[/url][/img]
The word flew through out the land like the wild fires that ravaged the forests many summers ago. Lord Izumi, was holding a tournament to find the strongest man in the country side. The winner, would be awarded the riches only a Lord to the Emperor could provide. Naturally, this thought plagued the minds of men all over the land. For they hoped for a ticket to a new life filled with luxuries. The tournament was advertised to be held at Lord Izumi's manor in the mountains to the western fishing village of Xi'an.
Now, Xi'an lay lay between the winding river and the looming mountain of Mt. Izumi. In the cliff face of this mountain climbed 30,000 stone steps to the rock garden entrance of the Izumi manor that had an astonishing 5 levels. In the lavish halls were 100 servants, 100 guards, and one forgotten flower that roamed its halls. The flower of Izumi's manor was Lord Izumi's only daughter Sakura. She was a slim 16 year old with long flowing black hair, two deep brown pools for eyes, and milky white skin. With all the riches of the land at her fingertips how could she be such a lonely soul.
The cause for Sakura's lonely demur was the events of her 8th birthday. It was not a peaceful time and as the celebration began one assassin found his way into the bedroom of Sakura's mother and baby brother. Lord Izumi blamed himself for paying so much to Sakura instead of watching over the love of his life and heir to his fortune. The night that Lord Izumi found the pools of blood to the ones he cherished drove him to look at his daughter as one of the murders responsible. Sakura was locked behind the manor walls with only the company of servants and one old body guard till her 16th birthday. During the years she took great comfort in studying under a tutor in academics and self defense from her body guard. The burden she carried would be to be the wife of the heir that her father would chose.
Thus brings us to where poor Sakura awaits her sentence......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sakura rested on a cushioned bench in her room. Her chest tightened with each breathe as one servant finished pinning ornamnets in her silky black hair. This was her fate there was no changing it...She would be wedded tonight to some strange fool. Her heart sank as her fingertips brushed the fabric of her kimono and familiar heavy steps approached the door way.
"S-Sakura....You look lovely, child," greeted Makoto. He was an old man with deep wrinkles, long snow white hair, and old tattered armor. He was a retired bodyguard that no one would hire. However, Sakura's father hired him after the tradgety hoping that he would fail in his job.
"You look like a crimminal about to be executed before the high courts....," chuckled Makoto. His wrinkly hands grabbing her small soft ones. "Look, I trained you to be strong...You must not show fear right now...Think of the lessons I taught you."
Sakura slowly raised her chin her eyes looking into makoto's eyes as something cold was pressed into her hands. "What is this....." She looked down at the hilt of the dagger in her hands. Her eyes glazing over as she instinctively hid it.
"I did not train you all these years to have you die, child. Your father is foolish for holding this tournament...He has opened it to all and I fear that even the rebels will try to attend. Their leader has a son you know...I want you to keep that dagger on you at all times. There's still rebellion out there against the emperor and a rebel becoming nobelity would be a horrifying thing. Speak not of your ties of nobelity as far as the public know you are a servant girl to be a prize in a tournament along with a huge sum of money....Some men have the idea that this will get them chumy with the emporer and your father knows it too. Today and from now on you are Haruhi the lowly servant and prize to the winner of this tournament. I'm sorry Sakura to have brought you this news but we can not jepordize the emporer's safety....," explained Makoto. The old man's eyes were filled with tears that never fell from his eyes.
"I have known my fate since I was a small child. My heart screams and blood boils but I must complete my sentence so that I may be forgiven for those deaths so many years ago...I should not have begged for such an elaborate celebration....This is my duty....Makoto, I will promise to stay alive and live a full life....," replied Sakura. Her voice shaking as she got up her knees shaking together. "I Haruhi am ready to watch the tournament..."
Makoto nodded turning his back to Sakura his face becoming cold. Sakura followed behind him her head held high and her eyes burning into the path ahead of her. Servants paused bowing tearfully as she walked past. They had been her family and now she was leaving them. She saw the light of the garden and let the sun envelop her as she sat down on a cushion behind a tinly curtained area. She was hidden but she could see the makeshift battle square and the fighters filing in. She was sitting next to all the prizes and left to watch the fight ensue. She watched the guards surround the the sides of the tent except the front so she would be able to see the fight through the thin curtains. She watched as her father passed in his lavish robes and sat on a cushioned bench under an umberella. The fighters one by one paying their respects to Lord Izumi before going off to stretch. With in the hour the fights began.....
Subject: Re: Private rp (maybe mature) 
Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:40 am
