The Resolve Of A Stained Name

[Shang Yue]

The wind blew on his back on that end of day. The moon was still hidden in the middle of the dense clouds that marched slowly across the skies of Sanuki. His flute on the right hand and a note on the left hand, his shadow embracing the ground around him and his head focused on one thing and one thing only: to talk to his father. He should be reunited and in family right now, but that would only make things more difficult that they already were.

He went back to Aki in his head, and remembered the event of the fight with his father. Chikayasu, more than anybody else, knew that he had no life ahead of him, and the way with which he said those words really brought him down. Maybe the direct approach wouldn't be the best bet, maybe he could have said it in another way, but no, he chose those exact words to demonstrate his anger. That made Chikauji feel very bad, and that day he decided upon fleeing from his home. Living in the streets couldn't be so bad, and it was definitely better than having to see his father again.

But now he was filled with regret and he was trying to fix his entire life. He was determined to follow his father's footsteps and study, study hard, train hard, fight hard to realize not only his dreams, but the goals of those around him too. And that was the reason of his venture to Sanuki, as word had spread in Aki that Motochika Chosokabe had driven the Sogo away and conquered yet another province. He approached the council chamber and asked for Motochika.

[Simon]

There was the saying, that all was fair in love and war, but to involve so many people in a goal that should be the goal for all of Shikoku, it was sad to see those who perished, but those who persished under his banner, would know that they fought for a great cause and they would be remembered. It was an assurance that Motochika gave all his men, as each of them were respected after the battle for all to remember the valour of the fine officers under the Chosokabe banner.

Soon, Shikoku would be unified, but then there was more that he was sought to do. He was not finished yet. Not long after settling into Sanuki, there was a guard who came to him, informing him of a man who wished to see him, "Bring...him...in", ending with a strum as the guard left to lead the man into Motochika's chamber.

(OOC: Will also point out this thread that I set up for us)

[Shang Yue]

"How did it go... After that last part..." Chikauji struggled to remember the notes of a song passed away in his family for generations. Surely his uncle would know it, being such a great shamisen player and a tsugaru-jamisen adept. Maybe he could impress him by playing it right away, maybe he should wait until he was properly introduced... His mind was full of ideas, but the moment of the execution was frightening Chikauji to his bones. Would Motochika recognize him? The cold wind was still blowing when the guard returned.

"Can you take me to Motochika? Let's get going then, or should I wait here... Oh well, can we go?" He was nervous, and wasn't shy of admitting it. Perhaps facing his uncle would be even harder than facing his father. "That's it, I'll play the song right away." He put the note back on his pocket and held his flute in front of him, with both hands. His heart was racing when he finally arrived at Motochika's chamber. Even though it was a cold evening, even too cold for a place such as Shikoku, the sweat rolled down his face and wet his mouth when he started to play his song, without even looking at his uncle's face...

OOC: sorry for kinda taking control of the guard, it was just to speed the process up.

[Simon]

Motochika wondered who the man was that the guard spoke about soon after the guard left, before the door opened and the guard revealed himself before leaning against the wall to allow the visitor to enter.

The visitor's eyes did not meet his, but firmly in his hands was a flute which he then began to play. Many would see the act as rude, not to speak to the man they wished to see and play, but Motochika was more curious, being a player of music himself. Often times, though some may not see the same way as him, music often spoke more words than no words at all.

It was not only music that spoke volumes, but also body language. Motochika was not known as a charismatic leader if he could not read people, and observing the man as he played, he saw how tense he was, though with the fine tune that escaped through the flute, he hoped that the music itself would help calm him as much music did.

As he played, he raised an empty glass to the guard in order for him to fetch a servant and bring some wine. As soon as the guard had left, he then took ahold of his shamisen and placed infront of him, before his fingers begun to pluck the strings on the neck of his shamisen, before his other hand begun to strum against the strings on the base to play along with him, with his eyes closed softly with a smile to enjoy the music that came from the two of them, and to show he could be at ease with him.

[Shang Yue]

His fingers covered the holes of the flute in a perfect harmony with his blowing mouth, and the music came out smoothly. One wouldn't dare say he was a bad player, although by seeing him in his daily routine one could never say he was a good player neither. The flute was his only real passion, and despite the cries of his dad begging for him to study, he kept living his peaceful life. But now things had changed, he was standing in front of his uncle, who was now playing along with him on the shamisen.

"Such skill... He is a great musician, and a great leader as well. If someday I could become just like him..." Such thoughts were in Chikauji's mind when he stopped playing. He let go of the flute and gently put it to rest on his waist, retrieving the note from his pocket afterwards. He held it firmly on his left hand and lifted his head, revealing the suffering on the eyes of such a young man. "Uncle, I...vow to fight alongside you -" He only had time to say these words before his father rushed into the chamber.


Chikayasu awakened from his rest a bit later than he would like to. Everyone was gone, except the few troops that stood behind to protect him from a possible raid or revenge attack by the Sogo. It was a beautiful evening, the sun was setting down and the crickets had already started their "parties". He decided to go back to the city before night falls, and probably see his brother to talk about this battle and the next ones.

Arriving at the council chamber of the city, Chikayasu asked a guard out of politeness before going in, if Motochika was seeing somebody at the moment. And he was very surprised when the guard referred to a young man carrying a flute. Could this man fit the description of his son Chikauji? Possibly not, that lazy wretch couldn't have come all the way to Sanuki, and most important, he would never let go of the life he had in Awa. Anyway, Chikayasu thanked the guard and went straight for Motochika's chamber. When he opened the door, he saw the young man saying something to Motochika and being abruptly interrupted.

Chikauji's note fell to the floor. The two remained silent.

OOC: I'll leave the next chapter to Motochika

[Simon]

The plucking of strings continued until he begun to finger-pick the strings instead, as a fine tune resulted from his playing, aswell as the tune that came out of the flute, as the two tunes mixed in harmony before the flute stopped, while he continued to play to end on a high note, before his eyes opened and looked towards him with a smile.

"Uncle, I...vow to fight alongside you -", the young man said, his identity now known, since it had been some time due to the Chosokabe's servitude with the Icjiro, that the Kosokabe side had been kept apart, but now all was falling into place, and the pieces of the once completed puzzle were now being put back together again.

However, the reunion was cut short, when none other than Chikayasu, entered the chamber, and then silence dawned upon them. He was well aware of how his brother felt about Chikauji, but as he explained to him when they reunited, that boys would be boys and that they would grow out of it. He himself prized Nobuchika greatly, more so than his other sons; Chikakazu, Chikatada and Morichika, but he still loved them and wanted each of them to succeed. History would not see him as a father who did not do his best for his children.

Before he had entered, Chikauji's eyes finally rested on his, but now it seemed it was upto Motochika to bring some noise to the room, as he strummed against his shamisen before saying outloud to himself, "If this had been a council meeting, the councillors would have sought for me to correct you, whether you are my brother or not", simply stating the fact, since he was occupied, though could not turn back the time now.

He knew about the situation a little from what Chikayasu told him before the battle at Sanuki, but from how silent they were with each other, and the eyes of Chikauji, something was wrong, and if he could not deal with his own family, then how could he deal with his people and their families, as he strummed again to follow his thoughts.

Just then, the guard returned who had disappeared by his order to fetch a servant who followed behind him, as she came in and set on a tray a jug of wine and a cup for Chikauji, as he smiled and turned to her, "I believe we need another cup", seeing that another had come, before turning to them both, his hands outstretched either side, to the seats before him, "Please take a seat..both of you".

Motochika had a choice, whether to act as the Lord of the Clan where the Kosokabe were subserviant, or to act as family and take his "Lord" hat off for a little while, but the fact he was in his quarters left him little option to diverse. One had to know when to speak and when to listen, and for now, the floor was open to whoever would speak first, and he was hoping deeply inside that someone would at least speak, or he would simply walk out with a disappointed sigh.

(OOC: Motochika's side done. If no talk, can rp Motochika standing up and moving to leave/leaving as said in last paragraph. Also does Chikauji have an image for him, and will he be a new charrie for you to play as from now on?)

[Shang Yue]

The silence remained for a while in the room before Motochika broke it. A servant of his brought wine and two cups, and left maybe to pick up a left cup, seeing that Chikayasu was there too. And the eye contact between father and son remained for a good while, until Chikayasu ordered his son to stand up and charged in his direction, giving him a fierce hug and doing hisbest to control the tears. He was very happy that his son was there, but Chikauji owed him an explanation, and if his desire was that nothing changed, then he would send him back to Aki. He learned to respect his son's desires and not worrying about him, but he still wanted him to study and become a fine man, just like his nephew Nobuchika was doing. He let go of Chikauji and turned to Motochika, but still didn't speak.

His son was the one to break the silence. He grabbed the note that fell to the ground and gave it to his father. "This is... for you." He opened it and started to read.

"Dear father,

I'm sorry for not being able to speak the words I wrote, but this became very hard for me. I know you wanted me to study and follow your steps, but... I have no complaints about my life. I don't know, maybe I wasn't meant to be like you. Maybe my destiny is to stay here doing nothing until the day I die. Word is that uncle Motochika is building up his forces to conquer all of Shikoku, and I knew that you would come to him. You, better than anybody else that I know, understand that a family duty is the most important of all. And this is why I vow to change. I found out that I actually want to follow your steps. And this is why I am going to Awa right now. I hope that you forgive me for the past seventeen years.

Your son Chikauji

Chikayasu read this and felt very pleased. His son was proud of him and was trying to be just like him. He could already see him on the battlefield as a great general, leading the Chosokabe troops against a powerful enemy. And said to Motochika, "Brother, may I ask that you call Nobuchika to our side? I want to propose a toast... to our children!" And a large smile formed in his face. He hugged his son affectionately and laughed.

OOC: Yeah, Chikauji will be my second character.

[Simon]

Motochika watched as father and son embraced, as he simply laid the neck of his shamisen against his chest as his fingers plucked at a fast pace, giving them time alone, as he listened to Chikauji and the words he had wrote, before words escaped his brother, asking for him to call for Nobuchika, to call for a toast for their offspring.

A smile crept upon his face, "I'm not even sure where Nobuchika is, or if he would be able to come so soon, since he has Zhuge Liang as a tutor and after the battle, Zhuge Liang wished to continue training in his quarters back in Tosa, so calling him would be quite a task", ending with a smirk. Like him, Nobuchika kept busy, and not long after the battle, Motochika was already arranging their next step.

Besides, he had finally gotten to meet Chikauji personally, and now was the time for Chikauji to be the center of attention, rather than bringing in Nobuchika. He then turned and smiled to Chikauji, "I look forward to seeing what you can do Chikauji. You speak of going to Awa, perhaps..", giving a little chuckle, "Perhaps you and your father could lead the attack over there. What do you say?", already giving him an assignment and also his brother his own command.

[Shang Yue]

Chikayasu realized that there was really no reason to call Nobuchika, the time was Chikauji's now. And being given their first assignment together really made him glad. Apparently Motochika wanted them to attack the Miyoshi of Awa to increase their grip on Shikoku. This would be the perfect chance for the young Kosokabe to redeem himself. A perfect chance to show the resolve of a stained name.

Chikauji looked to his father and smiled. He too was very happy with the events, and was looking forward to leave behind the lazy life behind. Now he was under the service of Motochika Chosokabe, and living his past life would surely incur in serious punishment. He was determined to study and turn into a great general.

"You can rest assured, uncle, we will put Awa under the Chosokabe banner! No one in Shikoku will escape your grip!" Chikayasu smiled and turned to his brother. "You heard the boy." The two laughed. It has been a long time since this happened. But from now on, it looked like it would happen much more often.

[Simon]

After proposing the two to work together in subduing Awa, he glanced at each of them and saw how pleased they were at the opportunity he was giving them, before Chikauji spoke up, "You can rest assured, uncle, we will put Awa under the Chosokabe banner! No one in Shikoku will escape your grip!".

In response he smiled, and saw his brother smile, and then the two laughed. Now it was Chikayasu's opportunity to work with his son, just as he had with Nobuchika. With Nobuchika setting down on his own path, he no longer had such an opportunity, maybe with Nobuchika working elsewhere, it could give his other sons a chance to do something greater as Chikauji had. His act gave him inspiration for himself for his other sons.

And as if it was timed, the servant came in with the final cup, as Motochika smiled, "Excellent timing", forming a circle with his hand and a wink for the servant before she left them and Motochika poured their glasses before passing a cup to his brother, and then another to Chikauji, giving him a smile as he passed it to him, before raising his cup in the air, "A toast...to family, to the Chosokabe!". Afterall, the Kosokabe were under the Chosokabe, and his brother was a Chosokabe at heart despite his surname from his adoption.