Ionian Nights- Part 12
###Part 12
Once more, in the dead of night, Karma had gathered all the champions of Ionia in the chamber of the Placidium. The Kinkou, Jax, Yi and his pupil, Soraka, Lee Sin, everyone but Udyr had been able to attend this meeting. "I'm glad you are all here, but I feel that you are all aware of our situation?" Karma questioned, arms crossed.
Ryota nodded, filling in the blanks for those who didn't know: "While we found one deceased council member in Zed's fortress, the other council member is officially missing and has not been found in the custody of anyone. We have determined that, in all likelihood, they were forcing us to hold out until we had to elect new council members. This would put very powerful enemies of Ionia directly in our most powerful group."
Karma waved a hand, Ryota subduing his words. "With this is mind, I'm going to be appointing new council members from our champion pool as of now. With-"
"Wait. Excuse me!?" Irelia spoke up. "Champions? Karma, many of us don't have a single bit of experience with politics. I don't exactly think many of us are qualified to lead the country." There were quite nods of agreement by a few, all of them a tad skeptical.
Ryota gave Irelia a sympathetic nod. "While I too consider this to be a very poor decision, Lady Karma's reasoning is somewhat sound: Champions are a thousand times less likely to be assassinated, as well as having champions on the council will make many Ionian citizens feel better about the event. Asides, the council already places great value in the words of some of you."
Upon saying that, Soraka stepped forward and bowed slightly. "As we have previously discussed, Karma, I am not exactly a woman of politics and internal strife. While I shall join the council, please do not consider me a permanent fixture. I shall serve until you can faithfully assign someone to the rank." A small bit of applause as Soraka took her place alongside Ryota and Karma, albeit seeming to be the shortest of the three.
Next, Karma turned to Yi. "Master, you were one of Ionia's first champions and know Ionian politics even better than some bureaucrats. While I understand you have a pupil to teach and a way to restore, you are among one of the first choices I'd consider," Karma spoke. She offered a hand for Yi to come join the three of them.
Yi was certainly hesitant, but Wukong shoved him forward a bit with the tip of his staff. "Hey, quit that pupil! I have no made my decision yet!" he grumbled. Wukong just snickered and laughed, waving a hand.
Adjusting himself, Yi bowed to Karma and spoke: "Just as Soraka said, I am no politician and I am quite unfamiliar with the process of Ionia's council. However, I shall learn as best I can and apply the teachings of wuju to every decision I make," Another round of applause as Yi took his place at the assembled group.
"Now, we have been slightly undecided on our fifth member. Irelia, you are a mainstay of the Placidium, perhaps you'd like to be a member of the council now?" Karma questioned. Unlike Yi and Soraka, however, Irelia shook her head and stayed back.
"With all do respect, Duchess, I am a guard and my duty is with the men and women who defend the grounds. It would be rude for me to leave them without a captain."
Karma nodded, turning to Lee Sin. "Perhaps you, Lee?"
Lee, as Irelia did, shook his head. "I have sworn myself from being one of the heads of any organization. Pardon me, it is just not...it is a personal grievance, nothing more."
Turning to the Kinkou, all three shook their heads. "Sorry, Karma, but the Kinkou cannot join organizations such as that," Kennen started, arms crossed as the other two members of the team gave simultaneous nods. "We must act independent of state and maintain order, even if that one day means going against the Ionian government's actions."
Ryota scoffed. "A chilling prospect, but I assure you-"
"You cannot assure anything, Shogun. Pardon my interruption, but we are always ready for a time when the Ionian government may become corrupt. So it is with great respect that we decline your offer," Akali added. In unison, all three bowed.
All four council members turned to Jax, who gave the absolute laziest of shrugs. "No thanks, that'd interfere with my hitting-people-with-lamp time. Though, if you ask me, why not ask the lil' kid resting in the intensive care? Seems like you four could form some not-half-assed functioning family?"
Karma shook her head. "An interesting idea, but Utsusemimaru-"
"Ain't he that magical aspect thing anyways? Wouldn't tha-"
The room froze. Jax only stopped speaking when he saw the absolute shocked expressions on everyone's face...well, everyone save for the five who had confronted Syndra. "What? We all didn't know this? Whoops, my bad."
Karma rubbed her temples. "Jax...who TOLD you of something that we tried to keep secret?" She turned to Yi, Soraka and Ryota. Each one shook their heads, indicating that their lips were sealed shut after what they had witnessed. So now, all four turned accusingly to Wukong. The simian warrior stared for the longest time before looking down and rubbing the back of his head.
"I didn't know it was for our eyes only? Can't blame a guy for not knowing, right?" Yi decided that 'the wuju punishment' was in order. Hands as fast as lightning, the master slapped Wukong on the back of the head three times, almost too fast to count. "OW! Ok ok ok! I'm sorry alright!?"
Ryota grunted, anger boiling but keeping his cool for once. "As long as it does not leak out to the public than we are fine for now. The idea tha-"
"Sooooooo if it was going to be tomorrow's headline in the Ionian Chronicle, I'd assume you would be furious?" Jax questioned.
At that comment, Ryota punched a wall so hard there is still a fist imprint in the chamber wall to this day. Many even consider it a monument to just how volcanic that council member was. "Well, it looks like we have no choice now. Utsusemimaru will have to be the fifth council member," Karma sighed.
Karma turned to Ryota. "You and him will need to go to the Institute of War and fill out applications for acceptance to the League as soon as possible. This is no longer a side-mission for you, this will be your priority."
"With all do respect-"
"No, Ryota, I'm too tired to argue with you about what you think is right or wrong for Ionia. You will take Utsusemimaru and you two will become champions as soon as possible. We are not going to have another incident like this occur. Do I make myself clear!?"
Ryota stared at her. Very slowly he bowed his head, fist in palm as he showed Karma respect. "As you wish, my lady."
Ryota slowly walked back to his room, the time being around four in the morning or so. Most of Ionia was asleep...but he did not rest often. He had to be tireless in the face of Ionia's enemies. As the mighty shogun approached his door, he saluted the guards. "That is all for today, men. I wish to rest alone. Asides, I do believe I have proven time and time again that facing me in direct combat is a death sentence."
The guards nodded, albeit with hesitation, as they left their posts by Ryota's door. He entered his room, looking around. Even after the attack, his room was still grand. Various armors from almost every city state lined the wall, gifts from outsiders and foreigners who wished to butter him up. Weapons ranging from classic Ionian weapons to the more exotic technology of Zaun and Piltover to the fascinating shapes of Shurima weaponry.
But now was not the time for that.
Slowly, Ryota moved to his blinds. Outside he saw the grand spectacle of Ionia's night sky, stars shimmering and shining throughout. With no hesitation he wrapped one hand around the curtains, closing off the night sky.
Several nights ago...
Ryota stood, unarmored, as he heard a familiar noise. That of a weakling, scurrying in the shadows. "Show yourself!" he commanded, unarmed but within walking distance of his weapons. Of course, he didn't even have the chance to grab one as his assailant struck. Leaping from high over head, the assassin had his blade draw, bringing it down.
Ryota seethed in pain but, as he was famous for, did not flinch. The assassin locked up at the long gash he had made in Ryota's chest...and flipped his blade. Handle facing Ryota, Ryota took the blade while his free hand clutched his chest. Upon shifting weapons, the assassin gave a heavy bow to Ryota.
"Ionia will never forget your sacrifice, my friend."
And with that, Ryota plunged the blade deep into the assassin's chest.
Slowly, Ryota checked his premises. The door was locked. The windows shut. Slowly, Ryota went about snuffing out all the candles in his room...except for one. It was a candle he kept in the helmet of an ornate Noxian armor. A "gift from Swain" for all the "dear, sad tragedy" Ionia had suffered in their invasion.
To him, it was the greatest insult he had ever received.
Some nights ago...
As Ryota tore open the cage of Zed's prison chambers, he saw the quivering body of Ozawa. Beaten, bloody and bruised..but otherwise alive. "Ah, Ozawa, thank Ionia you're safe!" Ryota said, moving into the cage to try and tear off the bonds that held him. "I hope now you see the merits of my plans, aye?"
Ozawa chuckled, spitting up blood from his mouth. "Heh...I owe you my life, Ryota...but I will never agree with your views. Sorry to say, young lad, but you and I are just two different people."
Ryota paused, one hand on the chain that held Ozawa to the wall. "I see. Then I apologize, Ozawa." Letting go, Ryota wandered to a nearby table. All manner of torture devices lay strewn across it. Ryota picked up a small knife and, with merciless intent, ran the sharp edge across Ozawa's throat faster than he could beg.
As Ozawa struggled and began to bleed, Ryota placed one heavy palm over his mouth. "I am truly sorry, Ozawa, that we could not arrive in time to save you. If only Ionia's military was strong enough to stop this from happening..."
Ryota would only call for Yi, Wukong and Lee almost a minute later, making sure the knife was long gone. Now to just get them out before they decided to investigate further...
Ryota lit his flamesword, the grand symbol that tied all Ionian Shoguns together, and lightly touched the wick. Rather than a normal golden flame or a flickering orange one, this flame was bright purple. The signal had been set, and now all there was to do was wait.
A few short nights ago...
Ryota peered out from the chamber of the council, watching Yi whisper to Karma. He had seen Yi conversing with his pupil when they left out of the corner of his eye and it seemed that the worry was indeed justified. Part of this was the plan's fault. Faulty planning, holes in the plot, Ozawa not coming to his views as he had predicted.
*Ryota seethed. It was going to be a "bluff" that would make even Twisted Fate proud, but it was clear that he had to step in and establish a faux motive. If he was discovered now, Ionia would never get the protection all those old, senile, useless men had denied this great nation. *
Never again would he bury another child and never again would Ionia be vulnerable.
Calm as can be, in full armor, Ryota sat and watched the candle burn. Having shut the door hard enough that no light would escape and locked it, he should not fear interference from anyone. It seemed like hours he sat, staring into the darkness with a stone-face. Unmoving, undaunted, waiting.
And finally, in the darkness, a swirling black pool opened up. Crimson runes lined it as the beacon had been received.
A few short nights ago...
As Ryota opened the pagoda on Syndra's isle, he peered over. There was Kouga. Old, bloody, bruised. Ryota knelt down, having no time for games. "Do you see now, Kouga? Do you see why I fought so hard to strengthen Ionia's military? Do you finally see how flawed our views are?" He asked, staring hard at Kouga.
Kouga stared back, exhausted and bloody. "Syndra...has told me everything..." Ryota took a step back. Damn her, that wench always played in such an erratic way that she could never be wholly trusted. If she found it amusing, she would do it.
Ryota regained his composure, exhaling. "Then you know how far I will go, Kouga. I do not care about my deeds. I will go to hell a thousand times over if it means protecting the nation that I love. Please, Kouga, side with me. We can shift the scales, build up Ionia's defenses, show the world that we truly can care for ourselves."
Oddly enough, Kouga began to laugh..and laugh...and laugh. "How ironic that you call your kanabō 'Oni-killer', Ryota. For you, my dear misguided bastard, are the greatest demon to ever walk Ionia's soil."
"Rot then, old fool. If you had seen what I saw during the war, you'd know that I'm a saint compared to those who would return one day." Ryota turned and shut the door behind him. Nothing of interest, he'd tell them. Nothing but an empty pagoda.
As Ryota stood, he watched the portal widen. From that portal of twisting shadows, a man clad in dark armor stepped into his room, followed in short order by a woman with snow white hair. Graciously, Ryota bowed as they returned the favor.
Syndra, The Dark Sovereign, and Zed, The Master of Shadows, had entered his domain. Many would call them wicked. Affronts to Ionia's way of life and incredibly dangerous in Ionia's time of peace. To Ryota, however, they were two of the strongest any warrior could ask for. With them in his chamber, he snuffed out the purple flame that had beckoned them to him.
If he had to fight with the devil to guard the gates of heaven, so be it.
End Part 12