wolf, being both. They were caretakers, craftsmen, hunters and great healers."

He said nothing else after that. She wasnt sure what to make of what he said.... she didnt quite understand what it was that had made that particular tribe an abomination, but from what Tiama had said to her... they didnt sound too sinful.... she walked on, in silent contemplation.

The hair on the back of her neck stood on end... in her imagination, she could hear death cries... it was so loud... she even looked around.

The three men looked worried...
"Please, little Yahto, stay close to us." Tiama whispered to her. "and walk softly, and in our foot falls."

In that instant the two younger men disappeared from sight... Tiama carefully wove a path for the two of them. Was that blood she smelled? No... it .. couldn't be ...
could it?

Something made her run... as if there were an invisible rope tied around her middle and someone had just yanked it.... even in the air she felt horror...... her feet carried her, but when she arrived to the destination, she wished she hadn't...

all the blood, all the bodies... torn apart. She was vaguely aware that she was screaming, as she ran from body to body looking for sings of life....

it was faint. and she knew it was there...

but if she didnt find it soon

it would wither... as it was doing....

she felt wetness on her face.... she felt the blood on her hands

Seizonsha had never hurt like this before.... his eyes were not focusing right.....

he attempted to look at his sleeping mother... her head didnt look right... white and red.... blood.. Seizonsha tried to move, could not....

It happened so quickly, the humans ... there was fog... the humans hid behind the fog... somehow had removed thier scent.... the wrong black fog...

He heard screaming. A human girl... crying.. he tried to focus his eyes. He could see her as a blur... what was she doing ? She went from one member of the pack to another.... he faded out... faded back in as her hysterical sobbs got closer...

... still crying.... why was she, a human crying? It was humans who did this ?

He felt something. A strange kind of warmth.... comming from her ... his eyes faded out as did he.

She was holding him... warming him, his pain increased. Seizonsha could do nothing, not even whimper. Why was the girl torturing him... wasn't killing him slowely enough... it was more than warm, it burned and froze at the same time. Even though his chest had been ripped open he now felt as if it were being seared off... he lost himself....

He smelled humans... the kind that were friends to his pack... he was warm, aching only slightly, his chest and head throbbed.... the girl was clutching him .... still crying.....

He could see now. She was covered in the blood of his pack. Her dark brown hair matted with it.... she looked like those that were friend, but she smelled like.... the humans who did this....

"What are you doing!?!" Her mother screeched.
Her father grabbed her and pulled her up... "release that filthy thing at once !!!!" he shook her....

The Clansmen announced their presence. Her parents stopped yelling... stopped moving really.

"Did you do this?" Tiama asked quietly.
"Of course not." her father snarled
"how vulgar." her mother sniffed.
Yahto didnt think they believed her parents. She didnt think she believed them either... wasn't lying shameful ?
The Tribesmen eyed the weapons her parents carried.
"we thought our daughter was in danger." her father snapped.
The Tribesmen looked pointedly around at the carnage.
"The wolves are sacred to us.. we will take care of the rest." The Shamen picked up the surviving pup. "You should take your daughter and go."

Yahto thought she heard a sneer in there.... her father yanked her up....



Benji wrung his hands, the Elder of Dog waited patiently. He stammered through his speech. He knew, of course that one should follow ones visions, but he also knew that The Administrators of the government of Strega had sympathetic leanings toward The Church of the Anointed. He also knew that both groups were not above disposing of those who didnt agree.

His Learning Center was in a state of degradation. The Church of the Anointed did not approve of the Mage force nor anyone who was a part of it, and The Administrators did not like those outside of their control. No, it was best to cooperate with the two groups, before they delcaired those of the Mage Force outlaw.

The child, like the Elder with him, their energy and aura, a merging between human and animal unsettled Benji, they were outside the norm. He didnt have time for this kind of thing at any rate, many, many mages had disappeared forming factions in protest of the Administration's restrictions regarding practices, some even attempting to fight against The Church of the Anointed. Of course there was not to mention Typhon and his group, what ever they were up to, he wasnt sure, but the man was certainly powerful and he had an alliance with The Church.

He couldn't take the boy. He had no choice but to take the boy. They were stinking up his office. He took them to one of his storage rooms, it was mostly empty, and told them not to touch anything. He had to have time to think. He could not take them, but by the Laws of the Learning Center he had to....

He walked back wondering if he could possible get that Dora woman of the Gardanian Learning Center to take the boy. It would be best to shove him off over there. He could explain to this savage, stinking person, that it was the best way, he should by all means contact Dora yes, yes he would do that......


Seizonsha remembered his own chest had been ripped open. No a trace of the wounds remained. He and the Elder circled the small room. There was not much in there. A table in the center that the fearful man had told them not to go near, a box on the table.

Seizonsha decided to fiddle with the box. eventuall hewas able to open the differant levels. It was lined with red satin, and inside were funny shaped black crystals. Each had eight sides.

Seizonsha studdied them for a moment, wondering what kind of value they had to be the only objects in this room, besides the table. He bent over and looked at them. The shape was nice, but he couldnt see what else could be so important about them.

Seizonsha picked them up...
It was as if somoene had pried open his head. He saw colors, shapes and then he KNEW, but it hurt.....

Tiama rushed to the boy, catching him before he hit the floor, stabilizing him as he began to convulse and frothe that the mouth. Tiama removed his tunic, slid it under the proximity of Seizonsha's head, so it wouldn't bang on the floor.

The Frightened Man appeared in the door way just as Seizonsha stopped convulsing. He lay frighteningly still, with his eyes open and glazing, the Elder checked Seizonsha for breath. .

The Frightened man became more frightened and angrily.
"What is this, that happened here?" The Elder asked. The Frightened man was swearing at the top of his lungs.

"Octicrystals !!!!" the Frightened man boomed.

The Elder stood his full height in between child and enraged man.

"What is this octicrystal and what has it done to the boy?" The Elder asked softly, calmy, in such a frightening authoritarian way that the Frightened man wilted.

"THey had the Knowledge of the Orriginal Technomancers of Strega !!!!!!"
The Elder Looked at Seizonsha, whose eyes were now shut, seeming to be sleeping.

"Is this a problem?" The Elder asked.


"You are raving." Dora said tersely. Benji was far at the bottom of her list of people she had any type of desire to talk to. That weak man and the men before him, had all but ruined the Strega learning center. It was surprising to her that Queen Grail hadn't taken the matter up, as long as she'd known Grail, she couldn't ever predict the Queen of Tamery, or what she would do or when. That was what usually kept the countries in line.

Dora lowered her eyelids in loathing toward the odios man's image in the View Mirror. Could they extricate the Knowledge from the boy indeed !!! She knew that Benji himself had attempted to get the Knowledge out of those crystals for many years just like his predecessors, parading thier most gifted students in front of the octicrystals in hopes they would Transmit thier knowledge. There was something pathetic about a men with such little patience and understanding. Only those who Resonate with an octicrystal will receave its Transmission.

The Streaga Learning Center was downright vulgar, run by a man of incompetence. The stink of the corruption sickened her.
"Where is the boy now?" She all but seethed. The watter spheres, began a light drizzle, the furniture in her office, created by Torn began to coat with a very thick layer of ice.
"They are with our Senior Tenchnomancer." he said belligerently. The arogant man stood stiffley, his fat rippling with indignation.
"You will send them through to me by Stationary Port NOW. Before they are further damaged or killed.
The nausiating man sputtered with offense. "THOSE ARE OUR OCTICRYSTALS"
She allowed the illusion of human image to drop, revealing her TRUE form of Taller Salamander Fae. The man turned pale, looking as if the shock would cause him to have a heart attack on the spot.
"It is known of the corruption of your Learning Center, that you allow a man like Typhon to run free, to be directed by The evil of the Church of the Anointed, to be swayed by politics. You will send them now." To make her point clearer, as the water globes rained she sent her blue flames of rage to destroy his viewing mirror.


Yahto knelt in place, as she had for the past hour. Her knees bleeding from the embossed wood kneeler. She prayed for cleansing and salvation as she was told. The chaines around her wrists and ankles cold. She did not understand why Healing was wrong or sinful, so she prayed for understanding and guidance. For salvation from evil.

She ignored the cold seeping through the cracks of the door, touching her bare skin. There were no windows. Just the kneeler, the symbols of faith on the wall in front of her, and a wardrobe in the far end of the room. She prepared for the cleansing, once she had accomplished that, she would be given a bath of purity, her hair would be shaved, to remind her of her shame, she would be given clothes. She didnt like not having clothes, but her father told her it was necesary to revail the evil of her form. To expose it so that she could be cleansed.

Her back ached from the lashes of punishment she had received. She prayed harder so that she would no longer be evil, for it was that reason she had suffered the whip.

The door creaked open slightly, she turned her head, but no light came in, just a shadow of a figure of a man. She wondered what her next punishment of atonement would be, tried to accept it in her mind instead of the fear. She prayed for salvation.

The figure stood, in the dimness she could see it was not a man, not quite, though he was older than she.
He stood for a moment, starring.
"What the fuck?"
She didnt know what to say.
"Where are your clothes? What the hell did the psycho's do to you?"
"The clothes are in the wardrobe, but I havent been purified yet." She said in confusion. Who was this person. His red hair seemed to create an early soft glow.
He walked to the window, looked out. In the distance she could hear something like an angry mob. He glared at her as if making a decision. There was anger and offense, revulsion and disgust flickering on his face. She bowed her head in shame.
"I will be goddamned if Im going to let you stay here. I may be an asshole, but Im not as sick as these fucking people." He stomped to the wardrobe and pulled out the burlap robe of repentance. He shook it out and looked at in in disbelief. "What the shit is this? These are what you call clothes?" He snarled at her, she flinched under his anger. His eyes, she was sure his eyes were glowing red.... was he a demon sent to test her resolve. She said another prayer for salvation.
He stomped back over to her. In turn he took each shackle in hand, and though she didnt understand the how, they burned for a moment and then crashed to the floor. Her wrists were burnt.
"Ah crap, sorry about that, Im not as good at the small shit, put this on, Im not pervert enough to enjoy hanging out with a naked little girl." He said dumping the robe in front of her.
"I havent been cleansed yet, I cant wear that." she protested.
His hair caught on fire. "Sick bastards. Goddamnit, you put that on or I will shove you into it !" His voice full of rage.

She trembled in fear but did not move toward the clothing. Insted she continued praying for salvation. He didnt wast a minute, he was true to his word, shoving the robe over her head.
He smelled slightly of musk and sulfer, for some reason, it calmed her. She did not fight him, she knew she would not win.

It was then that the door burst open, she knew it was her father before his booming voice filled her ears. The flaming haired young man stepped in between her and her enraged father.
"UNHAND MY DAUGHTER !!!! What ever perverted action you intend to take, I will kill you DEMON!!!" Her father challenged.

The boy? man? in between???? grabbed her by the arm "you sick shit bag, Im not crap enough to let you do this to her .... " His hiar still red-orange flame, he held his hand out.... flame engulfed her father, the riotous mob sounded closer, her fathers screams tearing at her ears. The flaming demon threw her over his shoulder like a sack and ran.....

There was fire. There was screaming. He ran for a time.... the heat lessened, the night air regained its chill. He finally set her down.
"you hungry?" he demanded. His hair was no longer on fire. His eyes no longer resembled pools of lava.
His hair was an interesting mix of red, orange and yellow. His eyes were green as emeralds. He looked like the boys that played foot ball at the school she attended. He wore a tight, short sleeved black shirt, and wide legged khaki pants, fulll of pockets, his jacket was green, like his eyes. She vaguely wondered what he needed a jacket for. She attempted not to shiver.
He was glaring at her. She wilted trying not to shiver.
"I havent even hurt you, quite acting like Im going to. I saved you right???" He demanded angrily "You know I dont usually do that kind of shit.... damnit here, put this on and quite shivering. Dont you know when someone is trying to help you?" He sounded less angry and more like she'd somehow hurt his feelings.

She put the jacket on, assuming he would just stuff her in it if she didnt. He held out a sandwich and a canteen. She took them too, wondering if he would just poor the water down her throat if she didnt, or shove the food in her mouth.
"Torrik, that is my name. Whats yours?" He asked her, looking behind them.
"Yahto." she said around the food in her mouth, she was very hungry, it had been three days since she ate.
"oh fuck, they are comming. Im not trying to kill them... they just keep trying to kill me the bastards. Come on." He grabbed her arm, above her burt wrist and pulled her after him. Down the road, she saw it, a portable gate. The evil technomancers built them. Those gates, he parents said, corrupted the purity of the soul.
Two guards, and two technomancer maintainers sat in a cozy looking building of glass. Or what appeared to be glass. Father said, those mage force people created all maner of allusion, making things to be what they should not, they were corruption themselves her father said.

The four exited the port room to greet them, but stopped short when they, like Yahto heard the yelling people. The took defensive positions around the stationary port. Torrik's shoulders sagged. Had he actually hoped not to harm these people?
"Looks like there is nothing for it girlie. Sorry you have to see shit like this. But Im not staying here and Im sure as fuck not leaving you with those creepy fucks."
As he turned, his hair and eyes once again, denoted fire, and fire spread, the people chasing them, the guards and technomancer, and then Torrik ran up to the stationary port, twisted crystals, pulling her along with him.
"I dont know where we are going kid." He grinned and winked at her, a strange sight, then he plunged in.

Dora did not bother with her illusions when she went to the Strega Learning Center to meet with her so called college, the Regent Master Instructor of Strega. The man cowered from her. She had ported herself there, ten minuts after giving him the ultimatum. Generally is was very bad form, an incredible rudeness for one RMI to just wander into a different Learning Center, but she had had enough of this man and the degridation of Strega.

"Where are they?" she asked, softly, almost hissing.
He backed into a wall, shaking, sputtering, sweating, excluding a sweet rancid smell. "I-I sent him through the port, just like you said !!!!" he shrieked in terror.
She walked to the stationary port he'd pointed at and glowered at the Third Master Technomancer. His eyes exuded a blatant honesty that quelled her anger.
"They went through?" she demanded more than asked.
"Err. yes, RMI Dora." The 3rd Master Technomancer said calmly.
"Can you tell where he is?" she asked as she stared into his eyes, she saw something there, that could never be expressed in mere words, and she knew, this man was more than a technomancer, this man was a Technopath. Probably the only living one. It stunned her that he was pretending to be only a Third Master, even at his age. Perhaps he had a strong sense of self preservation.
"It seems he is in Nippon." he said, looking at the stationary port. He then spoke in binary. Dora felt her eyes widen, she then narrowed them and glared at the RMI. As if the 3rd master had said something against him.

What he had said was by far, more disturbing. The gate fluctuated in time when Seizonsha went through. Perhaps by a year. He certainly would no longer be any where near the same port he'd crossed over to.

No one, since the original Technomancers, had been able to do such a thing. And only one, had been able to, even then.

She took, looked at the stationary port. "It would be best for you to go there, as you are probably the most capable in dealing with Seizonsha." She mussed, not caring if anyone agreed. "Would you go to the Learning Center there to address the issue?" Insted of asking the RMI Benji as decorum dictated, she asked the Technopath directly. The Technopath grinned.
"Of course RMI Dora." he bowed to her in defferance of rank.
"N-Now wait a moment, you TAKE my octicrystals and now you take one of my technomasters?" Benji attempted to protest, but backed himself against the wall as she turned slowly toward him, his fear infecting the room.
"He is only a Third Master, surely you will not miss such a low rank." She softly hissed.
"Y-yes, of course, you are right."
She turned toward the Technopath, seeing the amusement dancing in his eyes. "I will make arrangements with the current RMI of the Nipponise Learning Center to have you transfired there."

There was intense bright light and heat, weighing down on Yahto. At first she could barely open her eyes, blinking away the tears, she realized she and Torrik were sitting on sand. The Stationary Port guards stood unmoving, the Technomancers, placed an umbrella type thing over them.
"You probably shouldn't move. Here, may you never thirst"
"Whats going on! Where are we?" Torrik demanded, after hacking up sand.
"They will explaine." the technomancer, covered deeply in black silk robes with only his eyes showing pointed to what looked like a small entourage. A women, surrounded by bearers of a long piece of white clothe to hold over her head. She too was covered so that only her eyes could be seen. As were the bearers.
Torrik sat w/one knee up and layed his thickly muscled arm on top of it. He used his other hand to poor the water down his throte, while Yahto sipped hers.
The woman stopped five feet from them, and bowed. Torrik was not expecting this and choked on his water.
"Welcome, Torrik: Master of the Element of Fire, Welcome Yahto Healer of the Wolf Tribe ! The blessing of Peace Upon you ! May you enjoy perfect health Among us. Our Oracles have told us of your comming, welcome dear children to Tamery."
Torriks mouth and eyes were dangling open with surprise, Yahto surely felt stunned herself. Her father said that Tamery was only a lie, a lie to force people to obey corruption and deviousness. But this lady, was so nice. The two sat, in unmoving silence as the paliquine berrers caught up, a real palliquin not an Oval Transport or Zip disk

The sun, one-third past its zenith, shone brightly down on the odd pair. Xin Lon, thankful for its presence on the breezy post harvest day, soaked the bit of warmth it provided. Her hair remained steadfastly in place, unmoving. This was an addition to the unnaturalness of her life. She stood beside the Sohei monk, Chen Zhen, who was her companion in the tall grasses. Their gold color struck her: that they would be such a pretty color at their death. The grass itself was an amazing thing to her, as it died in beauty, to sleep in winter, to be reborn in the spring.

There were no trees close to them, though there were a few on the homestead toward which the pair were traveling. She could see their colors in this distance; again, she paid attention to their pre-hibernation vibrance.

The homestead looked, not as her report had said, but as if a room had been added. As she gazed upon the field behind the house, she could tell that there had been a recent harvest. This was not unusual for men of Yuusuke's rank, as many people grew personal gardens not intended for beauty, but for practicality. According to her report, they kept some of the produce, and traded and bartered some as well.

"It looks like they are still preparing for our arrival." Xin Lon stated as she watched the mother sit on the porch as a girl began beating a rug. She wasn’t sure what the three boys and father were doing, but their laughter rang and pealed out to where the two of them stood.

"We should rest here; give them the time they need." Chen Zhen said as he lowered himself to sit. Xin Lon sat in the tall grass, the wind singing around her. Chen Zhen, looking amused, began preparation for tea. She flipped out her hand-held portable gateway to study the report on the Yamaguchi family one last time before their final approach. As she was here in her father's place, and too young for such a job, she did not want to seem incompetent or ignorant as she considered Yuusuke was a man of accomplishment, no matter his lowly rank.

He had left his original homestead in the hands of his sister, and then purchased his rank, leaving him enough to buy some stocks and this tract, to become a Landed Soldier. He performed his duties with tenacity, and provided information that rooted out assassins in the Lord Governor’s ranks. Yuusuke was not often allowed to go to his homestead and be with his wife and children, but had been granted special permission for “inspection of his holding”. Landed Soldiers were common, but she did not find Yuusuke common in the least. He had started out an ordinary foot soldier, and had married a farmer's daughter, Masu, who bore him two children a son named Hiroaki and a daughter Okatsu. Her eyes unconsciously flickered toward the family. Maybe the two boys were friends of Hiroaki?

As she read the report regarding their schooling, Chen Zhen poured the tea. She looked up only when she heard laughter wafting out toward them. The intelligence report had stated the school Hiroaki attended, but not his performance. He didn’t have any close friends... who then were those two? The hairs on the back of her neck rose, as they smelled the wind, looking toward the 12-year-old girl and middle-aged monk for a mere instant. Those boys knew they were there, even though they sat so far away, hidden in the tall grass.

"Masu is ill." She glowered at the report, it did not mention this either.

Chen Zhen smiled, in the six months they had traveled together to survey the Landed Soldiers of the Governor’s Province, he had learned much about Xin Lon's amazing perception. He never grew tired of the things she could see.

"How can you tell?" he asked her as he sipped his tea.

He wondered what her thoughts were as the father and boys played, as this was an experience outside of Xin Lon’s short life: the unwanted child of a Provincial Governor, who had been honored with a dangerous duty in the hope that death would result.

"Illness has its colors. Her vibrant energies, being drained and changing to those colors, stain her energy and her aura. In her aura, there are black and greenish brown spots. The spots that should be bright green have darkened. It’s almost as if her energy has given up on the attempt to heal. She is dying."

"What is the nature of the sickness?"
"I don’t know."
"Perhaps some day you may."
"I'd rather not. Chen Zhen, why do I see these things, when no one else does?"

She folded her hands in her lap, continuing to gaze at the family. He wondered, what else would be able to see as she grew older.

He fought an inner battle of discomfort. There were so many things she did not know about her origins; these was best kept secret. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. How does one tell a child, who has been through as much as she has, the truth of her nature? He knew then, that the dreams would come to him, ones he would never share with another soul, other than the Senior Master of the Sohei.

"Who knows?" He answered in a cheerful tone. "Such sight will be useful."

She watched the family enjoy each other’s company, such an alien thing in her life. Every so often the two boys would allow a casual gaze to waft over their position.

"Chen Zhen?" He could feel her gaze rest upon him.
"Yes, child?" He met her dark blue eyes... eyes like none he'd ever before seen.

"The family roster said there were only two children. Hiroaki and Okatsu."
He nodded in agreement
"Then where did the other two come from?"
"Where indeed, well perhaps it is time to find out." He said, but she put her hand on his arm. "Sufi, let us give them more time. They will begin to worry once they see us, it’s already in the air around them, that orange color. It's pale, but palatable."

Chen Zhen looked at her out of the corner of his eye for a moment. Then, he too watched the family. He wondered for a moment if she didn’t feel a bit envious.

"I wonder if it bothers him." Xin Lon mussed.
"What and whom?" Chen Zhen asked her. Sometimes he wasn’t sure if she was talking to him, or something that remained unseen.

"Yuusuke. He has worked very hard, but it’s a matter of course isn’t it? Never mind that many people will do only the work they are supposed to. He gets rewarded not for all of his efforts, but for a piece of information he came across."

"Ah but this piece of information, saved many lives, and put an end to a plan to assassinate the Province Marshal."

She sighed audibly. “I see death lingering around that man, a violent one at that, it makes you wonder what the head of Provincial safety is actually doing as Marshal.
Chen Zhen attempted not to laugh, nearly choking on his tea.

"They know we are here, the younger boys." She felt odd saying it that way; they looked to be her age.
Chen Zhen had not noticed this. "Are you certain?" he asked, a bit concerned. "I haven’t seen them looking toward us." Chen Zhen replied bemused.
"They noticed and looked over when we first got here. You know, I think they can smell us." She pondered toward the family for a moment. "Occasionally, when they turn to do something their gaze fall upon us."
Chen Zhen was a bit surprised that she noticed such things.
"They are very subtle." he said to her
"Their attention is as sharp as a bite."
"Their attention?" he muttered, looking to the younger boys who seemed to be paying them no mind. Xin Lon however, stared intently at the family interaction.
" You have never felt when someone is looking at you, or paying attention to your actions?" She smiled, remembering his stories of getting into trouble as a young monk.
"I can not deny I have." He smiled back.
"Their auras and energy patterns are.... different." She said, staring intently.
"How so?" he asked, leaning forward to look at the people, small in the distance.
She did not answer, but continued her intent stare. It seemed the boys did not appreciate this type of scrutiny. In but a brief moment, Yuusuke was alerted to their presence. It took a moment for the man to see them, but then he waved to them walking to meet them with Hiroaki.

"They are waiting." Jirou said sharply.
Hiroaki and Yuusuke stopped what they were doing and turned slowly toward Jirou, they could not remember him being wrong about such things. Though Hajime was just as sharp in perception, it was usually the eldest of the boys who spoke first.

Hiroaki, looked at his father. "But, there are no gilded Oval transports." usually one could hear their soft hum from a far distance, if not have their eyes burnt out of their sockets by their gaudy nature.
"There are only two. Adult and child." Jirou said, his eyes narrowing.
"Oh! Perhaps our Provincial Governor has brought his son!" Masu exclaimed, delighted, staring into the distance for what her eyes longed for, but could not see.
"How long have they been there?" Yuusuke asked mildly nervous, it would not do to keep the Governor waiting.
"Twenty minutes." Jirou spoke.
"It’s not the Governor." Hajime said, with a glower. "I sense a presence of peace, not of domination or control."
"Then, perhaps it’s just the young Master?" Hiroaku asked, astounded that the Governor would allow his eldest Son to travel so, in such dangerous times.
Both Jirou and Hajime had peculiar looks on their faces. "The Governor only has two sons with him. His daughters are all married, and he had a fair few of those: ten, I believe."
"But there are no Ovals, no guards, so how can we be sure it really is the Governor’s son?" Okatsu posed.
"They have the standard official gateway distributed to..." Jirou’s countenance became mocking, "men of office."
"Perhaps young Master doesn’t prefer fanfare." Hiroaki said impressed.
Jirou snorted in disgust. "That would be a first."
"Well, one would think that The Provincial Governor would be more concerned about his eldest son, inheritor of his position." Hiroeki mussed.
"Maybe he isn’t," Jirou stated as if it were obvious.
"Son?" Hajime asked.
Jirou shot him a look that immediately silenced him.
The others, used to their oddities ignored it.

"Well then, we should greet them, whomever they are." Yuusuke waved toward the figures sitting in the long grass, Hiroaki following him.
"You noticed didn’t you?" Hajime asked his brother in their native tongue, as Okastsu led Masu into the house.
"Of course. We say nothing, just see what happens," Jirou directed.
Jirou and Hajime watched Xin Lon watch them.

Xin Lon and Chen Zhen began their walk, meeting with Yuusuke and Hiroaki at the base of the hill. Each bowed politely to the other.
"If you please, this would be Xin Lon, son of the Provincial Governor. He will be conducting the land and holding survey. I am his companion Chen Zhen."
"Excuse me for my rudeness sir," Hiroaki began with excitement. "You are a Sohei monk, are you not?" He was practically bouncing up and down on his feet.
"Yes, young sir, I am. Very pleased to meet you."
"If I may be so bold, young master." Yuusuke began "There was such an inspection not recently, if I may ask why another so soon?"
Xin Lon fought the urge to sigh, as she did not like politics. “The Senior Master Sohei noticed a discrepancy in the inflow of taxes due to the Learning Center. As a result the Body Of Congress declared that all Province Governors must be inspected by an impartial party, and all the Governors are re-inspecting in turn."

The breeze had picked up to a brisk wind, causing the fabric of Xin Lon’s official Governor’s Vassal tunic to whip round. Chen Zhen's own Sohei robes rippled violently.

"Yes, thank you for the explanation." Yuusuke looked around as if to scold the wind. "If you would like we should go inside. My daughter has prepared a meal for you, and of course if you would like to stay in our home, we can prepare a place for you." He looked a bit abashed. "Of course it is not so fine as if you were to stay in Town."
Xin Lon and Chen Zhen bowed, "Yes, that will be fine." Chen Zhen smiled.
"Before we go." Xin Lon interrupted. "Who are those two boys?" Again, she felt a surge of ridiculousness at herself.
"Young Master..." Yuusuke looked uncomfortable.
"But, we put in the adoption papers last year!" Hiroaki said in defense.
"It is not in my records," she said out loud.
"I apologize, but we are still waiting on the approval for the adoptions." Yuusuke bowed again.
"Please excuse the oversight, it seems none of this made it into my records."

She knew very well it was no oversight. Too often on her journey she had noticed omissions, forcing her to go to a public access to update the records on her portable gateway. She was very close to hiring a Technomancer to input ALL files necessary for the rest of her journey. This was just a way to make her look incompetent.

"When I go to Town to inspect, I will approve it myself. Unless of course you can think of a reason it should not be?" Xin Lon corrected herself. She expected people to be honest, and lately, it seemed the reverse was the normal course of things.

Yuusuke and Hiroaki looked distinctly uncomfortable. Yuusuke heaved a great sigh, and resigned himself. "Young Master, I have not been able to be attentive to my family, regarding my physical presence. Over a year ago, during the spring planting, the two boys showed up and assisted my daughter at her task while Hiroaki was at school. Masu is ill and was unable to help. In honesty, they have never told us where they come from, they never speak of it. I have put them in the regional school, and they seem to do well. They don’t cause many problems and are a great benefit to the family I’m unable to remain close to." He again bowed.

Xin Lon considered this information. There was no reason why she couldn’t get approval for it, but she was more than certain she would need a Technomancer now.

"Did you report them missing?" She asked.
"Yes, young master."

She wondered what the problem could possibly be.
"And the child welfare department has remained silent on this matter?" she asked.
"Yes, it seems so." Yuusuke replied.
She was beginning to wonder just how little attention her father was paying to the general state of things.
"Yes, I will look into this matter as soon as I’m able to get to an access port. If you please, I would very much like to go inside."

Yuusuke bowed and began leading the way.

"Yuusuke-san? What are their names?" she asked as they defied the zephyr.
"They didn’t tell me that. We call them Jirou and Hajime." Yuusuke replied, he and his son remaining steadfast as the wind whipped about them.

Yuusuke was incredably surprised with his Govorner's eldest son. He was polite and respectful at all times to whomever he was interacting with. He was very manerly. In short, he acted the way the son of an important official should, insted of the unruely bratty way most children of high birth were. He even offered to set the table for dinner. He waited on his Sohai companion as well, as if it were he that was the servant. Even Hiroaki was just as impressed with the pair.

Throughout the dinner, Xin Lon held his own in disscussions regarding the state, the local news and the financial affairs of the household. He was not beligerant but was able to ask his questions in such a manner that everyone felt at least and was somehow not the least bit intrusive. He even discussed the literature Hiroaki was studdying in school. On the same vein Xin Lon even disscussed the house hold affairs with Okatsu. Throughout Jirou remained uncharactoristically silent, in a way it was a releafe since he had a tendancy to make it a point to not display any maners. Hajime too, was silent, but that was normal.

They sat around the table with thier tea, after all the dishes had been cleared. The room was dimn and Xin Lon felt 'comfortable'. She opened up her tag-u,/ portable gateway and pulled up the file on the family. She snapped it shut in irriation, looking up, Jirou had a bemused look on his face. He and his brother could have passed for natives of Nippon, and Hajime, with no trouble. Though his hair was long, against most standards. He kept it tied neetly off the top of his crown, it dangled down to his midback. Jirou however, his white hair was kept tied at the nape of his neck, except for one brade on eather side of his face, in the braids were beeded leather. His eyes, dark black, a contradiction the light brown, almost yellow of his brother's.

He sat the way a commoner would, sloppy half lounging. Everyone else sat as decorum dictated.
"It looks like your having a problem." he said in a bored, way as if to challenge the vanity of the Young Master.
"Its a problem only because specific files are not there, and Im not currently near an access point in order to input." Xin Lon spoke carefully, sensing that this was a test of some sort.
"Maybe, I know if I was trying to make you look like a fool, I would put the files you needed in a sub file that wasnt noticable, so that when the matter was braught up, one could simply point to the oooo so obvious subfile. Or you just dont know what you are doing."
Xin Lon looked into his eyes for a moment, knowing that everyone held thier breath waiting to see her reaction. She bowed her head in defferance. "That certainly is a possibility."
Jriou shifted his weight, sat up straighter and held his hand out. "Give it to me. I will find those files you need."
Again, Xin Lon bowed in politeness. "I thank you."

Everyone in the room realised that they had been holding thier breath through this small exchange. Yuusuke was over come with pride at the though of his Govorner's son. Young the boy may be, he was certainly worthy of praise and admiration.
Jirou imediately began pressing buttons. "Xin lon is a Main Land name."
"yes it is." Xin lon replied pleasantly, sipping tea.
"I understand the Sohei having a mainland name, but isnt is against 'tradition'" he spat the word out "to have a name like that, being the son, " he stressed that word "of an important official?"
"Venerable Master Chen Zhen, was asked by my father, to provide a name. Xin Lon is the name of the Dragon King of the element of fire." She said with an utter absense of arrogance.
Even though Jirous fingers continued what they were doing, he stared at Xin Lon for a moment.
"Arent you affraid it would offend the Dragon King?" Saitou asked.
Jirou looked sidlong at his brother, with a half grin. He raised his eyebrows and returned his gaze to Xin Lon, the finnally back to the tag-u gateway.
"Do famers care what dogs call themselves?" she asked with a grin. "Im not sure great dragon kings invest much time in the petty affairs of humans."
Saitou nodded once, but did not look as if he quite beleived those words. Jirou however, made a noise of deep satisfaction, clicked the tag-u gateway shut, tossing it to Xin lon.
He had a look of pridefull satisfaction "Take a look. You should be able to find everything now."
Xin lon did as Jirou had bade, knowing that the files were never hidden. Had they been, Jirou was the type of person to point out thier location... but when she looked, she herself was surprised at the sheer volume of what was there, including, the acceptance of the adoption.
Perhaps she was just being overly suspicious. She bowed to him, and thatnked him again.

Chen Zhen knew before his eyes shut, where his mind would go. He did not futally atempt to prevent them as they were too rooted with in his evolution. He remembered there had from the first day he had gone to the Sohei mountains of the learning center there was a small hut five feet away from the main sanctuary part of the meditation temple. They were all told of the woman who lived there. She was not Sohei herself, and she was not to be pestered or bothered in any way.

One would see her sweeping the walkways, or entering the meditation hall. On those times, everyone was doing thier assinged work. She would pound rice for meals, by herself. The youngest were always curious as to why she performed her duities in such solitude, the older sohei accepted this as what was and went on about thier duities. To even speak to her, was against the rules, and the punishments were so harsh that no one had ever quite dared to.

It was spring day when he and his friend Hsuan had been given the task of serving in the soup line for the poor of the neighboring town. On one of these days they had come accorse a magnifican statue of he elemental Dragon King Xin Lon. Next to it it was a statue just as large of a Dragon Queen of Nippon, Isa. The legend said that the two had a child and at the botom of the mountain, where the statues of king and queen resided, was a much smaller statue, that had been broken, of the little dragon. The Dragon of Fire and Ice. Though Chen Zhen and Hsuan had asked, no one knew when the little statue had broken or why. One day, as fall was approaching, not to mention, their duities end, and old man told them that a demon had broken the statue many years ago, before his birth.

It was hot day when they had gone to gaze at the monolithich statues and the poor broken dragon child when they had been attacked by a group of six men. The two boys had always been secure that they could handle what ever came thier way due to thier martial skill, but as they were being held down, waiting in terror as the men decided 'what to do with them' did the boys realise thier arrogance.

Chen Zhen remembered that one minut, his eyes closed, he couldnt even treble with fear due to the wieght apon him, the next he was free. He had snapped his eyes open, and wished he handn't. He and Hsuan were covered in blood, the bodies of them men ripped apart in such savagery the young minds couldnt quite concieve of the reality.

The men, obviously taken by such suprise they couldnt even yell or call out. In front of them stood a young woman. She too was covered in blood and bits of flesh.
"Go back to the monistary." She said sternly.
he and hsuan looked at each other didnt move.
"Im sure you dont want to see this." She told them in a conversational way.
It was then they noticed the party of 60 or so men, raiders. And a few of them were calling to thier forever lost bretheren.
The young woman stepped boldly foreward. "I am Shinobu. You will leave this road, as it goes to the Sohei monestary and it is under my proctection." She then turned her face toward them and it was her eyes, that embeded themselves into thier memory. Red with black snakelike slits.
The men began to laugh and heckle, but did not do so for long.
Niether of the boys could ever recall what it was that happend or how, but out of those 60 men, the only survivors were the ones who fled.
When she was done, slick with blood. She turned back to the boys. "Go to the monestar and get me some robes, I can not go to my meditation in this maner." the only distinguishable part of her were the black slits of her eyes. Those eyes seemed as large as the mountain when she addressed them.

To this day he didnt remember running back, or getting the clothes. But he did remember the aftermath. Sitting in the chamber of the Senior Master Sohei. TheSenior Master patientely explained the story. He was sure that had he heard it under differant circomstances he would have liked it.

It was a girl sold as a slave, she had been abused and throw on top of the Fire/Ice dragon statue, breaking it. The dragon child, who had been trapped in the statue, for reasons no one could assertain, escaped into the womb of the girl. They had lived the life of poverty, barely making it by, and when her mother caught ill, it was a sohei monk who helped ease her pain.

When the child who was named Shinobu was attacked it was a Sohei that had healed her wounds. Shinobu had always been interested in the Sohei monks and nuns, they layety who had lived in the Sohei mountian, not quite a part of the Learnign Center. She would sneak in and listen and recite the mantras.

There was a time when bandits would come, or a time when what ever govornment was in charge wished to do the Sohei Sangha (community) harm. It was Shinobu who would not allow such a thing. As capeable as she was of such distruction, she was capeable of just as great compassion. One of the monks build the little hut for her, and taught her. Out of gratitued she performed the most menial tasks.

Her greates desire was to be human, to become Sohei. Niether was possible as long as she could not let go of the destruction that was with in her. Perhaps the destruction was a part of her. She never could say. Perhaps she did not know herself.

It was Bouvine, before Qeen Grail had named it such, though Chen Zhen couldnt remember its orriginal name, that went against Queen Grail's edict and created a weapon of mass distruction. They created many wepons that could easaly kill. They decided their first target would be the Sohei of China.

Vaguely, only in the sense of remembering a terrifying nightmare did Chen Zhen remember that day, in bits and peaces as the carnage began. Those wepons against Shinobu. They were 'her' monks, it was 'her' temple ... and finnally... a bright light, and he watched her body evaporate. She had given up her earthly body to protect that which she held dear.

Only the did Queen Grail seem to take note of the situation. He remembered even less. One generallly does not want to remember The Leviathan as its sheer mass defyes all logic. She utterly destroyed the country, then gathered up people from many lands and placed them in what she then called Bouvine. There was much destruction, however, not one Sohei died.

It was a quirous thing when he saw her agian. Her earthy body may have been destroyed, but her spirit remained. Her desure fixing her on the plane, preventing her from moving on. Out of gratitued The Senior Master baught a beutiful vase for her to rest in and placed it in the recitation hall. She was pleased, happy and quiet for many years.

Thirteen years ago, she had asked Chen Xen if she could go with him. His brother currently residing at the Sohie Complext at the Nippon Learning Center. She had never before asked to be moved, so the Senior Master had granted this, and Chen Xhen was provided a small container for her to travel in.

He never made it to the learning center, he wasnt sure when it was he had become ill, but he remembered quite clearly wakig up to the perfumed scent of a woman close by, though his eyes were covered. It seems a woman had found him and taken care of him durring his illness.
The pregant woman told a desturbing tale, should she bear a girl child, her husband would slay them both, as she had born him many daughter all ready, even his other concubines bore him daughters. Ten in all. There would be more, but after the tenth, he declaired this edict, and had killed two of his five women in residance.

She begged him, to take the child away if should be a girl, and to watch over it should it be a boy. The younest concubine was treacherous herself, and the older woman lived in fear of her.
Chen Zhen promised to do what he could. The woman was close to labor, and Shinou, whipsered in his hear that the baby in the womb, had no life or soul in it. Chen Zhen had felt this too.The child was female, but, shinobu whispered, she could create an illusion around the father and those of this house, that they would 'see' a boy.

This did not seem like a good idea to him, untill the next day, for the first time, he sensed fear from Shinobu. She knew she would not be born as 'herself' so this was rather like dying and rebirth, was it not. As sleep over came Chen Zhen, he had to aggre, she hadnt been born as 'herself' her rebirth was very strange indeed. But he had and would always keep his word to protect this child.


there is a whole bunch that should be here that I haven't descided on yet.




"I tell you... these events are desturbing." Kondou said sternly to his students.
Saitiou sat, waiting patiently for the response for master Iarna.
The tall, large man with the yarri laughed heartaly. "what could such a small man do?"
For the most part, the rest of the 7 assembled at the dojo laughed, all except one. He was rather shaped like a pole with such a serious expression that Saotou would not have been suprised to find him in the libraries of the Phichi Mountain Tower at the Learning Center.
Kondou handed Saitou the reply. "what do you think Saitou?"
He considered his words careflully. " A smal quick man can easaly slip past the defenses of a large and slow one." he replied.
The tall man's face flushed in embarrasement and anger as the rest laughed again.
"Oy, so you want to see about that do you ?" He growled stepping toward him.
Kondou held up his hand "Now, Sanosuke, he has a point.... "
"it's not like Heisuke didn't wipe the dojo with you yesterday !" another gale of laughter.
"Ah, my stomach was upset !" Sanosuke replied good naturedly.
Saitou took in the slightly uncomfortable look of the shortest boy there. That one was probably Heisuke.
"Would you think of this self declaired emporer as a threat to our nation?" The serious one asked. At this a hush fell on the outter back porch of the dojo. All eyes on him, he could hear the water counter in the pond in the center of the grass rectangle... for a moment he contemplated the wind's affects on the flower blossoms. Watched them as they were torn apart.
Remembered his brother's ramblings from the previous night.
"He has a large following. I suspect that many of the assasinations are on his orders, or that his followers are that obssessed with his taking control." Saitou answered.
"Are you really a phichi kid?" the one standing in between Heisuke and Sanosuke.
Thonk-- the spear of Sanosuke landed "he isn't much younger than you, Shinpatchi ! Wait... how old are you again."
At this Shinpatchi rolled his eyes heavenward.
"he is wearing the phichi clothes." The Highest ranking Instructor, Tojirou stated.
"Can you speak binary?" demanded an other.... he wasn't a student at the dojo, but was usually here.
"you don't have to be so harsh Toshi." Kondou repremanded.
"He does have a point." mr seirous stated.
Kondou considered Satiou for a moment. "you don't have to answer." he said kindly.
"who cares if he can speak binary?" Heisuke asked
Thonk ! Heisuke rubbed his head "all phichi's speak binary... even I know that !" Sanosuke pointed to himself as if this settled everything
"The Bringer of Autumn
like a sharpened edge
The flower falls" Saitou stated in binary. Facing the empty eyes of all those who had no idea what he'd just said.
"I have it !!!!!!!!" Tojirou clicked the recording device, then pressed the translation button.
All seemed suprised but Yamanami and Kondou.
"Why don't you come back and have some tea after delivering that?" Kondou asked.
Saitou looked toward the sun, as it sank... would Jirou even notice his absence? This was the first time anyone other than Impyiral had treated him as an adult. Was spending time with these people more important than watching over Jirou. Did Jirou really need him to watch over him?
"If not tonight, you are welcome to at any time." Kondou said reasuringly.
Saitou bowed respectfully to the man, in ernest, then delivered the response to Iarnu.

His brother was not there. Seqwev however......
"Where is he?"
"I- I don't know, he didn't check out..."
He turned and left her there. She was frightened and worried and.... he wasn't sure what that other scent was and at the moment he didnt quite care. He circled around the building to check if anyone was there. No one was and Saitou shifted. He was at that moment gratefull for the only thing Renshep taught him, besides how to take a beating gracefully. If one shifted with out this spell, they would rip thier clothes and then have to return eather in animal form or nakid. He had no desire to do either.

He liftd his muzzle to call. He waited, pulled the scents from the air... there ... just over there.... he followed. After a moment he heard several replies, none of which belonged to his brother. These other creatures did not concern him. It would be their discust of his living among humans that he would have to deal with if he had contanct with them. He'd attempted a few times.
Why live with the humans?
How could he not? He was both.
This they couldn't accept or understand. He didnt despise them for it, but it got anoyingly futile as far as lack of communications went, somthing he didn't have time for. He probably never would have time to eather attempt to make them understand or accept it.

He kept to the veil of the night as he approached his brother's location.
There were four people with him.
He slowed down to a halt to watch. His brothers eyes slid to his hidden location with a sharp, coharant glint. He was leaning against the wall, one leg up, smoking a cigarettee. His posture unconcerned.
Saitou listened.
"The House of Senate are affraid to move. They feel as if each one needs a body guard... and none feel that the locals are good enough." one said
"It's not surprising considdering only half the Elected are alive." His brother said in a cold, dead toan.
The other men shivered. "I can't believe they bombed the Office of Law !" one punched the wall.
His brother looked to him, then to the one who punched the wall.
"You'd think the juctice officers would have done something !" the blond snarled
"They can't even keep the peace in the city ! The crime rate is staggarring..... I can't believe that little man could orchistrate all this !"
"why don't you ask your Lord to scout the locals? There are some good dojo's around."
Jirou smiled in a way that sent shivers through Saitou's spine. What was he up to?
"at this rate, Ravage will just walz up and sieze this country like he did w/the last three !!!!" one said, experiancing something remotely resembling a fit of appoplexi.
"And what makes you think he isn't?" Jirou said in a low glowl, meeting Saitou's eyes.
What did his brother know? At that moment, he moved his head a fraction, letting Saitou know he was less than needed and was welcome to take his leave.

What was his brother doing? He slunk off in wonder. Perhaps his brother was getting better but it certainly didn’t explain his current behavior. After a time of running he found himself outside Kondou’s dojo. He wondered if the men in there knew of the Bombing of the Halls of Law. He wondered if his brother knew if the culprate was a Technomancer of Tower Mage.. Or worse, what if they were real explosions... only one country made such things... LaVayania.

He was taught that ‘civilized’ countries did not do trade with LaVaynia, however, Gardania and Strega had limited trade with them and the Three countries under the rule of Ravage.....

He shifted.

CLANG
“EHGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!” A deep voice shattered the dark
He took a quarter step to the side in order to avoid the blow of Sanosuke’s yari.
Shinpatchi and Heisuke appeared with swords drawn. He calmly stood, making no move as to be perceaved as a threat. He had a tendancy to forget that normal people didnt instantly pick up on his presance as they did at The Learning Center.
“Oy !!!! You should announce yourself !!!!” Sanosuke complained
By this time Yamanami and Toshi appeared..
“Decided on Tea?” Shinpatchi grinned at him.
“Anyone who is able to sneak up on Sanosuke deserves sake !” Tojirou declared from around the corner.
He wondered if they were always so loud and boisterous.

Kondou looked at the youth. He couldn’t be over 15yrs if that. But to meet a Phichi ! Even one not fully trained..... it was an experiance worth having. His Sensei had always wanted to meet one, however, they tended to stay on the Learning Center Grounds or on thier Own Sacred Lands. They boy took the sake and drank it with a wince.
There was much laughter at this.
“Even Heisuke can drink Sake !!!!!”
“Is it true the Phichi’s have a special ceramoni for the drinking of sake?” Kondou asked.
The boy noded once. “Only for those who chose to drink for non ceramonial reasons.”
Interesting. Most of the time the phichi’s were criptic and did not answer questions regarding what it was they did at any given time, let alone thier reasons for or not doing so.
“So I guess you had that ceramony done eh???? What do you do in it?” Shinpatchi asked eagerly. Even Toshi leaned foreward in anticipation.
Saitou met his gaze but did not answer. The silence grew untill it groweled
“Shit !!!!” Genzaburou screamed about to throw a shirkan
Saitou reacted quickly throwing a small rock from the ground, hitting Genzaburou on the preasure point on the back of his hand, causing him to drop the shirkan.
The figure was walking on all fours and groweling, making it’s way to the men.
Those presant were alternating btwn staring at the figure and at Saitou who protected it.

The person wore form fitting black leather. Insted of shining, it seemed to suck up all the light surrounding the owner. The owner in questions was rather bloodey. It has something straingley lit in its mouth.
“My brother, Jirou.” Saitou told them.
No one spoke.
“Tojirou, go get the medical supplies.” Kondou told him.
The boy made his way to his brother and flopped down beside him. He then dropped the little lightening ball on Saitou's lap, it felt like a ball of electric current and was working its way from being mildly irritating to incredably anoying burning sensation. Jirou looked at him expectantly, still sitting like a dog.
“Oy ! You are no dog.” Sanosuke called with a slight nerviousness.
Jirou groweld at him.
“He’s right.” Saitou said sternly.
Jirou looked from him to Sansosuke, then to the ball that was burning a hole in his pants leg.
Damnit, he wasnt good at sewing.
Jirou looked back and forth at the two of them again, then leaned to Saitou’s ear and spoke in binary
“where is my tail?”
“Same place your fur is.”
Jirou looked down at himself, his face a portrayal of confusion. He then decided, and sat with his arm around Saitou’s shoulders. He picked the ball up off Saitous leg by floating it up and above his hand.
Leaving his blood on Saitou’s clothes.
He would have to make more anyway.
Damnit, he wasnt good at sewing.
“It hurts, the truth. And I know. They are mad.” Jirou said in common tongue
He starred at the ball.
“It told me.” Jirou announced whial seeming to look inside the electicity that was the ball. He then snapped his eyes up, one by one, making contact with everyone there... ending with Saitou. “Will it be devine or common?” He asked them all in the utmost of serious toans.
Jirou then slouched. “You don’t know .... do you?” then he laughed. Tojirou stoped as Jirou made eye contact with them.
“Which is it, of them? Do you know?”
“Uhhh” Tojirou attempted to answer a question he didn’t even understand
Saitou reached up and took the medic box. He would be happier to find a healer.. But by the way his brother was slouching it didnt look like there was time for that.
What had happened to him?
He began with the deep wound on his brothers abdoman, just above his navel, cutting off some of the leather that had protcedted him from being eviscerated.
“Sit up or lye down. I have to sew this.” He told his brother.
“They do that !” he replied as he sat up. “Unfathomable, but they do and they wait, just like that.”
Saitou knew he couldnt staunch the bleeding, but cleaned the aria as best he could so that he could see the cut better. Yamanami came to his side to wipe the blood and help him. Jirou tried to sit up straighter, Heisuke and Shinpatchi atempted to support him.
“Who did this to you?” Sanosuke asked as if his brother was in possession of a correctly working, logical linier mindset.
Jirou snarled and bit at the air. Sanosuke dodged it easaly, Saitou could tell his brother hadnt truely been attempting to bite the man’s face off. Jirou threw his head back and laughed.
“The dogs of the choosing !!!!”
He looked solemnly at his brother. Slumped, though being held up by three people, it didnt matter to Saitous sewing. “I just insulted dogs, I think.” he giggles again.
Toshi and Kondou exchanged looks, but said nothing.
“Corrupted .... the smell is desgusting, it will get on you too, even if you are pure, just by contact.” Jirou told them seriously whial pointing at them.
“I will need more bandages.” Saitou told Tojirou.
The boy fled to fetch them, to escape the madness.
“Asshole fuck why do you tell me these things !?!?!??!” Jirou screamed at the ball, throwing it, incadentally lighting a tree on fire.
At this Kondou and Toshi lept up to put the fire out.
Saitou finished sweing the long cut. The three let go of Jirou, who amost fell. He then righted himself.
“NOT like the masses, I will NOT LIE DOWN.” he yelled at the ball as it had come back and was floating in front of his face.
Yamanami, Shinpatchi and Heisuke again supported him.
Sanosuke was cleaning Jirou’s chest. It looked like someone had attempted to carve a new opening over the old one,,, as if they were trying to remove his heart.
“Lucky scar tissue is tough to cut throug.” Shinpatchi whispered.
Heisuke looked rather horrified at the phisical state of his brotIher.
“It’s an old scar.” Yamanami observed.
“I found the beginning.” Jirou said in binary.
Saitou began to steri strip the chest wound, it wasnt quite deep enough for stitches.
“Where was it?” he asked in return.
“In all five at once ! In the heart of black betrayer.” He answered in common softly.
The four were pretending to not be incredably confused.
Sanosuke began cleaning each of Jirou’s sholders. They looked like he had been dragged. Most of the flesh and muscle was shredded and torn. He finished the chest wound and took a shoulder.
“I won’t allow it you know. Even if you are blind .... I won’t.” His brother told him, gripping him by his sholder. He nodded in agreement.
“I wouldn’t expect you to.” He said, as Saitou finished w/the first shoulder and went to the other.
“It doesnt matter.” he glared at Tojirou as the boy offered the rest of the bandages. Tojirou jumped a bit.
“I-i-it doesn’t?” he asked
“the gods don’t give a rats ass if you don’t believe in them, they will do what they please regardless of popular opinion or coruption. You should understand that now, whial you have a chance.” Jirou said in a kind voice.
Sojirou nodded slowely. “Th-thank you.”
Saitou finished. His brother swayed a bit even under the support of the three holding him.
“They choose, sometimes.” Jirou told him. Saitou nodded.
“So will you.” then Jirou looked very sad, looked at everyone, the ball now over his head. “But you won’t know.”
He then got up... wobbled a bit. “Stay here. I will go back myself.” Jirou told him in binary.
A heavy quiet filled the aria as Jirou made his way, becomming one with the night around him.
“Is it ok, to let him leave like that?” Toshi asked harshly, as if Saitou was lacking in caring for his brother.
He caught the scent of his brother the wolf. Damn him. Will the stitches hold? And what about the rest? He just did all that to have it undone. He took a breath in, slowely exhailed.
“He will remember not to be seen.” He told the hostile man.
Toshi hmphed.
“Too bad he didn’t remember that earlier.” Shinpatchi blurted. “Oh... sorry.”
Saitou shrugged.
“How long has he been like that?” Kondou asked quietly.
Saitou didn’t answer, he stared at the scent of his brother, waiting for it to fade enough so that he could track down the ones who did that.
“He could stay here, so could you.” Kondou offered.
“He stayes where he will. I just follow.” Saitou admitted.
He had known, for some time now, since he had started at Iarnu’s dojo that his brother had some how been paying thier bills. That was over a year now... Saitou didn’t have to work, he could have just attempted to figure out what it was his brother was doing or how he was doing it. Apparently he was able to be coherant enough of the time to earn money....but some part of him didn’t really want that information. His master had given him many a lesson on knowledge saught after that was not benificial. Some things were best not known. Saitou felt that this was one of them.

There was a tachi in his lap. Covered in his brother’s blood. He picked it up and looked at it. He heard the others ghasp.
“That’s a Khemu-Amun !” Yamanai whispered with reverance.
“The best swordmaker alive !” Toshi
“You mean, ever in the history of man.” Tojirou
“What’s this?” Heisuke picked up a blood covered package behind him. Saitou held his hand out to receave it.
No one spoke, but watched him as he opened it. A wakizashi fell out, Saitou caught it before it hit the ground.. But the cloth fell. He put the wakizshi beside the matching tachi on his lap then took a look at the almost black purple clothing that was the symbol of a master phichi.
Everyone was starring at him.
“It’s my birthing day.” he explaned.
It took them all a moment to recover. It generally did for anyone who had such exposure to his brother, as disjointed as his mind was, he remembered thier birth day. Saitou still had possession of his gift to his brother. He had taken much time to think on it... what do you get a man who ... was like his brother?
“Then you should drink sake with us !!!!!” Sanosuke jumped up and proclaimed jublaently. There were many cries of agreement.
“Put that on !!! I can show you a room to change in !” Tojirou was the next to recover.
Saitou carefully gathered his things and stood.
“I have to go.” he explained, Sanosuke looked crestfallen. He then bowed respectfully to Kondou “would you be kind enough to keep these untill I return?” he requested.
“Of course.” Kondou agreed.
It was time to hunt.