Face buried in the floor, Kuroda began his tale, not caring if anyone could hear the sob in his voice.

"When I was ten, and first discovered the powers I held, I traveled to the borders of our lands. There, I found a waterfall that cascades down from the mountains, a place of solitude and contentment. I chose that spot as a place I could get away from the world, a place to be alone and to think. Over the next five years, I was alone there, until the day that Cora showed up.

"It was an overcast day in early spring, as I recall. Cora just appeared out of nowhere. We didn't know each other, we were total strangers, but each thought the other just a neighboring peseant. Over time, we met more and more often, and soon became not just friends, but lovers.

"Then, only a few days ago, I learned who she was, Cora, the daughter of the Iako leader. The shinobi were going to target her in their next attack, I couldn't bear the thought of loosing her, so I went to her aid and brought her here. After the attack was over, I took her to a spot of safety. I was wrong, and I don't deserve forgiveness, but for Cora's sake and sanity, I plead for you to let me live."

-------

The Koga leader smiled wryly, How close to my own story and yet how distant. "Kuroda, Your folly may yet work out to end this tiresome fued between the Koga and Iako clans, but cannot go unpunished. You are hereby stripped of all military rank and privalage until a month and a day have passed. We cannot go for long without you in our Shinobi fighters. Now," He turned to Zutao, "What do you have to say for yourself?"

(How is that?)

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Married Artemis Fowl on July 16, 2007
[!+^$%=#?&]
The Seemingly Nice But Actually Really Nasty Nazgul
School ate my life. *sigh*

(cool)

Zutao stiffened with shock at his leaders words and his head snapped up. "You cannot want peace with the Iako. They are criminals, the scum of the earth, they should be wiped out! Any peace wi-"

"Silence" the Koga leader ordered, a glint in his eye. "Remember your place shinobi."
Zutao blushed; chastised and looked down.
"Now tell me why you are here."

"Her name is Aiko. She is my Iako counterpart. I fought and seduced her whilst we fought on the boarders." He looked straight into his leaders eyes defiantly. "I love her." It was only now when it was too late that he was able to admit it.

"I let her escape, then took her prisoner. I brought her back here so that she would see Cora. I attempted to kill your son when he acused me of loveing her. I almost killed Cora." He looked down ashamed at what he was about to say. "Aiko almost killed me in defence but Cora saved my life. I owe her a life-debt." He took a deep breath and carried on in his defiante manner. "When we were near the boarders I attacked Yashamaru and set them free. Your son stopped me from killing Yashmaru" he lied, hopeing that Yashamaru wouldn't be pulled into this.

"I ask that the clan punishes me as is fitting. I have brought dishouner to the name of Koga, to myself, and to a warrior of the Iako. I only request that I may commit hara kiri when I have been punished." He put his head to the floor and held it there as a mark of suplicance.

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Made by Lembas

(bump)

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Made by Lembas

(Sorry, but I don't know what to post anymore. I am debating if I should have one of my characters try to find the group or not...)

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

((They could try to have Cora eat to regain the rest of her strength.))

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Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

(I guess I could have Yasha go back to them... and say it's out of request from Kuroda...)

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Aiko and Mariko gazed at Cora, concern for her shining in their eyes.

"Cora-sama, you must eat." Aiko whispered.

Mariko nodded her accent. "You must regain your strength," she said gently, not wanting to mention Kuroda's name for fear of upseting her.

(That is a good idea Rain)

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Yashamaru heard Kuroda's punishment through the thin door. With a quiet sigh, he walked slowly to a court yard, but the Iakos crept into his mind. With yet another sigh, he felt guilty for leaving them alone. Not necissarily dishonorable, but guilty. He crept out of the village, being extra carefull not to be seen.

Yashamaru carefully made his way through the forest until he came to the cave.
"Hello," he said as he walked in. "I was told by Koruda-kun to come and make sure you were safe. His father did not punish him as bad as I thought he would. But, I left before I learned what Aiko's punishment would be," he said, keeping near the mouth of the cave...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

(Did you mean Zutao?)

A smile traced Mariko's lips as she saw Yashamaru at the mouth of the cave. She did not know why, but there was something that she liked about this shinobi, something about him that intrigued her. She then turned her attention back to Cora. "Take heart, Cora-sama. He will return to you, but now you must keep up your strength for him."

Aiko nodded at Mariko's words. She was relieved to hear about Kuroda. Despite the fact that he was the son of their sworn enemy, she recognized that he was a man of honor and her lord's daughter's love-she could not wish any ill on him. Yet, she was still worried for Zutao. A part of her wanted to rush out of the cave to discover the truth for herself. If the worst should befall him then even my death could never pardon the way I treated him... she thought to herself.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Cora blinked as she heard the news about Kuroda. "He will live?" She asked still not getting up.

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Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

(yes, I meant Zutao...)

Yashamaru nodded.
"He will live. But he has been stripped of all military rank, and must have at least two shinobi guards with him at all times," he informed, and leaned against the cave wall, and crossed his arms. A thought accured in his mind. They're putting so much trust in me... when I could just wip out my Ebon rope and take them out be supprise, he thought, but then he saw Zutao's and Kuroda's face if they found out what he'd done if he did it. The sadness he saw in his mind broke his heart. No, I won't do that. Fore Zutao-kun and Kuroda-kun's sake. They have suffered enough mentally. But, I don't know what to do now. For a split second Yashamaru had a pained expression on his face, but then it went emotionless. Quietly he watched the three Iako women, deep in thought...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Mariko glanced at Yashamaru as he delievered the news, studying him long enough to see the brief flicker of pain flash across his face. Had she been one of the Koga, she would have asked him what was wrong, but the divison of their clans felt as a chasm that could not be bridged. She sensed that it was not her place to ask and instead turned back to Cora.

"He will return to you, Cora-sama. But until then, you must stay strong for him." she said gently. She then glanced at Aiko, noticing the worry that clouded the other woman's eyes.

"Aiko-san, he will be alright." she whispered.

Aiko looked at Mariko then, her eyes flat. "Do you truly believe so?" she whispered. "He is a shinobi, even if Koga-sama spares him, no doubt he will desire to commit hara-kiri." Aiko's eyes hardened then as she looked up. "I do not blame him for it, for I would wish the same." she said just in the same hushed tone as she clenched her fist.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

(Sorry; i'm waiting for Freya )

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Made by Lembas

(Why? I thought everyone was gonna share the Koga leader?)

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Married Artemis Fowl on July 16, 2007
[!+^$%=#?&]
The Seemingly Nice But Actually Really Nasty Nazgul
School ate my life. *sigh*

(good point; Hey come on people, its not just us on this. i would post the koga reply myself but i don't want to sentence my own charecter)

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Made by Lembas

Koga looked at Zutao, his dark eyes impassive. “An Iako shinobi? You disappoint me, Zutao. I thought you to have more sense than to seduce a woman in the midst of battle.” He fell silent for a moment as he studied the subordinate. “Despite your transgression, the clan still has need for a warrior such as you. I herby deny your request to commit seppuku, instead I order you to regain your honor in battle. Nevertheless, your act can not go unpunished. I order a punishment of a hundred strokes by the bamboo pole as an example to the rest of the clan.”

(^If you want it more severe or changed in anyway, let me know. I am not very good at a form of punishment.)

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!