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Life had never been easy for Shou, at least not to start. Farmers didn't have the best life, and things had gone sour. Then he had been picked up, aided and given a life worth living. Not a easy life but a decent one. He had been battle fields. Fought at Okehazama, and they had even won. However life after became harder after that when the Amakusa invaded after Takehiro had defeat Shingen. There had been those unwilling to surrender and more battles came. Shou hadn't know what to do. He owed the Takeda a lot, and his first instinct had been to fight, but he and the leader of their invaders was one he considered a friend. The annoying fact though, was other people who had been friends where those that had refused to let there lands be taken without a fight, and those had been lost. 

In the end though the Takeda had fallen, and had he fought along side them it was likely he would have either died or had to flee. But without fighting back and his skill it was easy enough to remain unnoticed. Coin was hard to come by though, commoners didn't need very many messages to delivered. However Shou had been surprised while doing odd job from place to place. That word had it that someone was searching for him, and when he discovered who it was looking, Shou started using fake names wherever he went. He didn't know Takehiro intention, and the Demon of Totomi was a man to be feared if his intentions were hostile. So Shou had been passing by the place they had met, from quite some distance away he had managed to noticed that there was someone there. Using his headband he focus his eyes, seeing in perfect detail who was there without having to come close to him. 

Rage boiled inside as he saw him, and Shou froze to the spot. Before light wrapped around him, erasing his image from sight. He forced down the anger, held it back. Pulling the dishevelled cloak he wore designed to assist him in staying quite, (It had seen better days, and was mostly tatted now.) He drew his sword, without making a single noise before as gentle on his feet he approached. When they had met, Takehiro had said by alliances, or intimidation he would make the land a better place. But in the end it always came to force. Getting closer without being detected would take every ounce of skill he had but Shou did so. And once he was close enough that he felt he could throw the sword lethally with surprise at the other man,so that he couldn't dodge, he pulled his sword arm ready to throw. And he did so. Straight into the ground in front of him. The silence would break, the light reveal him once more, as he without missing a beat from being unable to try and kill him. Shou would march over and instead without caring throw a fist toward the mans face once he was close enough to do so.  

Shou just didn't see a way to take on the pair of doppelgänger he was facing. While the instinctual feeling, his intuition or as some might call it a sixth sense. It just didn't seem enough, unrefined. HE had never seen people use their inner power as effectively as the doppelgänger were in a fight. He was new to his own power, and as of yet hadn't learned as much as those he was facing. However he did have some understanding of the powers they were using, and knew that the winds could be used to redirect his own weapons back at him. As such he made sure to move, to try and stay out of the way of them if they were redirected. Only for him to once again be held back by the winds. 

His own daggers, designed as well as they were. Actually seemed quite suited to being used by the winds, and would slash passed him. Causing a lot of pain as the ripped through clothes and flesh. Making him wish that he had actually designed them for piecing flesh rather then rending it. Shou would stagger back held from pain, only to be held back again by the winds. Raising his hands, he could feel something different among the winds, the shadow doppelgänger attack not that he knew that what it was. Raising his hands in front of him, Shou would summon up his own powers into his hands, and fire a beam of light from each hand, moving them through the air to cause the beams to cut through the tendrils, and were he felt that they came from. However he wouldn't be able to destroy all of them, and one would get pass his attack. Slamming into him, Shou started to go over backwards.

He knew he wouldn't be able to recover mid air in time to land in away to keep the exercise going. So instead of trying, he decided to go down metaphorically swinging. From the blast he had fired before, he could feel in relation to them were the other two forms of powers seemed to come from. Once more beams of light would fire out, however they were not aimed at the doppelgänger. But at either side of the dome of powers surrounding them. One aimed at each of the doppelgänger creators, in the trees outside the dome. Shou didn't care if the breach the barrier or not. He was just pleased that he managed to pick out their locations, as he slammed into the ground painfully, exhaling sharply as he did. He hadn't quite done what was meant, he had fallen but even so he was please with himself, due to skill and experience of what they were facing. He may get in trouble for aiming at them and not the doppelgänger, except in here, he had to deal with he pain and tiredness the exercise caused while they did not. 

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OOC: Musou 4 of 8 posts used.

Shou would instinctively gulp to himself, when Ichimaru put forth the idea of him suggesting to be a target for the weapon. That was not a good idea in anyway shape or form in his mind. Though when Ichimaru went into the properties of steel over iron, the idea that he made the weapon himself seemed more likely. The man must have been a craftsman or blacksmith of some kind, on top of being a excellent marksman as well.  "While I may be a fast man, I very much doubt I could consistently dodge. Nor would I want to risk the harm. It would be foolhardy on my part." Shou would explain, dismissing the idea. Before a hand going to his chin in thought.

"However, I may have a idea." Shou would start, closing his eyes and concentrating. "I recently saw something, something I wouldn't mind attempting." Shou would continue without opening his eyes. Slowly beside him, the light nearby would twist. As would the expression on his face as if what was happening was taking quite a bit of effort for him to try as he hadn't done so before. The light would slowly seem to become solid, a figure of white light would be standing beside him. A little trick that he had only seen while training with the Takeda. "Maybe this would be a reasonable target, certainly won't hurt me if you shot it." Shou would say opening his eyes and turning to look at the doppelgänger. It was crude, not as well formed as those he had seen, but it was the first time he had tried to do so and it was taking some mental effort to maintain. 

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OOC: Musou - 1 of 8 posts used.

Shou would never ceased to be amazed at the event he came across on his travels across the land in his duty towards the Takeda, as a courier. He had met Takehiro Amakusa, a man who when they had met had been a traveller like he was himself, and now was a Daimyo quickly growing in power and prestige. Katsumi, a women mercenary pretending to be a man, and unknowingly the man that she was in love with Haji, though he had been masked in one meeting, and there second was cut short. There had been Brandt, a giant of a man, with the strangest sword and shield he had ever seen. But one event stuck in his mind. Numa. 

So Shou was shocked when he came across what he was seeing now. One of those who had been part of the group that had helped him through that dreadful place, appeared to be training. With the strangest looking weapon, stranger then his sword or even that of Brandt. A weapon that looked more like a living thing then a weapon. And the small man using it. Shou didn't know much about the man, beyond his name and that he was skilled with ranged weapons, which he had displayed in Numa. 

Broken target littered the ground near him, and he seemed slightly dejected that they hadn't been able to stand up to the weapon that he wielded. "Ichimaru-san was it not?" Shou greeted, making sure that his memory of the man was correct. "I am slightly flabbergasted, so I must ask. What is that strange device of a weapon your using? It is almost as big as a man is." Shou asked, slowly approaching. "And why train with it out in seclusion like this?" Shou added another question. Maybe his curiosity would appear rude, but nevertheless he was intrigued and couldn't stop himself asking. 

Shou looked out into the distance ahead of him. Basic poles with flag on them lay out on the landscape ahead of him. Well this wasn't going to be too hard. Yeah it looked like it was a long way, but he was used to long distance running. It didn't even really tired him out these days. This was going to be a breeze and out of the men gathered to do the task he was easily going to be on of those at the fore front of the event. Well, hopefully he wasn't going to show any one up too badly. A slightly smug expression on his face. 

Turning back, suddenly something came up, that seriously brought his mood down with a crash. The men gathered ready to under go the task seemed to be putting on weights. Surprising him, Yamada Hideki came up beside him. "Here your set Yamabara-san." Yamada said dropping a armful of weights in front of Shou. "Damn." Shou simply muttered to himself. No one had told him about the weights. All of his confidence that he would breeze through this drained away. However a small amount clung on. He was still a lot stronger then most of the men here, with his own gear. "Oh and Lord Shingen, told me to give three times the weight to those of decent ability." Yamada explained placing a hand on Shou's shoulder. "Sorry." He added with a smile, making Shou grunt annoyed. The way Yamada said that no doubt meant that he wasn't going to be carrying more weight then the rest of these lot, and still would look bad if he didn't preform just as well if not better then them. Who wants a courier that a normal solider could out pace. Wouldn't be very good at keeping messages safe would they. Shou crouched down, and slowly put on the weight he had been given. He wasn't sure how much they weighed but it was differently a lot. Enough to over power his near perfect endurance when it came to running. "Damn it." He muttered once more, angrily pulling the ring he knew normally helped him run long distances, off. With this among of weight on it would doing a single thing to help. 

Dragging his heavy body to the start of the course, Shou made off at a jog once he was ready. He let other, pass him. There was no reason to try and out pace them. It was all about how far he could go not how quickly. And at the speed that some ran off at he knew that they would tired after the first 20 meters. Even if they were carrying less then he was. The first leg of the course was simple, while not flat ground, it wasn't steep and even jogging Shou managed to stay ahead of quite a few people. He got into the rhythm of it, making use of the simpler part of the course to conserve energy to tackle the rest of it. 

Eventually though the simple part of the course came to a end. The not too uneven ground of the forest, opened up into a river. Flags ahead quite clearly pointing out that they had to go through it, but high banks meaning that they would have to run up it against the current for a bit before they could come out again. "Damn It!" This time it was a shout, in order to keep his blood pumping. HE really, really was starting to get sick of Takeda training always ending up with him getting wet. Nevertheless, Shou jogged into the water, before letting the power he had been holding back out. Powering forward against the current's as hard as he could he managed to make distance while not easily, it was quickly. That was what he was aiming for. The quicker he got through the river, the better. Long times fighting against the water and weight would be much worse then using that bit of extra energy to cut the time down. 

Breaking out the water the other side. Shou unlike training and task of the past. Didn't wring the water out from his clothes. The extra weight compared to what he was already wearing wasn't that much. Plus it would mean either stopping, or wasting energy trying to lift his arms weights included and do it while running. HE felt better putting up with the little bit extra weight, plus the coldness it brought was actually quite refreshing compared to the burning feeling of heat from all the activity and exertion.

Shou could see the final hurdle.  The flags would go up the bank of the river, and head towards a steep, steep path up the side of the mountain that the river also went up. Taking a quick look back, Shou would see just how far that he had come, as well as those who had already given up behind him. Ahead where some who had managed to do better then him. However looking at what they wore, it seemed they were some of those to have lesser weights then him. Shou wouldn't stand for the embarrassment. He train constantly to be the best in order to serve his lord. And that was what he was going to do. Using all of the energy he had left. He pushed himself to a full out sprint. A impressive feat, considering the weight. Chest heaving, panted breaths, and burning legs. Filled him, but pain was not a barrier. It would not be to him. Shou would tear passed those who managed to be ahead of him. Unknowingly screaming from the sheer amount of effort he was putting in to out do them. Even causing one of the to fall to the floor out of sudden shock. Ending with a almost falling dive, he let himself roll across the ground of what was a plateau on the mountain, and pass the last flag of the course. 

Shou was glad when he heard that the men were told to take a break before heading on. He hadn't wanted to get in the lake again, he felt like his clothes were going to be ruin after the amount of wringing out they had taken with him trying to get them dry. Rejoining Koboyashi unit, Shou sat among them for the break. Getting his breath back and trying to get warm once more. Time however felt like it passed quickly,and soon enough he got back to his feet, and followed Koboyashi to the next exercise. 

Shou couldn't help but wonder what was going to be thrown at them next. Climbing and swimming had been physically tiring tasks. Yet the training so far seemed lacking in combat training. However he didn't think that combat exercises would be what they face next. Not with who they were reporting to to lead it. 

Shou would reach the other side of the lake once more, Still slightly annoyed about his wet state. He would also need to dry down his equipment. Prolonged exposure to water and air on metal wasn't best for the upkeep. Back where he started he noticed that some of the men had started to come up with a method for actually getting across. The way they moved put him in the mind of some aquatic animal , however he had no idea what. Animals and fish of the sea were not something that he knew much about. Unlike Sanada who inspire the men with shear personality, Shou used the idea of bribery to get Koboyashi unit tackling the task with everything they had. 

"I believe I have a couple bottle of Yamanashi fruit wine." Shou stated as if he wasn't really talking to the soaked dishearten men. "Maybe if we got this training over and done with quickly enough. Say prehaps 5 minute at most, i'd feel like opening a bottle." Shou would add, it wasn't subtle. The wine in question was a local delicacy, much much rarer then simple Sake and quite a bit more expensive as well. Only a few maker of in the direction of Mount Fuji actually made the stuff in current times. Shou watched a smile on his lips as, unlike some men who seemingly used technique to beat the tides. They tackled it with a sense of strength only a stiff drink, or warm women could really encourage a man to. All at once they would attempt, and while some fell back others didn't, while those that did get pushed back tackled the waters again without breaking. Eventually they would get lucky, the tide under the water would be in the wrong place as the moved in, and they would manage to slip passed. 

Shou would continue to ring out his clothes, looking back at the rest of the Takeda soldiers taking on the exercise. Not many were succeeding for some reason, even though from first glance the lake seemed calmer no wave. That was somewhat odd. Focusing his eyes down on the water the rest of the world faded away from noticed. A smile of respect appeared on Shou's lips when his eyesight improved by his headband allowed him to pick out what was happening. Almost unseen current below the water were pulling people down and pushing them back, a unseen foe when it came to the training. Much like what Shou tried to be, a threat or task unseen was that much harder to face. 

However even now that Shou could see what the General was doing, Shou couldn't really see a way to advise the men to get passed it. One, he was on the other side of the lake, it was a long walk round, or getting wet again something he didn't want. And two, beyond decent strength and swimming skill there was not much that could be done to avoid the currents below from dragging them back, it was a force that ad to be over come not circumvented. Shou quickly started to jog off, to get back to the other side of the lake where he started, he may not have a solution but maybe some encouragement would push the men onwards. 

Shou would break the Imagawa line slightly as planned, and Koboyashi and the men would come in after pushing the enemy back and running many down. Jumping off of Gokaze, Shou would turn to face Koboyashi. "Join with the main force, and press the assault. I'll be back." Shou would shout before breaking off from the unit. Using his daggers to create darkness he would thrown them ahead of him, meaning none of the enemy soldier would know exactly where he was before rushing southwards. along the way he would recover a rifle from a fallen Imagawa soldier. He wasn't going to track down the leader, before attempting to shoot the man from af far. Without their leader thing here would be even better for the allied forces. 

Shou took a step back from the man as he started to hover. Not from fear but preparation. He wasn't going to let the man to take him by surprise with some strange power from the denizens of Numa. However Shou was taken by surprise not by the one in front of him, but someone unseen far above. A blast of light would crash down into the camp, followed by others. Shou only just managing to jump back out of the way of  the first blast meant for him. A strange dance, continued of Shou trying his hardest to keep himself from harm. If the first blast had been towards him, Shou would have likely be hit. 

Dropping the dagger in his left hand to the ground, shadow would surround him concealing him from sight to some extent and the hail of projectile being aimed at him properly. Raising his now empty aiming at where the floating man in front of him had been a dart would fire out of the shadow towards him, hard to see due to its small size. While his other hand dropped daggers and in a flash drew his sword from his back quickly. He felt like he should call out the camp was being attacked, but from the heavenly downpour it would have been hard not to notice. 

(OOC: Spymaster secret shot, 1 of 2, lowers targets base dex and str by 1/4 total users spr (9) for 3 posts. Can not lower base stats below 10.)

Shou listened to the other man's words in silence. It was true that his means by most wouldn't be seen as the most brave or noble. However Shou operated and a weird moral code. The means didn't matter what mattered were results. A brave my could stand and protect his family, and be cut down, death a easy way out. However a man like himself wasn't above protecting people by stabbing those threats from behind. 

The other man's concern was something that Shou did respect, even if his comment about being a coward was not one he liked. It wasn't like the two of them were fighting for their lives right now. Even though with the force behind that man's weapon a false move may have it happen by accident. However this was a spar, and semi-friendly bout. Closing in and stabbing the man in the back under those circumstances seemed uncalled for even for Shou.

Shou would silently creep over to his sword and retrieve it. Before appearing, light once more shifting turning him visible once more a shrouding him in a protective barrier. "I'm fit enough." Shou would say simply, revealing his presence once more, if the man hadn't seen him. "I've had much worse." It wasn't a goad, more just as statement of fact. Takehiro unarmed had broken his bones with ease, though looking at the large man, Shou knew he might have had a better chance if the pair were unarmed. That sword and shield were insanely powerful, he wondered where the man got them from. 

(OOC: Musou 4 of 7, Invisibility drops, CON is boosted again.)