Dark Legacy

Not more than twelve hours ago, Cassidy Lockhart had delivered a beautiful baby girl into a dark and terrible world. Ensconced safely with The Harbingers, she had torn herself away from the miraculous baby, Lily Erin Asami LeBeau, and geared up. Severing herself from her child had been one of the hardest things to do, especially with the swarming hormones of new motherhood attempting to cloud her thinking. But Kaz was alone and he was hurting and her daughter needed her father.

Clad in a black tactical kevlar alloy suit of her own devising, Cassidy entered Japan and began scouting out for his last known location. Her SEER system had led her here. With nothing but her beloved kukris and a backpack full of the essentials for survival, her quest for Kaz began.

@Mercy_: A pair of freshly killed hares were slung over his shoulder as he made his way back to his small wooden encampment. Having fully recovered from his brief encounter with former Legacy member Marcus, a formidable opponent who had systematically taken Kaz apart. Luckily an unforeseen strategical error had allowed the Arashikage to escape and subsequently analyze his arrogant mistakes in an effort never to repeat them. A sudden shift in the wind alerting him to her arrival, his fully grown beard masking the small arch in his lip as he smiled. "Cass....."

@The Last Arashikage: She used the terrain cover to her advantage, having no idea what state of mind that he was in. She was still slightly weakened from the experience of childbirth, despite the fact that it had gone without flaw. But nothing would keep her from reclaiming Kazarian and according to all reports that Lea had eventually sent her way, it was going to be a task.

Whistling in the air, mimicking the call of a sparrow, she followed his expertly hidden trail through the woods.

@Mercy_: He had been drawn in by the craftily mimicked whistle that for all intensive purposes, was perfect. Variations in key locations its only give away initiating Kazarian's exploration. Crouched atop the overlapping branch of a majestic cherry blossom peering down on the elegant enchantress his emotions were conflicting. An animalistic urge to pounce held at bay by his love in a constant struggle between man and beast.

@The Last Arashikage: She knew he was there. The very air felt charged with it, her instincts only affirming it. His eyes on her felt like rays of heat, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as she felt him watching her. At one point in time that would have put a smile on her face, now it just set her on edge. Gently gripping the hilt of her kukri, Cass tentatively looked around the area, finally looking up. It took her several moments to pick him out in the trees due to his masterful camouflage techniques and utter stillness, but there he was nonetheless. Standing still like a deer caught in the headlights she didn't move an inch.

CASSIDY ALREADY HAD HER BABY?

@Duchess: Stabs

@Duchess: Was gonna wait until Halloween real time (and Halloween will be her birthday), but somebody was impatient.

@Mercy_ said:

@Duchess: Was gonna wait until Halloween real time (and Halloween will be her birthday), but somebody was impatient.

You mean you? :P

@The_Assassin_ said:

@Mercy_ said:

@Duchess: Was gonna wait until Halloween real time (and Halloween will be her birthday), but somebody was impatient.

You mean you? :P

No, for once it wasn't me lol

@Mercy_: Hehe not too difficult to imagine.

@The Last Arashikage: Ignites

@Mercy_ said:

@The_Assassin_ said:

@Mercy_ said:

@Duchess: Was gonna wait until Halloween real time (and Halloween will be her birthday), but somebody was impatient.

You mean you? :P

No, for once it wasn't me lol

Well color me surprised ;)

@Mercy_ said:

She knew he was there. The very air felt charged with it, her instincts only affirming it. His eyes on her felt like rays of heat, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as she felt him watching her. At one point in time that would have put a smile on her face, now it just set her on edge. Gently gripping the hilt of her kukri, Cass tentatively looked around the area, finally looking up. It took her several moments to pick him out in the trees due to his masterful camouflage techniques and utter stillness, but there he was nonetheless. Standing still like a deer caught in the headlights she didn't move an inch.

A quick rustle through the leaves the only sound made as Kaz leaped down landing with a graceful fluidity few could duplicate. "You shouldnt have come here." his attention quickly diverted to the slender abdomen of the Ronin assassin. Washed over with concern his demeanor surrendering his true feelings as he reach out placing his hand against her stomach, "Did.....did something happen? What went wrong? Where is it!" he frantically questioned fearing the worst.

@Duchess: Well now that was just uncalled for. I just wanted a lil bit of your blood, nothing much, just a pinch lol

@The Last Arashikage: Well you're going to have to give a whole lot of yours to get it lol

@The_Assassin_: Har har >_<

@The Last Arashikage: The graceful lines of his body were unsurpassed as he moved with a sense of grace and agility that many couldn't duplicate given decades to attempt it. Placing one hand over his she smiles at him and slowly reaches into a pocket on her waist. Pulling out a snapshot of the newborn Lily, a tuft of purple-black hair atop her pink head, she squeezes his hand. "Born this morning, calm down."

@Mercy_: <3

@Duchess: Challenge!

@Mercy_: A quick smile is just as suddenly pulled back as he collects himself. Turning away head hung is shame, he continued, "I cant go back.....I'm not the same man you fell in love with."

@The Last Arashikage: Come at me

@Duchess: Cant, I'm scared lmao

@Duchess: DUCHESS! D:

YOU FORGOT THE 'BRO'

V.v

@The Last Arashikage: She refused to let go of his hand. Ethan had been somebody different after he came back and she'd eschewed him, she'd abandoned him, she hadn't fought for him. Never again would she do that. She'd fight with everything she had. For her family, for her love, for his sanity and peace of mind. "Yes, you can. I love you." Walking up behind him, she hugs him from behind, resting her head on his back.

@The Last Arashikage: lol go to church

@The_Assassin_: I didn't forget it I omitted it lmao

@Duchess: Very well ;)

How ya been gurl :D

@The_Assassin_: I've been good :) I'll respond to the Loner's post I was just half asleep when you replied last haha

I should post in here again as Marcus.. :U

@Mercy_: His head effortlessly found its way against hers with a relaxing effect. His sculpted shoulders sank as the tension filtered out his well defined body. Hands slowly began to caress Cassidy's loving arms as he sighed, "I'd...." choking up as he spoke, "I'd like...to go see my daughter now....." a tear racing down his cheek.

@The Last Arashikage: Going on tiptoe, she places a kiss on his cheek directly in the path of the trail of the tear. "I think she'd like that. I know that I would." Ensconcing her hand in his, she tentatively led the way to the craft that she'd piloted here, all instincts sharpened as they traversed the terrain.

@Duchess: No rush ^.^

@Mercy_: He took one last look back at the self imposed wooden prison that had hardened his nerve and amplified his abilities before ducking inside the craft headed back to the Harbingers and his Lily.

AGGGG! Mercy and Kaz are so sweet I want to break my oath and kill at least one of them!!!!!

*Evil rage*

Moving to The Harbingers thread.

@Kratesis said:

AGGGG! Mercy and Kaz are so sweet I want to break my oath and kill at least one of them!!!!!

*Evil rage*

HA! treacherous

@Mercy_: :)

Marcus was bent over a railing outside, resting his elbows on it. As he did, he smelled the familiar scent of roses. He smelled Theresa. "Figured I'd gotten stable enough that you stop showing up." He stated plainly, swallowing a small lump in his throat. It didn't matter how many times this happened, this particular illusion was one of the hardest to bear. Marcus looked over at the woman beside him. She didn't speak. She never did, she just stared at him. "Sht.." He exhaled, lacing his fingers in front of his face. "You know, no matter how many times we do this.. I still end up apologizing." If there was one benefit to these painful hallucinations, it was that they'd been frequent enough that he had stopped crying at the sight of his dead fiancee. "I'm sorry, Theresa. I'm so sorry." And like always, she vanished right after he apologized.

She always did.

Appearing in her now vacant room, she slides her fingers gently against the walls as she moves out onto the balcony. Not planning to stay for long she rests against the balcony's railing, gazing out at the jungle, eyes filled with visions of iced-over memories.

#nostalgia

damn this thing was fun

related to the OP.

Yeah, it seriously was.

Damn. we either love each other or hate each other, there never is any in between, is there?

This whole arc with Kaz and the baby gave me so. many. feels.

Bring Gambler out of retirement and bring him over with Lily >_<

@mercy_: Good stuff

Primes dead to me though :P no more gambler

This was good times.

I was just re-reading this thread yesterday.

@hawkshade: Every few months I think about it and how I was at some of my sharpest during it. Short, concise posts packed with action and importance and economical dialogue.

I miss Ethan

@mercy_: It's my favorite period of your work. Those posts were dense with imagery, detail and emotion and packed a punch without taking forever to write or read.

@valerie_huntington: Yeah, same. Maybe he'll come back.

@hawkshade: Thank you very much! I'm doing some reading through of it right now and I'm struck by how much character development was packed in so quickly, so off the cuff, and so organically. It was something special.

TBT

@mercy_: It also features a rare Ester appearance. Love her writing. She could create a feeling, an atmosphere that infused an entire scene in ten words.

Eight years ago?!?!

Am I an old 😭