Kageura is difficult to analyze. While alive, he was an honorable man, yet he was a lord. By nature, warlords are ambitious, but he and his clan were not overly so.
His thirst for power came as he felt betrayed by the Tokugawas, but also with the transformation to being a vampire. Even though the Tokugawas were no longer in power when he moved to the United States, he struggled with himself - much of his struggles are internal, his honorable human self, with the dishonorable vampire self.
In Japan, in recent times, before he moved to the United States, he was pretty much content just existing, but his he has been resurrected now, in modern times, I can feel his ambitious spirit in the air. Maybe I am wrong, but I think I am right.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Kageura Entry: Taira Clan Treasure
The reason I chose the United States to move to was not because I could not live as a vampire in non-Tokugawa Japan, but because the divine Yamato sword, most likely is buried somewhere in the current Los Angeles. It is said that whoever wields the sword weilds great power.
When the Taira clan lost the Genpai War, it was rumored that a small faction of the clan stayed behind in Japan, and retrieved the Yamato sword and brought it to China, where the few survivors of the Taira clan fled to. As the family integrated into Chines culture, the sword was lost and probably at that time, integrated into Chinese treasures.
The story continues that the sword was part of a treasure brought aboard one of the ships in the Chinese expedition around the world, which in 1421, reached the shores of North America. The ship containing the sword was severely damaged during a storm, and sunk near the coast. but not before some of the treasure was saved and brought to shore. No one knows what happened tot he treasure after that.
I am sure the sword is still with the other treasures, and will go on a quest to find it. Then I will use its powers.
When the Taira clan lost the Genpai War, it was rumored that a small faction of the clan stayed behind in Japan, and retrieved the Yamato sword and brought it to China, where the few survivors of the Taira clan fled to. As the family integrated into Chines culture, the sword was lost and probably at that time, integrated into Chinese treasures.
The story continues that the sword was part of a treasure brought aboard one of the ships in the Chinese expedition around the world, which in 1421, reached the shores of North America. The ship containing the sword was severely damaged during a storm, and sunk near the coast. but not before some of the treasure was saved and brought to shore. No one knows what happened tot he treasure after that.
I am sure the sword is still with the other treasures, and will go on a quest to find it. Then I will use its powers.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Author's Entry: Candy is bit, part II
Candy walked faster. The car slowly followed her, narrowed the gap. The water swished underneath the car's tires, and pittypatted under her boots. Candy increased he pace. The car did the same. Candy started to get angry. It was the same guy who harassed her at the club. If steam was coming out of Candy's ears, the rains would douse it.
Candy stopped. The car stopped, then slowly caught up to her.
"Come On, baby, I want a happy ending," the driver said.
"Listen, I do do that sort of thing. If you are that desparate, then I suggest another part of town."
"But it's raining, and your here...I'm here now." The driver opened the door to the passenger side. "Get in, please."
"No."
"I'm begging."
"No."
"You don't want me to make you, do you?"
"I can beat you up, any night."
"Oh,. yeah? We'll see about that." The driver started to open the door. Candy readied herself. The driver got out, and as he got both feet out the car, he scrambled back in and floored the gas pedal. The passenger side door still open.
Candy was glad, a but shocked. While she knew she could beat him in a physical fight, she didn't think he'd run away like that.
Candy turned around and bumped into a solid form. "Oh, excuse me," she said instinctively, and looked up. A pair of long fangs descended upon her.
Candy stopped. The car stopped, then slowly caught up to her.
"Come On, baby, I want a happy ending," the driver said.
"Listen, I do do that sort of thing. If you are that desparate, then I suggest another part of town."
"But it's raining, and your here...I'm here now." The driver opened the door to the passenger side. "Get in, please."
"No."
"I'm begging."
"No."
"You don't want me to make you, do you?"
"I can beat you up, any night."
"Oh,. yeah? We'll see about that." The driver started to open the door. Candy readied herself. The driver got out, and as he got both feet out the car, he scrambled back in and floored the gas pedal. The passenger side door still open.
Candy was glad, a but shocked. While she knew she could beat him in a physical fight, she didn't think he'd run away like that.
Candy turned around and bumped into a solid form. "Oh, excuse me," she said instinctively, and looked up. A pair of long fangs descended upon her.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Author's Entry: Candy is Bit
Fortunately, that was Candy's last dance. Unfortunately, it was also Candy's last dance. At 1:30 A.M., the clubs doors would be shut and locked in a half hour. She sat in front of her dresser and sighed. "Why did I ever leave Ohio?"
Candy Cain's real name was Mary Schlager. She wasn't a singer, so she couldn't audition for all those talent shows on television. She could act, however, according to all the locals: friends, teachers, local drama critics. The former Mary Schlager never liked her name and dreamed of moving to Hollywood, changing her name and make it big. Candy Cain was not the name she imagined she'd have for herself.
Candy lived only a couple of blocks from the club - in a partially rennovated neighborhood regarded as an arts district. There was debate whether the neighborhood got passed over for other areas of downtown Los Angeles which revitalization exceeded hers, or if the neighborhood was still in the process of urban renewal.
The rain poured hard. Candy opened her umbrella, and walked out. Headlights shined the way ahead from her from behind. She was being followed.
Candy Cain's real name was Mary Schlager. She wasn't a singer, so she couldn't audition for all those talent shows on television. She could act, however, according to all the locals: friends, teachers, local drama critics. The former Mary Schlager never liked her name and dreamed of moving to Hollywood, changing her name and make it big. Candy Cain was not the name she imagined she'd have for herself.
Candy lived only a couple of blocks from the club - in a partially rennovated neighborhood regarded as an arts district. There was debate whether the neighborhood got passed over for other areas of downtown Los Angeles which revitalization exceeded hers, or if the neighborhood was still in the process of urban renewal.
The rain poured hard. Candy opened her umbrella, and walked out. Headlights shined the way ahead from her from behind. She was being followed.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Author entry: Possible opening for the actual book
Aspiring dancers move to New York, aspiring actresses move to Los Angeles. Candy Cain moved to the latter, yet worked as the former. Many people would refer her type of dance as an illegitimate form of dance. At this point, she didn't care if it was or wasn't an artsy respected form of dancing. All she cared was that it paid the bills.
The lack of customers indicated the weather outside: cold and rainy. Candy received a small wage, but most of her income came from tips customer's would give her. Not the tips from dancing - that would only pay the rest of her rent - the rest of her bills and any savings would come from tips customers would give her by keeping them company - not the way most people stereotyped the dancers - but literally, to keep company with the customer with conversation.
It was hard to be motivated when the customer pool was slim; and the cold wet air roaring in from the outside. She went through her motions. She didn't notice a tall shadowy man come in and stand near the corner of the room - nor did anyone else. Her mind was focused on a problem customer sitting in front of her.
"Shake it, baby! Come on! What am I paying you for," he said as he shook a lone dollar bill in front of his face.
Candy ignored him, but he was relentless. No use being nice to this guy - he was an obnoxious drunk. Probably cheap, too.
The man, a short, thin, middle-aged balding man in his fifties, continued to verbally harass Candy, until he jumped on stage and grabbed her. She punched him in the groin, and ran off stage. This amused the strange man standing in the corner.
"Never changes - the relationship between dancers and their customers - whatever the culture, whatever the time," he thought.
The lack of customers indicated the weather outside: cold and rainy. Candy received a small wage, but most of her income came from tips customer's would give her. Not the tips from dancing - that would only pay the rest of her rent - the rest of her bills and any savings would come from tips customers would give her by keeping them company - not the way most people stereotyped the dancers - but literally, to keep company with the customer with conversation.
It was hard to be motivated when the customer pool was slim; and the cold wet air roaring in from the outside. She went through her motions. She didn't notice a tall shadowy man come in and stand near the corner of the room - nor did anyone else. Her mind was focused on a problem customer sitting in front of her.
"Shake it, baby! Come on! What am I paying you for," he said as he shook a lone dollar bill in front of his face.
Candy ignored him, but he was relentless. No use being nice to this guy - he was an obnoxious drunk. Probably cheap, too.
The man, a short, thin, middle-aged balding man in his fifties, continued to verbally harass Candy, until he jumped on stage and grabbed her. She punched him in the groin, and ran off stage. This amused the strange man standing in the corner.
"Never changes - the relationship between dancers and their customers - whatever the culture, whatever the time," he thought.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Ron Sakamoto Entry: ???
I had the scanner on on my way home. A robbery had just taken place nearby and I swung over to see if I could catch the culprit. But the patrol men were already there. I got out and talked to the victim and the officers, and started back to my car. I looked into an alley as I passed by one, and saw a human figure on top of another.
I went closer to break it up. The one on top looked at me. She had an evil look to her. Blood dripped from her mouth. I stepped back. The vampire slowly crawled towards me, seductively and menacingly. Suddenly she shrieked, turned around and disappeared. A hand tounched my shoulder.
It was Jubei.
"That was Maria," I stammered.
"I know," he said. Flatly, without emotion, he said, "You must now destroy her."
I went closer to break it up. The one on top looked at me. She had an evil look to her. Blood dripped from her mouth. I stepped back. The vampire slowly crawled towards me, seductively and menacingly. Suddenly she shrieked, turned around and disappeared. A hand tounched my shoulder.
It was Jubei.
"That was Maria," I stammered.
"I know," he said. Flatly, without emotion, he said, "You must now destroy her."
Monday, August 12, 2013
Ron Sakamoto Entry: Ran into Jubei
I ran into the mysterious samurai today. Or, rather he probably arranged it so that I'd run into him. All the supernatural possibilities are overloading me: vampires, immortal beings.
"You are the famous Yagyu Jubei aren't you?" I asked, directly.
"My name is Yagyu Jubei, yes, but famous, I do not know."
"Of course you are. You've been portrayed in countless movies."
"Those are all fiction."
"If you are 400 years old - this reality is more unbelievable than anything I've seen of you in movies."
"You've found your family records."
"Yes."
"Then you know about Kageura?"
"Kind of. I didn't find the complete journal. Just bits, and I had to piece it together. I would still like to hear it from a primary source."
Jubei proceeded to tell me the whole story, of course some of it was heresay, for there were periods where he was not involved in the tale.
This is getting stranger by the minute. All my vampire knowledge came from the movies, and now Jubei tells me that this vampire cannot be staked, but must have his stomach slit and beheaded, like a ritual hara-kiri.
He asked me about Maria. I said that I had not seen her for a few days. He said he had a strange feeling about her, but cannot pinpoint it, and perhaps i should she that she is all right.
I asked him how I can contact him, and he said, that he will know. Whatever that means.
"You are the famous Yagyu Jubei aren't you?" I asked, directly.
"My name is Yagyu Jubei, yes, but famous, I do not know."
"Of course you are. You've been portrayed in countless movies."
"Those are all fiction."
"If you are 400 years old - this reality is more unbelievable than anything I've seen of you in movies."
"You've found your family records."
"Yes."
"Then you know about Kageura?"
"Kind of. I didn't find the complete journal. Just bits, and I had to piece it together. I would still like to hear it from a primary source."
Jubei proceeded to tell me the whole story, of course some of it was heresay, for there were periods where he was not involved in the tale.
This is getting stranger by the minute. All my vampire knowledge came from the movies, and now Jubei tells me that this vampire cannot be staked, but must have his stomach slit and beheaded, like a ritual hara-kiri.
He asked me about Maria. I said that I had not seen her for a few days. He said he had a strange feeling about her, but cannot pinpoint it, and perhaps i should she that she is all right.
I asked him how I can contact him, and he said, that he will know. Whatever that means.
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