A Reunion of Sorts(Kotaro)

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-Miyamoto Musashi

The battle at Iga province had gone horribly wrong. Before Fuma Kotaro had arrived with his forces Musashi had been trapped within the garrison. Fighting off what had seemed to be hundreds of Oda bannermen, but were realistically around fifty, he had gotten pinned by one Mori Ranmaru. A younger warrior, but was powerful and extremely loyal to his lord Oda Nobunaga.

This strange young warrior was a bodyguard to Nobunaga. Musashi had fought Ranmaru before and the duel had ended in a draw. This time was more or less the same. Without the help of the Fuma ninja he might of even loss, though Musashi would never admit such a thing. Nor let something like this go for to long. With the aid of the Fuma ninja, Musashi was able to retreat to Kii. The home base of Fuma Kotaro.

Kotaro was no stranger to Musashi. They had fought a few times, but none had ever truly gotten the upper hand on one another. This time was different, they were not enemies, but in fact allies. They would need to unite their strengths in order to confront Oda on any front. Which the army of the Oda had grown stronger and stronger by each day. The two would arrive in Kii from their withdrawal and would need to discuss a few things.

Musashi's katana in his right hand rested on his shoulder as he spoke to Kotaro. "The Oda have grown powerful since our last encounter, in fact. Our last encounter had you and I fighting, now we are allies? A strange world indeed Kotaro."

[Fūma Kotarō [Andae]]

-Fuma Kotaro

His eyes held the same light they always had, despite being a master of stealth and cunning, he seemed to always relish the thought of a straight fight in the end, his face would tell Miyamoto Musashi that he was thinking, or, to be more precise, remembering, all of the past times that the pair had met, the first time, or possibly the first two had been as our-right enemies, a few times after that as mutual warriors, but this time, it was different, pseudo allies, as it were, he heard the man talk attentively, his head turning to look across the land of Kii.

"Yes, the world is evidently spiralling out of control, however, the Oda will make no more friends from now, other than their lapdogs the Tokugawa, and possibly the Hashiba/Toyotomi, other than that, all of Japan will rise up against them, I am under no illusions that you will consider joining my ranks, so I shall not ask, however, I believe that you and I will meet on the fields of battle frequently in our battle with the Oda, however, if you find yourself in a position that is highly uncomfortable, I implore that you request aid, I will happily spare some men, and my Apprentice, Hideki will aid any who contest the Oda, I can only hope that you will accept my aid, friend?

As he spoke, his held out his arms, indicating the meagre lands of Kii, this was all that the Fuma could contain against the Oda, and, in order to prevent their destruction from the clearly superior force, he had sent Azai, Oichi and the aforementioned Hideki to Kawatchi, they needed to expand their hold on Japan, he had heard rumours that the Chokosabe were unifying Shikoku, and were currently in no position to contest the Oda as yet, despite their Chinese officer.

One thing that someone would do well to learn, is to remember the small fact that Fuma Kotaro had spies everywhere.

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A smile crept up on Musashi's face before he spoke after listening to Kotaro's words. "Before this is all over, we are going to have to settle our match as well Kotaro." One of his katana's brandishing on his shoulder as the other was held softly in his left hand. Musashi had no intent on fighting Kotaro this day, but in the future.

As he cracked his neck he would speak again to the man. "You know, that Ranmaru is going to be a pain..." His words trailed off before he spoke again. "But he is mine Kotaro!"

[Fūma Kotarō [Andae]]

A chuckle escaped his throat as Musashi spoke once more, his eyes glinting in the bright sunlight as it fell over the fort in which they both stood, still as cocky as ever "Musashi, I do not doubt that we will meet as rivals once more, as for Ranmaru, if the fool chooses a fight with Hideki, even I will be unable to prevent it, the boy holds promise, but, he is advancing much faster than I would have liked, I will give you grace to take Mori if it is me that is against him, if Hideki is his opponent, I suggest you steer clear, so we understand each other?"

His voice maintained it's steady Mantra, yet his words held meaning, and hopefully making it clear that his apprentice was not originally of the Fuma clan, he then turned to face his mutual rival.

"Perhaps, my friend, you will endulge me in a little fun... A friendly duel, perhaps, if only to see how far we have both progressed since last we met?

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Kotaro had mentioned the ninja that had assisted him against Mori Ranmaru, Hideki. This ninja shown a fury of assault against Ranmaru and had forced him to retreat. Perhaps it was the number of talented men facing Ranmaru, or perhaps Hideki was capable of taking on Ranmaru by himself. Though Musashi would never admit such a thing, he wanted to be the greatest swordsman Japan had ever known.

"This Hideki was quite powerful and I thank him for his assistance. Now a duel, do you think we have time for such a thing?" Musashi was not denying the duel, but had other things on his mind. "Either way, I am ready for anything"

[Fūma Kotarō [Andae]]

A dry smile formed on his face, he knew full well what Musashi was thinking and a knowing glint formed in his eyes "Worry not my friend, your renown and prowess with the sword will remain uncontested by my Protigé, give him anything longer than the blades on his Shuriken, and he's useless, however, he does excell in the arts of the Fuma Ninjutsu, that, is what you should remain aware of" he said softly, raising his eyebrows slightly.

He smiled once more to Musashi's second comment "I see no reason why we should not have the time, if the Oda were to make any move towards Kii, I would know it long before they arrived, and I have my allies taking Kawatchi under my banner, if only to provide a defence from our enemies, I say we do duel, merely for sport, of course" he said simply, shrugging the word 'Oda' as if it were merely a part of a Ninjutsu Mantra.

OOC: okay then... So how do these Duel's work?