NationStates Jolt Archive

Kagoshima, Japan 1877

The stench of death loomed in the air, polluting one's nostrils with the rank odor of burned gunpowder and blood. The cries of a thousand wounded men echoed throughout the countryside. The bodies of dead men scattered the fields of Shiroyama as smoke rose to the heavens. Four hundred samurai of the Satsuma Clan fought bravely and fiercely against The Japanese Imperial Army, which numbered over three hundred thousand soldiers. Victory was impossible, even with this knowledge, the samuria charged the lines of rifles and cannon. When the smoke cleared, most of the samurai were dead but not without taking many Imperial soldiers with them to the afterlife. This battle marked the end of an era, and the beginning of another. All those who followed the way of the samurai were now gone from this world, melting away like snow giving way to Spring warmth.

As the battle neared its' end, a small group of samurai dashed through the woords, away from the carnage. Their armor was stained with blood, their faces covered with dirt and the blood of others. They breathed heavily as they moved through the forest floor, carrying a beloved leader. Saigo Takamori, the leader of the rebellion and the last great samurai lord began to bleed to death from a fatal shot. He was determined to die with honor and not be captured by the enemy. They entered a calm and remote area where the sun filtered through the tree tops, cascading down upon the samurai as they gathered around their dying leader. A fellow samurai assisted his leader in committing seppuku. Their leader thrusted the tanto blade into his body, performing the act. He grunted slightly but remained in control even as his life blood poured from him. A long time friend and fellow warrior, a great samurai named Aritomo lifted his sword up high and came down with great accuarcy, nearly decapitating Takamori's head. There was a solemn silence as the samurai bowed their heads with respect. Takashi Aritomo sheathed his samurai sword and bowed slightly. There was little time for further respects as government troops approached. A young warrior in the backround watched on with great respect and fear of the process.
"Katsuro!" Aritomo bellowed. Katsuro leaned up against a tree, holding his left arm which was bleeding through the armor. "What is the matter?" Takashi Aritomo was a man of strong build and character, with a trimmed beard and piercing eyes.
"Father, I am injured" Katsuro replied as he stood up straight, feeling dizzy.
"You fought bravely, my son. Your sword is now no longer a virgin blade but has tasted the blood of an adversary!" his father said proudly.
"It was an honor to fight alongside you at last, father" Katsuro bowed his head slightly. As they talked, an explosion ripped through the ground nearvy, the Imperial artillery were firing again. It shook the Earth, sending dirt and debris into the air. There were shouts up ahead as troops advanced, hundreds of them. Tha remaining samuai turned to face them, exhausted yet still fierce.
"Katsuro, this is not a fight for you" Takashi ordered to his son, grasping his sword.
"But father! I want to fight and die with honor!" Katsuro protested, stepping forward.
"No! Our kind are few, too few. You must live and carry on the traditions of our ancestors. Go and take your sister with you. Live on, my son. Tell your sister that I love her and that may she find a good husband someday. Now...Go!" he shoved his son hard into the shoulder. Katsuro was on the brink of tears but he would not disobey his fathers last requests. Despite everything he knew and was taught, he turned from battle and dashed off, away from death, away from war, but how long can he escape it all?

OOC: This is just to give some backround prior ro him arriving to America.
Sign-Up Thread: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=532288

Mayumi's memories were fading of her parents. She knew they were dead and her brother was all she had left. They we're on the ship to a new land, she didn't really want to leave Japan but she knew they had no choice. She awoke from yet another rough night at sea. The Divine Spirits must be angry she thought to her self. The seas were pretty rough since the start of the trip. She found a large blanket on her, obviously from her brother. She looked around but couldn't see him around. She stood up and adjusted to the rocking motion. Stepping over crowds of huddled people and children all sea-sick all afraid of the unknown. She went on deck where her brother was standing. "Katsuro-kun. Here is where you are."

The seas were indeed rough. The ship tossed and turned in the choppy ocean waters of the Paciffic. Other people, seeking a new life in America crowded the ship as it traversed a course it took many times prior and will take many times after. Many of them refugees or simply those tired of life in Japan, wishing a new start in a new land, a land many heard about but never seen. Katsuro heard the stories of America, where every man in master of his destiny, able to shape it and mold it into anything he desired. He gripped the railings of the ship as it plowed through small waves as storm clouds hung overhead. He heard an all too familiar voice from behind him. He opened his eyes and turned around to see his sister, Mayumi. She was a bright young girl, full of life and great expectations. In America, she would be able to do anything.
"It's been many years since my eyes saw a sight such as this. The sea is angry, Mayumi-san" he said to her. Then, he craned his neck skywards and looked to the heavens "Not that it matters, this will pass and soon we shall start anew."

He put his arm lovingly around her and held her in an embrace. She stared off into the sky full of dark storm clouds. "It looks like it's ready to burst, we should go bellow." One last storm to pass through into the a hopefully bright new horizion.

The storm was violent and unforgiving as the ship passed through it. The captain barked orders at the crew as he skillfully manuveured the ship as the ocean raged around him. Katsuro and Mayumi went below with the other passengers who were huddled together, frightened of the storm as water washed below deck. It was cold and dark with only a dim lantern illuminating the compartment. Katsuro endured great pains in his life, emotional and physical and always managed to overcome them. This storm was just another obstacle in his path as the two of them hunkered down in a corner of the one compartment. They were near their desitination. The ship tossed and turned as the ocean threw the ship from wave to wave, almost mocking them in their plight. Katsuro closed his eyes, desperate for some rest, he couldn't remember the last time he slept. The wound to his arm was still fresh and bandaged. It stung and hurt but he worked through the pain, using it almost.
"Rest, Mayumi-san" he said to his sister "We will arrive soon enough".

In the morning Katsuro woke early to see that they were alone in the compartment. Not a sign of life within it as he stood up, carefully laying Mayumi's head down on a blanket as he stood up, yawning. Shafts of light escaped into the compartment. He moved up the stairs and onto the deck to see the crowd of people huddled against the railing, mezmerized. He pushed his way past them to see what they saw. It was indeed, amazing. He rushed past them again and back down to the compartment.
"Mayumi-san!" he shouted happily "We made it to America. Come and see for yourself!"

Lighting and rain poured down on the ship as the storm raged. Water poured into the hold bellow. Mayumi was frightend but felt all right in her brother's firm grip. He told her to rest so she tried and drifted off. Morning came the sound of her brother's eager voice woke her up. She ran up on deck to see them in the harbor of their new home. "We made it at last."

Alfonso kicked the sides of the horse begging for more speed, it charged down the rought desert terrain and slowly matched the speed of the renegade Train, timing was important, and if his master had taught him anything it was in that very discipline, not yet, he thought to himself as he watched the horse dodge to the right away from the train, soon, he focused on the back of the train, the platform allowing for one man to leap onto, NOW!
IndentThe Bandits coat flapped in the breeze as for a moment he was floating between the two bodies, it was in this peaceful moment that Alfonso felt his happiest, he landed with a thud on the back of the Train and quickly restored his composure, now everything would be lightning fast, he kicked at the door forcing it open, a split second later and the marshall inside fired off a shell, Alfonso leapt aside "Stop!!!" Alfonso grabbed his two pistols and let off a few rounds around the corner into the carriage, he then leapt up onto the roof.
IndentIt was windy up here, he could barely stand, but at least he was away from the Marshall, moving slowly up the train towards the goods carriage, the Marshall inside the Train could hear the thuds of footsteps on the roof and sneered as he reloaded the breech loading rifle, he pointed the rifle upwards and blasted away randomly loosening up the wooden ceiling.
IndentAlfonso rocked slightly as his path was cut off, a second shot pierced the ground ahead of him and a third knocked him aside, he rolled down the side falling over hanging on the guttering, he looked through the window at the Marshall who quickly began to reload again, Alfonso swore to himself and then kicked through the window pane bursting in and knocking the Lawman to his arse, Alfonso got up, slightly frazzled by the fall but not unconcious like the Marshall.

The people deboarded the ship which endured greatly during the voyage across the ocean. The harbor of San Francisco was bustling with activity as ships lined the docks, off loading and on loading goods and material. People lined the streets, weaving in and out from horse drawn carts. The city was alive and vibrant with various activities. They felt lost and certainyl out of place. Their clothing was different and drew stares from others people. They were most certainly, not in Japan anymore. Katsuro had no idea what to do now, they were there and that's all he knew. I guess I shoudl've thought this out more. He carried with him a cloth bag containing some clothes and other things. In his other hand was his sword inside it's sheath. Suddenly, a vicious grumble seized his stomach, a powerful hunger overcame him. The problem was...they didn't have any money and selling the sword was completely out of the question.
"Let's find some place to eat" Katsuro said to Mayumi as they walked down a random street, still drawing gazes from unfamiliar faces.

Antonia's family came in search of Gold. Every morning rain or shine her father would go gold hunting. Leaving Antonia and her mother to do things. They usually conversed in Dutch.

"Antonia."

„Ja ma'am?“ (Yes Ma'am)


„I vereist u om naar de markt te gaan en deze lijst van voedsel voor ons op te nemen. Gelieve te doen u dat voor me darling? „

("I need you to go to the market and pick up this list of food for us. Will you please do that for me darling?")

„Ja ma'am.“

Antonia ran down to the bay market. Another boat load of Immigrants were arrving. She didn't know from where but immigrants were comming all the time.

OOC: Alborio...Kanami's playing Mayumi...or are you Kanami!

The people deboarded the ship which endured greatly during the voyage across the ocean. The harbor of San Francisco was bustling with activity as ships lined the docks, off loading and on loading goods and material. People lined the streets, weaving in and out from horse drawn carts. The city was alive and vibrant with various activities. They felt lost and certainyl out of place. Their clothing was different and drew stares from others people. They were most certainly, not in Japan anymore. Katsuro had no idea what to do now, they were there and that's all he knew. I guess I shoudl've thought this out more. He carried with him a cloth bag containing some clothes and other things. In his other hand was his sword inside it's sheath. Suddenly, a vicious grumble seized his stomach, a powerful hunger overcame him. The problem was...they didn't have any money and selling the sword was completely out of the question.
"Let's find some place to eat" Katsuro said to Mayumi as they walked down a random street, still drawing gazes from unfamiliar faces.

"Hai" Mayumi agreed. She was starving. She could go for noodles but she wasn't sure if you could find some of her native cusine in this new country. They didn't have much money. She assumed Katsuro had taken some along. She knew this: America used the dollar and in you could make money in this country. Or so she had heard.

(My fault we're sharing computers today)

Lopez walked up the street of the bustling town with his mule, Carlito. Carlito was a good boy, a present from his grandfather about six years ago. Lopez had on a large Traveller's Knapsack, haf filled with supplies and half filled with his brothers' 100% Blue Agave tequila. Carlito carried loads of the stuff in his saddlepacks along with both him and his master's food and water supplies. They passed a large crowd of immigrants and decided to try his luck.

"Hey!" he shouted. "Anyone want some Tequila? Fifteen Cents a bottle!"

(My fault we're sharing computers today)

OOC: How do you two know each other?

(Cousins. But anyway best keep the ooc's in the ic to a minimal)

Katsuro nodded, sadly, he didn't have any money. So, he decided to wing it and continue on his way, acting confident. It seemed as though they walked forever down the streets which went on and on, the city was massive to him at least. The sun began to beat down on mercilessly as the day wore on. Finally, they reached a bar which was ordinary in appearance.
"We'll go in here and ask for food" Katsuro uttered as they moved through the swing doors of the saloon. Inside they heard the sound of a piano playing and men laughing and shouting. As they entered, an awkward and unwelcoming silence followed their entrance. The men were a rough sort by their looks and acts. Their eyes fell on the two of them for quite some time. Katsuro never felt so out of place in his life. He felt their judging eyes upon him but decided to ignore them and walk right up to the bartender who stood behind the bar, polishing glasses. There was a burly looking man sitting to his right, hat tipped up and bolting down a glass of whiskey. He wiped some of it from his thick beard and turned around to see the two foreigners. The bartender looked nervously at the man then to Katsuro.
"Sorry, we don't serve chinks around here" the bartender said, putting down the glass.
"Chinks? What is a chink?" Katsuro inquired.
"A Chinaman!" the burly man bolstered loudly.
"I am not Chinese if that's what you're asking, I'm Japanese" Katsuor said proudly.
"Hey, that's a pretty little thing you got with you!" the burly man laughed as he looked at Mayumi.

Mayumi ducked behind her brother. She didn't like the way these men were eying her. "Maybe we should go some place else. I don't feel good here."

The burly man stood up, clearily insulted. The bartender backed away from the scene and other people looked on.
"What's the matter, honey? No sucky sucky?" he laughed, he was of strong buildg build and size with a gunbelt around his waist and a knife on the other side of the belt. He smiled, displaying several gold teeth. Katsuro insinctively stepped back, shielding Mayumi from this brute.
"How much for her?" the man inquired, smirking.
"She's not for sale!" Katsuro replied furiously. He wanted to avoid a fight but one seemed unavoidable at this point. Suddenly, from behind them, another man grabbed Mayumi, grabbing her arms and held a knife to her throat.
"I guess we don't need to pay then. Just back off and let us have the bitch!" Katsuro thumbed his sword, accessinf the situation. It seems as though he couldn't avoid a fight, such was his destiny.

OOC: I am just going to start from Musashi's altercation with Wyatt Earp which causes him to flee and be an outlaw for 6 years...

IC:

June 1880, Tombstone, Arizona...

Mushashi Del Sackett looked around his saloon proudly, in the first 6 months that it was opened, he had gotten 600 dollars in the first 3 months it was open. He was a rich man in town, and he saw Wyatt Earp start in and Earp said "Good morning Del, (That was his nickname), I have just been informed that you stole some cattle..." Del tightened his grip on his Colt S.A.A and said "No I didn't, it was some other man...", which Earp replied "Why then did the "theif", have a katana? hmm..." Del said "There's other Japanese immigrants around, for one, Miyamoto El Eglin is one, and I'd suspect him of doing it..."

Wyatt Earp looked cold and hard and said "It had your name on it Del, and I'm taking you in!"

Del, before Earp could do anything, drew out his pistol out and fired 2 shot's into Earps shoulder, and threw a chair at Earp and said "My religion doesn't tolerate dishonest sheriff's, now get out of my sight!", he ducked behind the counter as Earp fired shot's at Del, missing him by inches, and Del threw more bottles at Earp to deflect the fired, and he ran out the back door, and saddled his horse. He got on, and rode off fast, taking pot shots at the lawmen gathering in the streets, and soon they were far behind as he rode high and fast into the mountains, to start his outlaw life...

Mayumi struggled to get free. She threw her foot into the shins which didn't do much good in the shoes she wore. She could tell her brother was preparing to take them down.

OOC: The rp takes place in 1877/78

The scene was tense, a crooked man held Mayumi at knife point and a large and dangerous man stood before him, no one was doing anything to help them. Frustrated, Katsuro searched for a solution. Seeing no way to resolve it peacefully, he decided on the only course of action left to him. He cleared his mind and envisioned a peaceful, tranquil scene in him mind to clear his thoughts. He remembered bac to his mother, a vague memory of beauty and conviction. Being at a stream where she taught him how to fish, it was such a peaceful day, without bloodshed or heartache. A slow breath escaped his lungs as eveything slwed down around him, he could hear the slightest sound. His weak foot slid back as his right hand grasped the sword. His eyes were dead on the burly man as the sword slid out of the sheath, fluidly. the burly man fell back against the bar, reaching for his gun but Katsuro exploded towards him, the sword sliced away the man's hand, watching it fall to the ground. The injured cowboy screamed, collapsing to his knees as blood ruptured out of the nub. Another slice across the throat from Katsuro ended his suffering as he crumpled to the ground. Katsuro turned around, bathed in blood, his eyes strangely cold and distant.

The other man showed great fear as he trembled behind Mayumi. His grip loosened and his sister escaped. Katsuro charged once more, the sword plunged into the man's stomach and out the other end through his back. Their heads were only inches away as he twisted the blade up and out, the man fell to the ground, gargling and bleeding from his wound. The scene was horriffic, blood and intestines on the ground as well as a decapitated hand. Katsuro wiped off the blade and surveyed the scene. The crowd was shocked, not a sound.
"Mayumi-san, are you alright?" katsuro asked calmly.

(OOC: Skipping waaay past the Train scene)

Alfonso had stopped playing poker with the three men around the table, his attention had turned to the Chink at the bar and his little girl standing next to him, a scene looked ready to unfold and Alfonso was unsure whether to get involved, when the men grabbed the girl Alfonso leapt out of his seat, if there was only one crime that he couldn't stand it was rape, he stood in the middle of a potential battlefield assessing his surroundings and who might be wanting to fight him, but he wouldn't make a move until he forced to.

Malcom stepped off the train in San Fransico, hoping to seek some fortune there.
"God, I need a drink", he thought.
He walked into the bar and without realizing, got into the fight that was goung on.
The Asian guy bumped into him,
"What the fuck was that!?", was what Malsom yelled.

"I'm okay." She shakily responded. She embraced her brother.

"We have to leave, Mayumi-san!" Katsuro seized her by the arm and ran out the saloon, the crowd parted out of their way as the emerged onto the sidewalk. There was a scream from a lady who saw Katsuro covered in blood.
"The chink's gone mad!" shouted someone from the crowd. Suddenly, several men pushed their way throught the crowd, they were wearing stars on their chests.
"Hold it!" shouted one of them "Put your hands in the air, drop the...sword?" he questioned himself, leveling a revolver at Katsuro who searched for a way out. There's no way he could fight a man with a gun at such a distance, esspecially with him still injured. What to do?! He would've fought but he had to protect Mayumi at all costs. If she wasn't there, Katsuro probably would've charged the men. Instead, he chose to dart through the crowd with Mayumi in tow. The men rushed after them as they darted down an alley, a shot rang out and exploded against a fence next to them.
"Stop!" shouted a deputy but Katsuro ignored them and kept running as hard as he could.

Marta could hear some comotion in the streets. She just came for a barrle of Ale and she could see to frightend people running. One looked to be a adult 20's the other was just a kid. "Hey you two, come, come." She coaxed them into the ally way.

Katsuro looked at the woman for a moment. Should I trust her? Without much more hesitation he decided that he had no other alternative than to follow the woman.
"Alright" he said "Come with me Mayumi" he said to her as they entered the alley. "Who are you" he asked the woman.

"One moment." Marta went out.

"Officers, they're mad! I saw the Chinamen run towards the south dock. If you hurry you might catch them!"

"Forgive me. My name is Marta, I can tell you are new so I thought I'd help you out of this little situation."

"Domo arigato" Mayumi bowed in respect.

Malcom turned around and trailed the man who bumped into him, the police running in some other dirction. He pulled his LeMat revolver out of his holster and pointed it at the Asian man and said,
"OK, who the hell are you and what the hell was that?"

OOC: Pretend that that even happened in 1877 Kanami, whoops!

IC:

Musashi Del Sackett rode the outlaw trail for 6 years, and now he's joined the Texas Rangers, hunting down a rogue sheriff that's been robbing people...

Del, looked down the empty street, it was clearly recently vacated, and he wondered why, suddenly he heard a shot wizz past him, and he drew his gun, and saw the rogue sheriff emerge from the bar, a smile on his face. He leaned up against the wall and said "Del, do you think that you'll survive me?, you're not Tyrel Sackett, you're up against a real fighter, who's going up against a rookie..." The rogue sheirff, John Mackewood drew his Schofield, but he forgot Del had already had his drawn, Del fired three times, and John Mackewood dropped dead, and Del buried him, and walked off to the saloon..

OOC: Maybe this incident could go into some newspapers in your characters towns or something like that...

bumps all 'round

bump for all those who care

Musashi Del Sackett rode far and wide in 1877, in June, he met again Wyatt Earp..

Musashi sat at the saloon bar, drinking some saspirilla, and saw Wyatt Earp come in, he sat up and said "Howdy pardner, I am a Texas Ranger now, I saw the light..." Wyatt Earp gave him a hardy handshake and smiled and said "I knew you'd see the light, you are of great use to the law, your fast draw has become well known in Fort Dodge know, I'm going to ask you if you want to be the Marshall of Peco's?"

Musashi considering and nodded and Earp pulled out the Marshall badge, and pinned on Musashi's right chest and clapped him on the back and said "You've earned it pal.."

OOC: This is a little filler post..

Boat approaching San Francisco

~ The choppy waters of the Pacific coast shook the vessel violently, knocking a drunken man onto his backside.

Kasigi Hitoshi grunted once in amusement, chiding the lack of balance the man had displayed to himself. Already his dark blue kimono, extremely fair complexion, and two swords gave him away as being an Asian, and now the drunk had decided that he was something to be gawked at.

" Gomen nasai, is something wrong?" Hitoshi asked him, not at all desiring to be treated like some circus animal. His hand was resting gently on his sword's handle, a movement that these Americans were not trained to pick up, but the drunk persisted.

" Whatsamatta' wit' your face, boy? 's all ... pulled back!" The reek of alcohol almost made Hitoshi strike him down just for carrying himself in such a way, but he had been cautioned that the West behaved much differently than he was used to. Barbarians, he thought ...

" If you seek to mock my heritage, I would advise against it ..."

" And what's wit' them swords? Ain' you ever heard of a gun? Here, I'ma teach you a lesson, Tight Face."

With that, the man, impaired by the affects that whiskey brings, drew his Colt Revolver, and, before Hitoshi could believe that the man was seriously considering this course of action, leveled it at the ronin and fired.

Like a bolt of lightning, Hitoshi dodged the shot by sliding himself down the bench he was on, drew Yawaraka-Te, and, in the same motion, lopped off the man's leg below the knee.

The scream that filled the boat brought many people running, but upon seeing the blood-red blade, they quietly returned to their seats, careful to not glance at the scene.

Standing over his opponent, Kasigi Hitoshi used his weapon to knock the pistol out of the drunk's free hand whilst his other was clasping for his stump, a vast amount of obscenities spewing forth from his mouth.

" You chink sumbitch! I'll kill ya ye yella bastard! Godless heathen, barbarian, knife-twirlin', Goddamn mother-less whore!"

Calmly, Hitoshi pulled out his sword's cloth, wiped the weapon down, and promptly sheathed it.

" Honorless pig! Wear the shame that I have bestowed upon you!"

With that, he strode away, just as the boat came in to dock. Stepping silently into the city of San Francisco, he could not help but curse this new land.

If all of America is like this, I shall committ seppuku as soon as I find a second! Maybe even before then!~

*bump* ...?

what happend to this?

i liked this thread, i thought it died