[Fanfan makes her way out of the tomb! Whichever way that is. She's not entirely sure, and she gets a little lost in the passages.] * Fanfan sighs and keeps walking, trailing a hand along the wall. [While walking, she spots a very handsome Shomuran man coming towards her. She recognizes him from having been among her friends. Mid-twenties, waist-length black hair, white gi and black hakama. And carrying a long, crudely-made wooden katana.] * Fanfan slows down and bows politely and curiously. "Greetings..." [Ah yes, and something that looks like a polished walking stick. Give me a perception check.] * Kojiro bows back. "Salutations. You're that woman who was tied to the altar." 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6-4) and gets 2. * Fanfan nods. "Not by choice." One should hope. I thank you for assisting in the diversion that allowed me to free myself. [Fanfan recognizes the polished walking stick as a sheathed katana. It's nicely disguised.] * Fanfan glances down at the sword/stick and raises an eyebrow in appreciation, but keeps quiet aside from that. [Millie comes walking the way Fanfan came from. She sees Fanfan and Kojiro talking!] * Kojiro nods. "Indeed. A rather impressive escape it was, too. You study the martial arts." * Fanfan spreads her hands humbly. "Only in dance. I am sure a warrior such as yourself exceeds me by far." * Millie heads down the way but backs off a little at the sight of Fanny flirti...I mean talking. * Kojiro shakes his head. "Nevertheless, the martial arts and the dance are of the same origin." * Fanfan inclines her head. "You honor my art." (Clarification: Aki's pretty. Kojiro's handsome. There *is* a difference.) It is an art worthy to be honored. ( Aki looks like a woman. Kojiro actually looks like a man :P ) (Hubba hubba.) Thank you. (And thus, Fanfan meets the love of her life.) * Millie finally steps forward, eyeing Fanfan. "For someone concerned about a horse, ya sure didn't get far..." * Fanfan glances at Millie and turns away, moving to the side of the corridor. "Please, do not let me impede your way. I would hate to give you fodder to consider me expendable." * Millie sighs and her face falls into a frown, crossing her arms across her front. "Don't give me that. I was worried 'bout ya." * Kojiro watches! Juicy gossip for later. * Fanfan snorts. "I would not think a 'dirty slot eye' such as myself would merit that. Go tend to your duties. I am sure you have some artifacts you would like to plunder from tombs." (Does Millie have that rifle on her?) (Yes) * Millie looks at Fanfan a little coldly for a second. "Hey, watch whatcha say 'bout my home town.." * Fanfan sees the dead vampire woman's rifle and her lip curls. "Oh. I see you already have." * Millie sighs and puts her fingers up to her forehead. "Y'know, I should jus' forget it. You've already all got your opinion of me. Geez, you know who you're acting like?" Please forgive my saying this, but I do not think I have any more reason to care about what you think, about me or otherwise. Quite obviously, none of you have any use for an Easterner unless it is one who is not truly Shomuran. So I do not wish to burden you any more with my "crazy" notions. Because of what? I'm not the one who killed Sakura. * Millie sighs. "I'm tryin' ta figure this out. But the fact of the matter is...well, what happens in Shomura if you're defeated in a duel? But you approved of it. And if you feel that Shomuran honor is so "twisted" as you say, well, I shan't give you reason to be bothered by it for much longer. So you're goin' back? * Millie rubs her temples. "Tell me. What 'bout Sakura was totally a proper Shomuran?" Her voice doesn't sound condescending but openly curious. As if she doesn't know. What reason do I have to stay any longer? I won't wait for my turn to be considered crazy, or nuts, or whatever you call it. I will not wait to be killed off by you people. You're not crazy. And...I don't think Sakura was completely crazy either. Not all the time at least... * Fanfan sighs. "Sakura would have challenged Eri to a death duel. If one is truly defeated in a death duel, then what happens next is an honorable burial." And if one person didn't agree to the duel? Or didn't agree to the death part. What then? And yet you seemed to have no problem interfering with her duel and watching people kill her. Eri already ran away from her once. I was there. If she was too weak to be able to defend herself, well. That is her problem. An' what was I s'posed ta do? Shoot Jinx? He's likely ta get up from it anyhow. Plus it'd turn everyone on me. Real smart. * Millie glances at Fanfan. "....Sakura was the one who was too weak to defend herself..." The least you could have done was keep your mouth shut. Then and now. Then she should have died. It was a death duel, it is not like she would not have been prepared to die honorably. But you healed her, then interfered in the duel and killed her yourselves. Obviously you all were just looking for an excuse. * Millie walks over slowly, shaking her head. "And what did I say?" No. I wanted sword lady gone. I won't deny that. But I never wanted her dead. * Fanfan backs away. "Please stay away from me. I do not wish to discuss this any further." * Millie sighs. "...fine." Then what would you have done? Killed Eri? You never did anything but insult her and argue with her. Do not try and speak to me about how "sorry" you may be. Although I doubt that you would be. Me? She's the one that did nothing but insult me. She's the one who called me a "coward" every chance she got. Since when did I do anything to provoke that? It was Sakura's duel. She was an adult. The right belonged to either her or Eri, whichever one was the victor. So we shouldn't have healed her. I see. * Millie just walks slowly past Fanfan. * Fanfan steps back, allowing Millie to pass by. * Fanfan waits until Millie is out of earshot, then bows to Kojiro. "I apologize that you had to witness that." * Kojiro watches Millie go, then turns to Fanfan. "If I might speak...?" ...of course? * Millie walks past and starts to say something, then turns at Kojiro's words. Havning not been present at the ordeal, and further not knowing a great deal about those that were, I may well be in error here... But it sounds as though the fault for whatever happened lies with all parties involved. * Fanfan listens silently and slightly stiffly. ( *Fanfan also uses up a lot of esses.) To begin with... It sounds as though the woman you knew lost the duel. If so, the victor ought not to have spared her. However, from what I understand, she was healed and proceded to attack once more. * Millie nods stiffly. It was as dishonorable for her to continue the duel as it was for the others to interfere. Upon healing her, she ought to have stood down. Because if she was still alive, that meant that either the victor had decided to show her mercy, or that she did not believe it was a duel to the death. * Millie glances over at Fanfan at that underneath her lashes just slightly. She looks a little surprised at hearing Kojiro's response. * Fanfan shows no reaction or emotion. * Kojiro hesitates for a moment, then adds, "I realize that your friends were most likely simply trying to help their ally in healing her, but this was also dishonorable. In issuing the challenge, she ought to have known what she was getting into." * Kojiro looks like he's done. * Millie bites her lip a little at that, then....lets out a breath. * Fanfan waits a beat more, then ducks a nodbow at him, her face still stiff and blank. "Thank you for your words, my lord." * Millie just watches Fanfan silently. But now she's decided to stop moving entirely. I know it is difficult to accept... * Kojiro looks like he's going to say more, then shakes his head and bows. "We ought to rejoin the others, now that we're through here. I'll go on ahead." * Kojiro goes on ahead! * Fanfan bows and follows several steps behind, not looking at Millie. * Millie stays watching Fanfan for a while then blows out a breath, muttering to herself. "See. This is what I get for bein' friendly." * Millie follows a few moments after.