[Day 5, Early Morning, Watchtower] A Single Question

[Isawa Junpei]

Somehow the pain of the cut was muddled among the spiritual agony he'd suffered during the initial onslaught of emotion that the kami had drown him in. The true anguish came from watching the spirit be drawn into the growing vortex of pure hatred. Chasing after it, he reached out his hand, as though somehow the aerial kami could take hold of it. He knew it was a futile gesture, even as he moved with as much haste as he could muster. Reaching closer and closer to the nexus of the winds, a great swell swatted the shugenja aside like a bothersome insect. Sent flying back at the tower, it was all Junpei could do to stay airborne, tears streaming down his cheeks.

[elonweis]

A second swordsman was hot on the shugenja's heels ... right up until the Isawa leapt in to the air and stayed there. His eyes widen as his jaw drops. He nearly loses his sword as he feels his hand go numb, all he can do is exclaim, "A-asura!" to the horror of the other gaijin guards.

[Isawa Junpei]

Thrown back over the tower, Junpei looked skyward before orienting himself to watch his potential attackers. Rising cautiously into the air, he had to press from his mind the plight of the kami. If he lost concentration he might find himself riddled by arrows or cast about in the growing tempest. Rising steadily through the winds, his tunic and hair thrashed wildly.

[elonweis]

Tomoe, confused at everything that was going on, takes quick stock of the situation and turns to the one guard on her. The woman bows, addressing him as politely as the situation allowed in the hopes of getting away, "Please, I do not know what's going on. It is unsafe-"

She starts to edge towards the stairs when the guard finishes drawing his sword, face pale at the shout behind him. He was shaken, but determined to do his duty, "Stay where you are!"

The Dragon stops, glancing around at the situation and tries again, "We can both go. I will stay at the bottom of the stairs away from this witch-"

But he wasn't listening as he shouted, "STAY WHERE YOU ARE OR DIE!"

The Mirumoto does the only thing she could; she stays still.

* * *
... meanwhile the remaining archer nocks another arrow, eyes wide in his face as he takes aim at the flying-man-thing-probably-not-a-man and fires. He blanches as the arrow misses by nearly a foot.

I... I had him! I had him! How did- oh, dear Gods, I'm going to die!

The wail of the wind grew in intensity as the captain of the guard cursed. It involved the Isawa's parents and improbable (or at least uncomfortable) things being done to a donkey. The first archer fires again and he too blanches as the arrow misses and is snatched by the wind and carried away.

[Isawa Junpei]

The voice of the wind screamed in his ears, each one the voice of a kami being devoured by whatever evil had come to this place. The pain and the feeling of absolute helplessness, made him let out a gasping sob, and the tears began to flow again. Coupled with the strain of pushing through the mighty winds, and his whole being, body, mind, and soul ached. Drawing his arms close to him, he chanted a ward against evil. If only it had been more than a peasant prayer it might have done more, but all it did was give him the focus to push through the corona of the maelstrom, and into the breeze above. The pain did not leave him, though, and as fast as the pure winds could take him he streaked for someplace safe, rising high into the sky so as not to be seen.

/exit

[elonweis]

A silence drops over the guards as most stare after the flying-man-thing. The wind continues to howl and a laugh, just beneath the range a normal human could hear, rocks the air. It raised the hairs on many an arm. As one, the gaijin turn to stare at Tomoe.

Happy was not the word one would use to describe their expression.

(Combat ends)

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

The woman looks up in the air and down at the guards repeatedly, now lost for words. She is at least somewhat pleased the wind is dying down but... WHAT IN JIGOKU JUST HAPPENED?

She realises it would be prudent to cooperate but it isn't too hard to read the situation. She remains silent. The words from earlier remain with her. Would the mad Isawa be able to deliver them himself now or was he just sucked into the sky? Hopefully she'd find out later.

[elonweis]

The captain of the guard on duty's face becomes pinched.

"Take her in to custody. Have runners go out to the towers, tell them what happened and have them keep the foreigners out of our defenses. They may be in league with the enemy. Have another run to the palace. The Maharaja and the council need to know what happened."

The guards bow in reply and the man on Tomoe moves to drag her away...