Captured! Revelations of the Mysterious Tomb..

[Carthrat]

Okina nods. "I believe I can discern the location of the Tomb of Lords," he says. "Be ready to travel after you rest."

[Corwin]

"Thank you, Okina-san," Umi responds, and takes her leave, going to find a room to rest in.

[Carthrat]

Some time later, Umi and Fuu wake up.

[Corwin]

Umi finds to her surprise that the room she'd rested in was right next to Fuu's, and waves at her friend. "I've got you something," she says, smiling, as she holds out a pair of boots. "They're real sneaky-sneaky like," she adds, a smirk playing on her lips.

[Carthrat]

Hikaru sees that everyone has assembled into a marching column, and soon she's being prodded forward, too, as the small group of maybe eighty soldiers advances through the charred forest...

..not long before the army stops, and Hikaru finds herself being shoved to the head of the column to see somebody on horseback.

It's a gaijin, in full armour (except for a helmet). He sports an extremly poncy-looking moustache, and he looks at the Matsu bushi with a bit of contempt.

Hikaru finds herself standing directly in front of the imposing (moustahce nonwithstanding) man.

"So is this to be my.. prize?" he says to one of the bushi.

"Er, no," replies a worried-looking soldier. "Not yet, anyway, Jonaquel-sa"

"You will address me as 'Sir Sorel," the man butts in, leering down at Hikaru. "What's your name, girl?"

[Halbarad]

Hikaru remains silent, merely staring at the man.

[Carthrat]

"Is she dumb as well as.. elven?" says the man, snorting. The Matsu bushi blink. "Well, she was speaking to us earlier.."

The man leers further down at Hikaru. "Speak."

[Halbarad]

The pink-haired elf frowns, but still makes no reply.

[Carthrat]

"Gibbons!" barks the man, calling over another Gaijin.

"Encourage her," he says, but one of the bushi intervenes. "The Doji monk said she's to be in good condition! Guest of honor or not, I cannot allow this!"

"Hmph," snorts the man. "This had better be worth it. I've no time for-"

An arrow flies through the air and lodges itself in the gaijins elbow. He starts in pain, and turns on his horseback towards the source of the arrow- like everyone else in the vicinity also does. Their attention is momentairily diverted from Hikaru..

[Halbarad]

Hikaru seizes her opportunity and quickly runs in the opposite direction, once again trying to dodge any possible pursuit in the forest.

[Carthrat]

As Hikaru scampers away (in complete silence), she hears a warcry behind her, along with a deep incantation, followed by a terrible, undescribable noise and a few screams..

She manages to climb a tree, and after about fifteen minutes, starts to see Matsu bushi and horsemen combing the area for her.. unsuccessfully. After a while, they all leave..

[Halbarad]

Hikaru remains in the tree, hardly daring to breathe. She waits for all sounds of the Matsu to dissipate, then drops out of the tree to head east to the capital.

[Carthrat]

Hikaru staggers back to the Capital of Cephiro, managing to make it to the gates of the city.. and is promptly greeted by the concerned face of an elven guardsmen.

"Hikaru-sama! Are you allright?" he asks, stupidly, considering how messed up she is.

[Halbarad]

"I've felt better." Hikaru replies, leaning against the city wall to steady herself. "I need to see Okina-san as soon as possible."

[Carthrat]

"Uh, ok. Do you need help or anything?" he asks, as one other bushi rushes off with the news...

<->

"Hikaru is back!" yells somebody, almost running into Umi from behind..