Apr 18 11:27:55 105 PA

From Chronicles

The current game time is: Sat Apr 18 11:27:55 105 PA.

A man in a kimono, with two swords, carring a pen and ink case and brush. He is carrying a blanket as well. He then looks at the sky and the weather. He then moves to find a small spot on the top of a tiny hill. He then kneels and starts to spread out the blanket. Hamamoto blinks at the voices in the fog, and then shrugs a little, wondering what might be going on. But then, he then sets up his calligraphy set and places it out, preparing.

The man known throughout Kingsdale as Dr. Kelley walks into the park, sullen, his hands in his pockets, his head hanging down. He shuffles along, kicking stones ahead of him, not really looking where he's going, mumbling to himself. There are tears in his eyes, and the faint smell of alcohol on his breath.

Hearing the stone skittering across the ground, Hamamoto looks up for a moment. Another one is kicked, and Hamamoto then frowns. "Hello?" He then speaks into the light fog. A bit of a short man, with the two swords in the belt, like a movie, or something.

"Hello?" Kelley looks into the fog and spots the much shorter man with the odd collection of swords. He walks over to him and plops himself down right in front of his calligraphy set, his legs collapsed under him, Indian-style. His hands don't move from his pockets, and the hood of his cloak remains firmly affixed to the top of his head. "Hey. Haven't seen you around here before," he manages to comment.

"I am...not been, in the city much. No speak...Engrish good." He then moves to sit down along with the other man, though it is a bit puzzling to the shorter man. "You seem troubled. You wish, to talk? I understand, speak better than." He then frowns, as if he is trying to get the words and language right. Hamamoto adjust his two swords lightly after he sits down.

"Your grasp of American is just fine, sir," Kelley states. "My girl left me today. Her excuse was, that I was being 'too good TO her.' How can you possibly be too good TO someone?" Kelley's hands come out and he hangs his chin in his hands. "I'm a very old man, sir, and I thought that I understood women, but apparently, I don't. I am very lonely now. Very lonely. I need companionship, now. For a long time, I lived without it, but now that I've had it again, I need it."

There is a bit of a pause for a moment. "There are many ways to the wiles of women. There is...different culture, than I know." He says quietly. "But, there is many reasons. The biggest one is fear. Fear of getting too close. Fear of being the same thing. Maybe fear of something else. Also, there could...more reasons." He pauses, making sure, looking a bit concerend he is speaking right. "She...might not tell truth. Might not...tell real reason."

"No, she was a very loving, truthful person. I believe the reason that she gave me was the real reason. But I just don't understand it. But before I bend your ear any more, sir, my name is Kelley." From his seated position, he puts his hands together and bows to the man. "I have spent some time in Japan, and I assume that you are from there, yes?"

"You spent time, Nihon? New Empire? republic?" He then seems a bit more excited. "Yes, Samurai, new Empire. Was fighting Oni battle, Kami smiled upon me. Saw commander. Went to fight him. Chased through glowing blue gate. Came here. Killed commander. Stranded here." He then nods softly. "Kiriji, family name Hamamoto."

"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Hamamoto," Kelley says with another short, from-the-hip bow. "Yes, I spent time in the New Empire, as a traveler. I'm afraid that I never picked up your language, though. I apologize that I cannot converse with you in your native tongue." He looks at the calligraphy pad. "What are you doing, Hamamoto?"

"It is, honor. I...do...um...Kanji." He says quietly. "It focuses the mind." He then frowns a little. "I know, not, your pain. I don't love. I cannot love. My life...in Daimyo's hand. If he say die, I die. If he say marry, I do. No room, for...um...what you call it? Rerationship?" He then frowns. "Only geisha allowed. They...eta."

"What is Daimyo? Or.. who is Daimo? And I thought that geisha were like.. well.. ah, we might call them 'ladies of the evening.'" Kelley looks at the man and then down to his Kanji.

Hamamoto then moves to open the ink case, and takes the ink bar in his hand, and starts to shave it to get some ink going in the ink pot in the middle. "Da-i-me-oh." He syas it, a bit slower. "Daimyo is...person over...country...err state. State. State ruler. Samurai...warriors...um..." He looks a bit frustrated, and syas something in japanese. "Samurai...um...knights?" He looks a bit puzzled, not sure if right word. "Eta is...lowest class. Bums." He then looks at Dr. kelley. "Eta...no rights. Can be...used. But, geisha...entertainers. Can be...for that. But more...companion."

Kelley says, "That sounds nice, Hamamoto. I need a more long-term commitment than that though. I don't just need a companion, I need a partner. Someone to live with and live with me. But I apologize for burdening you with my troubles, especially when you appear to be new to town. When did you arrive, Hamamoto?"

"I...be here, over a year. Outside of town, run farm. Samurai...no allowed to work. No allowed, to be...um...hei-nen. Um...peasant. Can't be ronin. Can't be...paid warrior. Must observe Samurai...code. Must live...um...virtuously." He then nods softly. "People, normally truthful, maybe lie to protect? To escape? Never close off...um...choice. No longer there if do."

Kelley nods. "I live by a similar code, though somewhat less restrictive. I don't lie, ever. I always come to the aid of those in need. I try to do good deeds whenever possible. And I never accept payment from dirty money. I'll take a reward from my services, but no more." Perhaps my people and yours are not so different after all.

"Your people?" He then tilts his head a little. "Not sure...understand." He then tilts his head. "You...not human?" He then peers a little closer. "We...live by code. Only Samurai. No...um...peasant. Eta have no honor. They not people...to make angry either. Things, bad, happen. We no lie unless necessary. WE follow...um...lord...even if command death. We protect people, if can. Never accept money...even for services. Um...loot, from batte okay. Just...need to give...part, to one's daimyo, part to one's family, part to Emperor."

"Yes, my people, Dr. Kelley says," then, "I urge you to keep this a secret, Hamamoto. In fact, I have no idea why I'm telling a total stranger, accept that I have the need to talk right now. I'm not human. I'm not from around here. I'm not even from this time. I'm very old," he sighs, holding his head in his hands again. "I mean, I'm not dying, I have a loooong way to go before that - well, naturally, at any rate. How about you , Hamamoto? Do you really expect to die at your Emperor's command? How would you get it, being so far away?"

"Daimyo...not Emperor. Emperor...ruler of New Empire. Daimyo...under. Samurai, under daimyo. Peasants, under Samurai." Hamamoto then dips his brush into the ink, and then touches the pad, slowly, never wavering in his stroke. "Yes, die at Daimyo's command. It...great honor. Die...for Daimyo's honor. Die..in sevrice to Daimyo. Not sure...this far away. Not sure...where I am. Guess...America, somewhere." He then nods softly. "Hold...promise. Not tell. Honor friends."

Kelley smiles at the much smaller man and offers, "You're just about as dead center of North America as you can get, my friend, if I may call you that. Japan lies *far* to the west, across the Great Ocean, and across the Great Divide. Unless you find another.. portal.. I don't think that you'll be hearing from your Daimyo."

"You may, you entrust with secret. Bonds...warriors." he then frowns a little. "So, long way away, many obstacles. Can handle. Though, looking in city...first, for way to go back. In meantime, I act, as I see...right." He then furrows his brow. "I set example, way of living. Shinto...and proper order of universe, so say Kami and gods."

Kelley nods. "I have my own gods, and I try to live by their code. It is a peaceful code, not one of conquest or destiny. However, circumstances have changed that, and I now protect humans wherever I may travel, for humans are my peoples' legacy. I'm sure that that is rather difficult for you to understand." Kelley smiles at Hamamoto.

There is a gentle shake of his head. "No, duty...I understand. Duty...is life." He says, a bit reverently. "Sacrifice life for duty. But, must live for duty too. Must know when to do each." He then frowns. "You seem...unsure of your duty. We no...conquest. We fight oni...um...demons. We fight constantly. They attack...all time. Some small groups, some large. We repel attacks, some successful, most not."

"Oh, I think that you misunderstand me, Hamamoto. I do not fight for conquest. And I am very sure of my duty - except where women come into the picture, then I am very confused - but the rest of my duty is crystal clear, as I've already outlined to you. Are you interested in fighting metallic Oni? Robots?" Kelley asks.

"Tech?" He then frowns. "Not so good, fighting...tech. Swords...made to fight Oni. It hard, to pierce...tough materials. Would need...different weapon. No...allowed tech. Tech bad, so Shinto priests said." He then nods softly. "Duty...and sex...not together. Seperate. You follow duty, you follow sex. No follow both. You...divide focus."

"Perhaps, Mr. Hamamoto, perhaps," Kelley concedes. Then, "If your weapons can do any damage to technology, however, we might be able to use you. We're currently locked in a battle with robots and we need melee warriors to combat them. I'm not asking you to use any technology, just asking you to consider fighting technology, that's all."

There is a visible hesitation, before he then moves to stand up. "You...need...wakarimasu. Um...understand. You need understand." He then sets his feet, and draws his wakizashi, the short one, and then turns to reverse the sword and holds it out to the man. "Normally, no let touch. Sacred...yet. You need...understand. Um...different...culture."

Kelley stands up, towering over the smaller man, reaching down for the weapon, but not touching it. "You want me to touch it, Hamamoto? I don't want to break your code of honor."

There is a shake of his head. "Touch it, you...understand. It not break code of honor. I not allow that. Some samurai believe, insult to ancestors. They reason, since name handed down, and swords handed down, swords are the same as name. But not, wrong type of thinking. I...chosen of Kami. Led to swords. Was peasant when young. You touch, you understand."

Kelley nods and reaches out to touch the sword.

There is probably a presense in the sword that he can sense. wondering back and froth along the sword. He will not be able to sense the emotions, but enoguh to know that there is probably something in it. "Sword...has...being. Spirit. Of those...who wish to be reborn. To atone for...sins."

Kelley releases the sword back into its owner's hands. "So this sword - it is a Rune Weapon, then? Or something similar? My people know of Rune Weapons, though we did not create them, for we felt that it was wrong to imprison a soul, even a willing one."

"Know not how it was created. Know not what 'Rune' weapon is. This is...atonement...criminals who really wish. we...force...no one. Not know...process on how...just know it was done. They...told me. I talk to them...no...feel them. Feel what they feel. Occasionally, talk, in sleep."

"That must be a strange experience, Hamamoto, talking to your weapons. I have my own sword - " a bright red sword dripping red flames suddenly bursts into existence and then just as quickly extinguishes itself " - but I do not speak with it. Rather, it is an integral part of who I am. It helps to define me, and my people."

"To me, flaming sword...unusual. The Daisho. The two swords, are a part of my culture. Signify my duty. They...hurt beings of...magic. Only cut...unprotected people...otherwise. No hurt tech metals." He then frowns, trying to make him understand. "Cut magic, no cut tech."

"That is indeed a strange weapon, Mr. Hamamoto. Deadly against magic, scratches normal flesh, and is totally impotent against technology," Kelley says. "A strange weapon indeed. How would you survive if one of these robots were to attack your farm? How would you protect your.. peasants?"

The question earns a strange glance to the much taller man. "I protect them. The weapons no matter. I protect them, becuase I said I would. And nothing is going to stop me from doing that. Samurai...train with Daisho. Samurai good with them. Samurai not...dependent on them."

"I am sorry, Mr. Hamamoto. I don't mean to be rude, so please don't misunderstand my questions as such. But I don't understand. If your weapons would be ineffective against technology.. how would you defend them from an eight foot tall regenerative robot?" Kelley asks.

"A being limited by the choice of weapons he prefers is limited becuase when they don't work, the warrior is useless. If said warrior relies on himself, then the warrior never...um...doubt himself...never be limited by choice of weapon." He then smiles. "I no take as rude."

"Ah.. so you would pick up a different weapon to fight with? Not the Daisho? I think that I'm beginning to understand," Kelley says. "At least, I hope that I'm beginning to understand."

"Correct. I can fight with Yari. Fight with sword. Fight with bare hands. Yari is...um...spear. A warrior who loses face...yes...honor...becuase he cannot use weapon porperly is not a warrior."

Kelley claps his hands together lightly. "I applaud you, sir. You are quite the warrior. I am but a mere scientist who knows how to use ranged weapons. Well, and a sword or two." He smiles at the smaller man. "But science probably isn't as interesting to you as war-making."

"Science...a prusuit. Shinto, which...follow I. No...I follow...says tech is bad. Code says, no use dishonourable weapons. Guns...um...vibe-ro-ating blades. DIshonorable. Science...okay. It not...all tech. It...philosophy, of physical world. I interested, many things."

"Yes, science is much more than tech. Astrophysics, chemistry, biology, xenology, anthropology.. the list goes on, and all without tech. In fact, my areas of specialty lie mainly with the Earth itself," Kelley says, "I only work at NewTech because I'm the best one around to do the job." Kelley smiles down at the shorter man.

"Samurai...expected to be perfect. No...expected...to work...for perfection. Never...reach, but path is important. We...broaden minds, learn things, to be...mentally as tough as exercise makes us physically. Do Kanji, do go...game on board. Of tactics."

"Do chess?" Kelley asks briefly.

Frowning lightly, Hamamoto shakes his head. "No play...chess before. Not sure how to play." He then smiles. "Game of chess...tactics?"

"Chess is not so much tactics as it is strategy. It is played on a board, with set rules. I find it very relaxing. And if focuses the mind," Kelley comments. "Some of the experts take hours just to contemplate a single move." Tags:hamamoto, kelley