"I didn't think it was true until now. I didn't even know you had the birthmark until you just told me. If I knew sooner, I would have went looking for you. I don't expect you to trust me, though. I know I'll have to earn it."
"No you don't have to show me. Still, had they not have done what they did, you would have ended up dead, or framed for murder like I was. The fact of the matter is that I am the only blood relative you have, but whether you accept me or not is totally your decision."
"No. Before we were born, our mother and father were being hunted by Uzuki. After our birth, mother anf father decided that they wanted one of us to live on in case they were caught. They left you in a nearby village while they carried me and were still being persued. Eventually the hunters stopped coming and they were able to settle down and eventually the Ishida clan became one of nobility. I never believed them when they told me about you, but you were spared the fate that befell them and me by their act. But because of them, you had to endure a harsh life, and for that I am truly sorry. You can choose whether to believe me or not, the the proof is undeniable."
"So I was right." Koza rolled up the sleeve of his robe, revealing a dragon birthmark on his shoulder. "You truly are my sister. Now I know what my parents were telling me was true."
Tsuda stretched. "You're beginning to bore me. I'm going to go ahead and end this." Abisegeri's tail shot out of the darkness and stabbed Sulon, injecting a sleeping poison into him. Tsuda watched as he fell unconsious.
"Then how about a dragon mark?" ooc: Just go along with it, I've got a little back story going in my head. Please?
"You don't even have anything that your parents might have given you to remember them by?"
"Kyo didn't know either. This whole plan was all my idea. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to soil your hands with blood. I already knew that you and Koza had come into town. I was a friend of his family and I wanted to help clear his name. When I saw you, though I truly fell in love with you and wanted to be with you. Koza initially tried to keep us apart, but he finally caved in. The night you saw me get killed, that was actually a body double used to fool Uzuki. Koza had insisted that I tell you the truth, but in my haste, I refused. Koza also has something to tell you." "I'll take it from here. Reach into your pocket, Maiko. You'll find a coin half that I'm sure you've been holding on to since your childhood."
"Look, I know we've been keeping the truth from you, but at least give me a chance to tell you everything before you leave."
"Maiko, wait!" Takahiro started to run after her. Koza was close behind him. He tried to drag Takahiro away, but he soon overpowered Koza.
"You heard the lady, Takahiro. Let's take this outside." Everyone but the toctor left Maiko's room. "What do you mean by, 'Take it outside'?" "I warned you that if you let anything happen to my sister, that you'd regret it. Now I'm going to exact judgement on you."
"Wake up, sleepyhead." Koza said as he gently nudged her. "Stop bothering her, Koza! She dosen't want to talk to us now. I'm sure she feels betrayed by all of us." "Well, my sister wouldn't be this way if you would have just let her in on your little plan."
The doctor removed the knife and patched her up. Takahiro took anything that could be used as a weapon and placed it out of Maiko's reach so she couldn't harm herself. "This really must be a shock for her." "Yes, but it was your idea to keep her out of the loop. I told you to let her know you were going to use a body double for our meeting, but did you?" "Alright already! I'm sorry." "Don't tell that to me. You explain everything to Maiko when she wakes up."
ooc: I'm going to speak for takahiro on this post, and this one only. bic: A voice came from behind the door. "Koza isn't lying." The door opened to reveal Takahiro.
"Ow, take it easy. My wounds are still sore." He turned back to Maiko. "If you don't get up, I'm sending Takahiro in here to give you the tickle torture."
Koza slugglishly got up and hit Maiko. "Get up, you idiot. Takahiro would kill me if you died now."
The assasin moved to attack Kyo, but stopped short as a blade pierced his throat. as he fell to the ground, Koza withdrew his blade. He collapsed again as the doctor came running up to them. He began patching up Koza and Maiko.
Koza gripped Kyo's arm. "Tell the innkeeper...to call the doctor....and find Maiko....and warn her that her life....is in danger....." Koza passed out again, but was still breathing. *Elsewhere....* The mysterious figure who attacked Koza the night before waited in the shadows to attack Maiko.
Koza said nothing. His vision was growing dark. He had passed out from the blood loss and stood on the verge of death.
Koza leaned up against a tree, deep in thought. What should I do now? My quest is over, so does that mean I no longer have any purpose? He walked back to town. As soon as he crossed through the gates, he found himself bound to the wall. "What the..." A hooded figure approached him. He repeatedly slashed Koza and finally stabbed him in the stomach. "Your friends will be joining you tomorrow...." The hooded man said before walking off.
