Upon The Shores (Rui)

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui rubbed his eyes and chewed upon some herbs as Zhuge Liang entered the captain's quarters. Rui clearly didn't get much sleep since they had last met. The pirate captain laid his head down upon the table and watched Zhuge Liang. "Welcome back Master Zhuge Liang. I see you've been busy." Rui spoke seeing the plans.

Rui took the time to actually study the plan carefully as he did not wish to mess everything up. They would only get one shot at doing this so they had to get it right. "I see... step by step we will stride a great distance. When shall we unleash this plan?" Rui questioned as he lifted his head and became more alert with a serious expression.

Kenshi and Kouji were at the far end of the table and were busy making tea for everyone and setting out some pieces that would go with the morning drink. Kouji was wearing make-up this time and his bruises were gone behind the fake face that had been created. The boy seemed calmer than yesterday since he didn't run to the other pirates for comfort.

Rui grinned as he finished his studying. "I like the plan, but you must make sure we pirates stay in check. I only have two eyes so I can't watch everyone. Kenshi will be my second hand man, we will know what to do." Rui chuckled to himself before having his cup passed to him. "Thank you." He spoke as he took the cup from Kouji and started to smell the aroma from the liquid.

[Lu Xiang]

Zhuge Liang bowed, glad to see that his Master was pleased with the plans he had put in place.

"I ask simply you keep these plans entirely to yourself and only your most trusted of generals. A leak could be fatal."

Zhuge Liang reminded him, even then the most loyal of generals had been known of betraying towards the gain of power. Friends turned to enemies in times of such greed. Zhuge Liang bowed once more.

"I will put these plans into place straight away, no doubt my lord will grow impatient if we waste a single moment, and I must get back to Xinye as soon as possible. Please begin your rise to fame with the people, express your views. Offer them work and food and they will come in their hundreds."

Zhuge Liang said, taking the other two tasks under his heel. It would be a few weeks before Sima Hui could arrive and therefore it would give him enough time to find blueprints of the palace so when they attacked it in the night,they knew what they were doing.

Zhuge Liang dismissed himself finally, bidding the man farewell before returning back to his room and continuing his plan; writing a letter to Master Sima Hui and then starting relations with the guards in order to gain access to Wang Lang.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui nodded knowing risks were running high but the only people he would ever dare to share the plan with were in fact only Kenshi and Kouji. The two were in the room and were already listening so they knew what was wished of them. "Okay. The three of us will start luring the hearts of the people to our cause. We'll try to avoid the guards and any conflict." Rui replied as he turned to his men and started to move.

He swiftly bowed to Zhuge Liang as the two groups parted. Rui dressed Kouji in different clothing before hiding the noble clothing and make up away in his room. The three pirates spread out through the city, taking the areas that the guards would be fewest. Immediately the pirates started their speeches about their ideal future involving greater trade which would offer jobs and good pay. They preached as much as they could to catch the hearts of the people and turn them away from Wang Lang.

Rui's popular status helped to gain the attention of those in the streets and with the aid of Tsu and her tricks it helped to even catch the attention of children. Seeing a pet monkey would help make Rui seem interesting and new to the people which worked hand in hand with his promise to increase the better conditions for everyone. He told them that he would clean the streets and reduce taxes to help the families who were in desperate need of support. Rui knew each social class very well and knew the correct things to say to gain their attention.

[Lu Xiang]

Sima Hui arrived a month after Zhuge Liang exactly, having received Kongmings letter his flight was one of speed and agility. Rushing to Hui Ji before arriving; he couldn't refuse such a plan and agreed swiftly. They decided upon not greeting Sima Hui with Takiri but rather to move to the plan as fast as possible, negotiating that it'd only waste time. Sending a small messenger to collect the child that Rui had decided would be his eyes and ears.

"It is good to see you again Master Hui."

"As it is you Lord Zhuge Liang."

They welcomed eachother with a warm cup of tea before being set off to work, dressing Sima Hui up in clothes worthy for an Imperial inspector before sending him off with several of Zhuge Liang's guards also dressed in Imperial armours towards the palace. The guards around the palace were already under Zhuge Liang's influence due to fond donations from his own pocket. They had no insight into his plans however and therefore couldn't foil it.

"Okay, you know the plan. If in distress you have a knife within your left pocket and the two guards will fight to the death to protect you. I shall be outside, in this position until you return, I wish to best."

Zhuge Liang bowed to Master Sima Hui before laughing before patting the child on the head and wishing him the best too. It was time for the both of them to shine as he gently scooted them off to the palace, dressed to marvel they arrived at the gates.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Kouji received the word that it was time to go forward with the next step of the plan. He dressed into his finest noble clothes that represented great authority and power of a Han family and he used the make-up to finished the image. At the same time the make-up helped to hide the faint bruises on his face. Looking at him you wouldn't even know he was a pirate.

He arrived to meet up with Zhuge Liang and Sima Hui and he listened to their plan. "I shall aim to make sure we succeed." Kouji spoke, his features delicate and respectful. He looked at Sima Hui and sighed lightly as he was bunched with the man. Yet another stranger he didn't know very well but he laid his loyalty to Rui and knew how important the plan was so didn't mouth his complaints. "Lets go." He spoke as he walked with Sima Hui and used the careful steps taught to him when he was younger.

Kouji decided he would allow Sima Hui to do the talking and only provide back up when required. The young lad knew the ins and outs of the imperial families so he acted and proceeded accordingly by showing the correct manners to the right type of people.

[Lu Xiang]

Sima Hui was a smart young individual, he had trained both Pang Tong, Zhuge Liang and would latter reveal that he was Sima Yi's uncle. However; this was a test of wits not Taoism. He stroked his beard before bowing to Zhuge Liang and the child and then walking towards the palace.

"Open the gates, The Imperial Inspector approaches!"

The guards of palace shuffled around before inviting Sima Hui in, a false pretender he was; though he fitted the act perfectly. Waltzing inside with a small chld beside him.

"Stick with me, and don't say a word."

He said to the child, as harsh as it was. He was still the elder and both of their lives were on the line. The walked inside as the guards flocked and bowed to respect them, not long before Wang Lang appeared blocking the door and welcoming them.

"My Lord, this is Master Hui form the Imperial Palace. He comes to inspect our efforts."

Wang Lang hesistated before bowing graciously.

"Welcome Master Hui, How may I assist you on this day?"

Sima Hui laughed smiling, bowing to him at the steps with several Imperial guards behind him. He cleared his throat before replying.

"Complaints have arisen about the governship of Wang Lang to the Imperial Court. I have been sent to inspect your lordships work. Now please.. i'm sure you have a nice welcome for me..? I sent many letters."

Wang Lang looked devastated turning back on his advisors. The advisors looked scared and quickly got down on their knees pleaing innocent; Wang Lang cursed before sending his advisors to prepare a feast for the man before welcoming him inside.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Kouji nodded and kept an emotionless expression as he walked a few paces behind Sima Hui in the same manner that a lower ranking adviser would do but he remained in front of the guards that followed since he would still class more highly than they. He looked at Wang Lang and bowed in respect before straightening his appearance and remaining silent.

Kouji remained calm as he stood behind Sima Hui and listened to every word of the conversation. He hoped that he would be ignored by the Lord Wang Lang to avoid any suspicion or mess up the plan. It wasn't an uncommon act to prey upon the lower ranks for information.

[Lu Xiang]

Wang Lang fell back a little as the inspector and his men pushed through into the throne room. He rushed back quickly.

"I apologise for my poor reception; please do come in."

He said trying to recover himself from his sins. Sima Hui laughed and bowed before sitting down in the center of the room, with the child beside him and the guards who awaited at the entrance. They were alone for a while before Wang Lang finally appeared.

"Late? The Emperor will be very disheartened by your actions Master Wang. Please do not waste my busy time."

Sima Hui ordered, growing very vex and taking his role completely serious. Wang Lang laughed out of worry before kneeling down and bowing towards his supremacy and then sitting to hear the man out.

"Excuse the company of another, this child is of the Imperial bloodline and has been appointed to follow me to learn the ways of the Han."

He lectured Wang Lang, before Wang Lang replied with a gracious bow to the child.

"Excuse my terrible manners, my ignorance and my lack of knowledge. I am merely a humble man."

He exclaimed touching his head upon the floor showing his praise towards the bloodline and his Emperor before eventually arising to get back to conversating.

"I have complaints of Hui Ji, the people are upset and the Emperors hears of a pirate rebellion that you cannot control... is this true?"

He said before Wang Lang's eyes turned pale and his face even more so. He hesistated for a second before replying.

"The pirates are troublesome but nothing I cannot handle, infact I have sent for them all to be captured and hung as traitors to the Emperor."

He spoke trying to have his favour returned, if the inspector was to leak the current situation he could be removed from his position or even worse killed. Little did he know Sima Hui was nothing more then a taoism teacher. Sima Hui laughed out loud.

"Why are you laughing?!?!"

"You obviously do not know how to deal with pirates my lord, Please. Young Master explain to this inbecile on how to deal with pirates.."

He said nudging the child, to try and bargain the genuinity of the meeting. The whole audience turned to the child; Sima Hui took a huge leap of faith but he had trust in the child.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Kouji watched the whole situation play out whilst keeping an expressionless pose. His eyes seemed cold as they watched Wang Lang, though most spoilt brats of an Imperial family tended to look down upon others they didn't see as challenging to their rank. Kouji bowed in response to Wang Lang before returning to his original position.

Kouji was a little surprised that he was being dragged into the conversation but he refused to let his nervousness show on the outside. He looked around himself before setting his sights upon Wang Lang again.

"Indeed you lack the thought to truly capture the pirates and dispose of them. The Lords are beginning to look down on you now because of this matter. You are becoming a disgrace to the Han but I am willing to give you some pointers to help redeem yourself." Kouji spoke to start with, his voice harsh and highly convincing since it sounded in every manner of a high classed child raised under the power and wealth of a good education and manners.

"You need to break the pirates through spirit to start with, I suggest taking down their so called 'leader'. Kill him and spread the word and the other pirates will flee after seeing that even the one man they trusted has fallen before your power. The rest will leave these docks or will give up their pirate lifestyle for good. I've heard the man has built up a reputation so the blow dealt would be immense to the pirates." Kouji added, explaining what had to be done.

"Remove the head of the beast and it can no longer fight. Understand?" Kouji glowered at Wang Lang and treated him like an idiot whilst explaining it simply. Kouji straightened himself up again and showed that he had finished his speech.

[Lu Xiang]

Wang Lang bowed to the young individual. Gobsmacked. It would be done as soon as the inspector was gone... no he wouldn't wait that long.

"Such a young child bares such intelligence already, I am forever in your debt."

He said bowing gracious several times before he clapped his hands ordering the men to prepared some tea for the company.

"Summon my commander immediately, we launch a counter-attack upon these pirates are midnight!"

He exclaimed with laughter, thanking the two men with the bearing of drinks. They were presented upon the table - though something curious invited its way into the mind of Sima Hui. Wang Lang wasn't presented with a drink; he was being too nice and inviting to drink.

"Ah your company is very welcome Master Wang Lang, we look forward to seeing your results of your assault upon the pirates. Failure is not an option."

Sima Hui replied, picking up his cup and inhaling his fumes of it. It was un-natural, no doubt tampered with. He pretended to accidently spill it on the table, as expected the liquid burnt through the table acidically within seconds. Wang Lang looked horrified. How could they see through his plan so easily?

"Bastard! You tried to kill me!"

Sima Hui shouted, the guards at the door became alerted to the shouting as Sima Hui arised knocked over the table and taking the childs hand and sending him to safety of the guards. Wang Lang fell to his knees.

"Please, allow me to find the man responsible for this attempt at your life and I will kill him."

Wang Lang pleaded on his knees, like a true dog. Sima Hui rolled his eyes before signalling for the group to leave the palace before the man had anymore chances at killing them. Wang Lang pleaded for them to stay but the guards blocked both Sima Hui and the child from view and escorted them out palace.

[Outside..]

They climbed inside a carriage they had been royally decorated inorder to preserve their act before travelling to the docks in which Sima Hui returned the child to his master.

"This young man is very smart, I expect great things from him... reward him accordingly. But I warn you, Wang Lang expects to attack you at midnight."

Sima Hui said, though having not met the pirate lord before he was a close friend of Zhuge Liang and just as well mannered. He bowed once more before getting back into the carriage and then rolling out of the town to a nearby small village in which the carriage was returned to its owner and paid for his hire. From there Zhuge Liang and Sima Hui met later on in Hui Ji.

"So he intents to use violence and poison the inspector. Ha. Pass this letter to Pirate Lord, Rui Takiri. Allow the plot to concede tonight; have his crew come to land. Conceal them in taverns, I will pay for all their expenses. The attack upon the palace happens tonight. Whilst the guards feign attack on the harbour and report his death, we will attack his palace."

He said handing the letter to Sima Hui and a map of the interior of the palace to him. Sima Hui bowed before setting off, only a few hours given for the man to move to his operations.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Kouji didn't drink the tea since he wasn't very thirsty anyway and soon enough he had all good reasons not to have touched it. He hurried away with the guards before eventually being returned to Rui.

Rui looked at Sima Hui and bowed. "Thank you for returning Kouji. I will begin the next step." Rui responded as he quickly cleaned Kouji of the make-up and hid the noble clothes away. He issued his commands to his crew and made sure they would not become tangled up in the phase of the death. He made sure they would hide their identities as pirates and sent them off the ship leaving himself alone to face the trials ahead.

Rui headed below into the depths of the ship and drained the blood from a goat and left the crimson liquid in a bucket. He hoped to form a crime scene of his own demise to fool the city into thinking he was dead. He headed back up on deck and waited for the next step of the series of events.

[Lu Xiang]

Sima Hui laughed, sitting opposite Zhuge Liang in their private quarters. Drinking their last cup of tea before getting to the mission themselves.

"You truly are a mastermind, Kongming."

"As are you Master Sima Hui."

Kongming said issuing a guard to warn the guards of Rui Takiri's tragic death, comforted by a small bag of coins to keep their lips shut long enough for the plan to bare fruit. The guards reported the death to Wang Lang, who prepared a great feast - not demanding the body believing them however one man was suspicious. A guard by the man of Hua Jia. He spat at the comments of the guards.

"You claim him dead, but do not bring him to me?"

"He drowned in the bay; allow me to show you his death scene."

Wang Lang agreed and sent his guard to investigate whilst Wang Lang celebrated on a natural high; clinking the chains of retribution, seeing the guard captain exit the palace. Zhuge Liang gave the signal to the pirates in the city to surround the palace and wait for further instructions. The doors were sealed by the guards also on Zhuge Liangs side which meant Wang Lang had no idea what was coming.

"We will await until the guard captain switches sides; if he fails to do so.. there is but one thing we can offer him... death."

Sima Hui nodded, they were both upon horses outside the palace, staring with intentions to final finish this fight.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Rui had left a scene of horrific proportions behind on the ship. The goat's blood was smeared across the deck to look like a fight had happened before trailing the bloody foot steps towards the railing to make it seem that he had fallen off the edge. He drizzled blood into the water below and sent a captain's hat to float on the surface. It was almost perfect. From there Rui disappeared to nearby ship to hide out with some friends in the mean time.

Kenshi and Kouji received the message to move out and they positioned themselves around the palace whilst maintaining a safe distance as to avoid getting caught or spotted.

[Lu Xiang]

Zhuge Liang, appearing from behind the grand commander and his small army of guards who had been lead away from the palace. Several crossbow men appeared behind Zhuge Liang, prepared to fire.

"I'd adivise for you to lay down your arms."

He said before bowing to the man, meaning no harm unless the man meant harm. He did so, signalling to his men to do the same.

"What sort of treachery is this?"

The grand commander questions looking around and wondering who the man infront of him was.

"Treachery? Long has your lord abused his power. I am his downfall. Consider this town - cleansed. I have come to offer you a way out of this hell. Swear allegiance to me and Rui Takiri and I will grant you passage."

"You plan to overthrow the government with pirates??? This is madness?"

He shouts in correspondance. His eyes shattered before looking around understand now what the city had crumbled to.

"My lord has spread chaos, I clung to him for unknown reasons. Allow me to assist you and restore life to this once glorious city - What would you have me do?"

Zhuge Liang passed a small note to the guard captain before bowing to him, bidding him farewell and trusting in him to complete the task. He asked nothing more. Inside the note; contained his mission, his outcome if completed and the dangers of running it. The commander tucked the note inside his armour before returning to the palace in which he found Zhuge Liang once more, this time upon a horse.

He bowed his head before entering the palace like nothing had happened.

[Tsuki (Ancient One)]

Kenshi and Kouji moved carefully to make sure they got close to the palace and continued to make sure that they were not caught. Kenshi could see Zhuge Liang upon a horse and the pirates awaited the signal from their temporary leader whilst Rui remained in hiding. Kenshi hoped his brother was okay, he couldn't help but worry.