**** okay, here is a first post to an rp i want to do... I'm posting it here in hopes that someone might like it. I'm willing to tweak it and adjust it so that it fits whoever wants to rp this.... lol
Preview:
The word flew throughout 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 in honor of the Emperor. 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. For they hoped for a ticket to a new life filled with luxuries and possible access to the Emperor himself. 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 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 18 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. She was cursed and declared a possible down fall to the flourishing empire including the Emperor himself. Sakura was locked behind the manor walls with only the company of servants and one old body guard. She was refused the ability to wonder past the flowering courtyards and took on the role of a caged bird that is until her 18th birthday. During the years she took great comfort in studying under a tutor in academics and self defense from her body guard learning things that should never be studied by a women. However, with the luxury of knowledge came her burden she would be to be the wife of the heir that her father would chose and assume a new name that casted her from her noblety unless her father die without an heir.
Thus brings us to where poor Sakura awaits her sentence......
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Sakura rested on a cushioned bench in her room. Her chest tightened with each breath as one servant finished pinning ornaments 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 murders hoping that he would fail in his job.
"You look like a criminal 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 katana in her hands. Her eyes glazing over as she instinctively hid it in the vast layers of fabric.
"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 rebel samurais will try to attend. Their leader has a son you know...I want you to keep that katana on you at all times. There's still rebellion out there against the emperor and a rebel becoming nobility would be a horrifying thing. Speak not of your ties of nobility 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 chummy with the emperor and your father knows it too. Today and from now on you are Haruhi the lowly servant and prized wife to the winner of this tournament. I'm sorry Sakura to have brought you this news but we cannot jeopardize the emperor'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 so many years ago....This is my duty....Makoto, I will promise to stay alive and live a full life...I also promise to pay for the murders I brought to this house….," replied Sakura. Her voice shaking as she got up her knees bumping together. "I, Haruhi am ready to watch the tournament..."
Makoto nodded turning his back to Sakura his face becoming cold allowing no scene to emerge while the child followed. 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 substitute 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 thinly 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 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 pass in his lavish robes and sit on a cushioned bench under an umbrella. The fighters one by one paying their respects to Lord Izumi before going off to stretch. With in the hour the fights began.....
