[RP]Obake Blade

[Quanon]

Bora Cho walked away from the crowded fire place , the cold didn't bother him that much , most of the time he slept outside on the floor without a fire .

And though the smell of this stew was good , he didn't interrupt the group .

 

He choosed a nice spot with the thick grass , laying down he looked at the fire , shadowy figures ran forth and back , the silent muttering sounds of their voices in the night ...

 

Bora CHo felt his eyes closing , he fell a sleep .

[Grace]

After quietly ordering Katsuro to stay put, Takara silently followed Aya. As the merchant woman gave stew to the guard, Takara watched him slowly unwrap the cloth from his head. As he did so, she gasped.

 

"Oh, my!" she exclaimed, hurrying forward. "You, sir, should not even be trying to stand."

 

She reached up and lightly brushed an ugly bruise on his forehead with her fingers. "A blow like this would send any other into unconsciousness for hours on end. Here, sit."

 

Gently, she took his arm and 'guided' him down slowly to the ground. "That's right. You sit here. Eat."

 

Looking up at Aya, she said, "Tell Katsuro that I won't be back to the tent tonight. If he wants to come looking for me, there's a word for him." She repeated the same word she'd barked to Katsuro earlier. Then, she slowed her voice down, repeating the word again with every emphasis exaggerated so Aya could get how to say it.

 

"He'll stay with you if you say that," she finished. To Xan, she said. "Don't try to play Mr. Tough Guard to get me to leave. You're in no condition to keep watch alone."

[JasraLantill]

"Thank you again....erm, I'm not one to talk...but, I'm Xan, as you may know...erm, what's your name?" He asked shyly.

"I'm called Aya," she replied to him, squatting down on the ground beside him as he ate. Her eyes flicked over him in the dim light from the other campfires nearby, taking in his greying hair and facial scars. She sighed as she began to feel that she had misjudged him. "Sorry about the marshmallow," she apologised.

 

Just then, Takara appeared. Oh, my!" she exclaimed, hurrying forward. "You, sir, should not even be trying to stand."

 

As Takara told Aya to inform the young Katsuro that she would not be returning to the tent, but staying behind to keep watch with Xan, Aya's brow creased with concern. She wasn't sure it was a good idea, but she agreed that she would look after the boy until morning.

 

She headed back to her tent and the warmth and comfort of the large fire. She dished out two more bowls of stew, handing one each to Jonas and one to Carwyn, then retrieved two more for Katsuro and the Aeromancer Hoshiko, and again for Kyo and Toa, and lastly one for herself.

 

She was hungry, and still looking forward to the Volcanic S'mores that Toa was in the process of making. And by the eager and curious look in his eyes, so was Katsuro. She grinned as she watched the boy eat while trying to watch Toa at the same time, and she decided to tell him later that his mother had decided to stay with Xan.

 

She was tired, and it felt good to just relax for a moment and eat, but she remembered that she had one more thing yet to do tonight. She set down her half-finished bowl. Picking up the leather pouch she had retrieved from her pack, she pulled out a smaller pouch from within. "Bow strings," she said, setting a selection beside Carwyn. She laid the larger pouch at Jonas' feet. "And arrows."

 

"Have a look," she told them both. She picked up her bowl again. "And if there's something you like, you can pay me for it when we get to Ryuu-Tokai. It's not wise to exchange money on the road," she explained, stifling a yawn. "Especially with bandits in the area."

[Rexraptor2000]

Toa finally finished preparations, which ended up in all of the eight the stones he had requested being put together to make a cone of sorts in the fire. Then he pulled a few red plants out of his packs, grinded them into a pulpy mixture, and poured it all over the stone cone and fire, which caused the fire to flare up brighter and hotter, then change a few colors. He used his pyromacery to heat up the rock until it melted was a miniature volcano, except it was made entirely out of molten lava. He then dropped then entire bottle of alcohol into the mouth of the volcano, which did nothing for a moment, then the volcano began to spew out a darker colored lava that flowed into the little moat around it. He then turned around and said "Ladies and gentlemen! And child. May I have your attention please? Also the marshmallows, chocolate, and crackers please Aya."

 

After getting an armfull of marshmallows, chocolate, and crakers from Aya, he turned to the volcano and dropped all of them in. As the volcano began to make a sound like as it was going to erupt, and tens of fire soldiers began to spawn and take random positions everywhere, he turned around to say "Please keep your hands, arms, feet, or anything else you do not want burned to a crisp away from the products of this eruption taking part behind me."

 

As soon as he finished saying that, the volcano top seem to explode as firery versions of all the matierials exploded out and the fire soldiers raced to catch them all. Once caught, the soldiers seemed to absorb the massive amount of heat from the matierials and the fire dissapeared to reveal that the matierials had not changed much on the outside themselves, only the color turning to shades of red. The chocolate was maroon, the marshmallows were red, and the crackers were orange. One particular marshmallow, however, decided to try and reach the sky without Toa noticing it. So while he started to have the soldiers pass the matierials to the people, that one marshmallow decided to come down on Toa's face as he looked up for no apperant reason, splattering a red sticky substance all over his face.

 

"And that people, is why you don't look up for no reason." he said as he licked the warm, googy substance from his lips and smiled. Quickly a warm, cozy feeling began to fill every part of his body causing him to smile widder.

[Master_Archon]

Xan just nodded as Aya told him her name. Out of nowhere another lady came up to him, this one for a different reason, it was the mother from before.

 

"You, sir, should not even be trying to stand." Said the woman as the woman reached out and touched a bruise on his forehead. "A blow like this would send any other into unconsciousness for hours on end. Here, sit." She stated.

 

The woman took his arm and guided him to the ground, "that's right. You sit here. Eat." He stared at his empty bowl...he had already eaten, so from that he assumed there was some other intention to this woman's acts.

 

He got back up and stared at this woman, "ma'am, I'm fine, I have a job, and...well...I have to do it," he said plainly.

 

"Don't try to play Mr. Tough Guard to get me to leave. You're in no condition to keep watch alone." She said, he frowned at this comment. Aya left, and he was alone with the mother.

 

He stared at her, his eyes focusing on her as best he could make them. "So, you just happen to come out here to help me? Unlikely, what do you want?" He asked sternly, but as kindly as he could.

[Grace]

"Why are you with the caravan?" Takara asked in response. Rather than letting him answer, she answered herself and began pacing a little. "You are here because it's your job. You'll get paid at journey's end. So if you get hurt on the job, why should someone in the caravan care to help you with your job?"

 

As if arguing both sides, she again refused to let him speak. "Others should care because their personal safety is at stake if the guard gets hurt." Turning again to face him she said, "And I have more than my own personal safety at risk." Kneeling to look straight into his eyes, she went on, "And the safety of my son is something I do not take lightly. If you cannot adequately do the full of your job, it becomes my job to help you."

 

Adjusting her weapons a little, she crouched next to him and looked out into the darkness. "Get some sleep if you need it," she said abruptly. "I know certain techniques that give me all the benefits of sleep... without actually sleeping. The caravan will not be unwatched."

[Master_Archon]

Xan frowned as the lady started blathering on, when the one sided conversation ended Xan had a look of anger on his face.

 

"I can understand you wanting your son safe, but I did not take this job to have some ungrateful person do it for me," he said, his tone raising. "Now if you'll excuse me, I will patrol the outside of the wagon circle, you can stare into the darkness until bandits come and kidnap you," he said angrily, rebinding his face and head with the cloth, and setting the bowl next to the mother he started walking off, his walk more steady now that he had eaten.

 

He halted, then turned slightely, "I'm doing my best, I just guess you guys can't appreciate that...by the way, you should keep an eye on your whelp a little more, I found him outside the wagon circle, and then soon after I found him, I found bandits, which I successfully fought off...consider your concerns sated..." he wished to continue, but he found it no use.

 

Xan started walking away, but this time, he had his great sword drawn and ready for any surprises.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn ate the stew hungrily; he'd not had anything to eat since the morning in the cantina. The stew was good and hearty and helped him warm up, which was good, since the night was getting chillier. Placing his bowl on the ground, he picked up a few of the strings Aya had laid out for him, pulling at them, twanging them and checking for defects. Selecting a sturdy string made of linen, he put it to the side.

 

"I think I like this one," he told the merchant. "Not too thick, not too thin, I should get some good mileage out of it. But hopefully I won't have to make use of it too soon." He winked at Aya as he picked up his bowl of stew again.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo finished up his soup, setting down his bowl as he watched with interest as Toa finished up his preperations for the volcano s'mores. He smiled faintly as the peculiar fire soldiers returned, and the pyromacer set to work.

 

After the very flashy show, Kyo clapped a few times. "Nice." he said appreciativly.

[Grace]

"You misunderstand me," Takara growled, standing and following. "I am not ungrateful for what you have been hired to do. Nor do I hold any doubts as to what foolishness my son can get himself into. However, if you intend to blatantly ignore what's happened to you in defending this caravan, that is one thing I will not accept. Your walk is steadier; that I can tell. I admire your strength and stamina, but if you think for a second you are in your present state capable of doing your work to the full of your requirements, you will find yourself unconscious within the circle of wagons... and it will be no great challenge for me to make you so."

 

Sighing, she stopped, allowing him to go on alone. "You may feel alone," she called after him. "You may feel as if people care nothing for you or how well you do your job. But perhaps that might change if you stopped being so arrogant and started seeing people for what they're worth."

 

And with that, she turned and began walking the outer ring of the wagons in the opposite direction of the caravan's assigned guard, Xan.

 

--------------------------

 

Katsuro also applauded when the process of making volcanic s'mores was completed. Then, he looked over at Aya.

 

"Where'd she go?" he asked bluntly, referring to his mother.

[JasraLantill]

"I think I like this one," Carywy told the merchant as he chose a string. "Not too thick, not too thin, I should get some good mileage out of it. But hopefully I won't have to make use of it too soon." He winked at Aya as he picked up his bowl of stew again.

 

"I'll keep my fingers crossed," she said, with a warm smile. "But you know who to come to if you need another one, right?"

 

Some fire soldiers approached, offering Volcano S'mores to everyone. She let out a little snort of amusement, then said, "Mmm, looks good!"

 

She tensed warily as she gingerly reached out to take one, (thinking that it would be extremely hot,) but then relaxed as she found it was only pleasantly warm.

 

"Katsuro, try one," she said to the boy. "They're not as hot as they appear."

 

She popped one into her mouth and the chocolatey sweetness engulfed her taste buds. Then a strange sort of heat trickled down her throat as she swallowed, warming her from the inside out. "Wow," was all she could utter as she was at loss of words to describe the feeling. She nodded appreciatively at Toa. "Wow!" she said again. "Very, very good, Toa. It was well worth the wait."

 

After a moment, she yawned. "I think I'm calling it quits for the night," she said to everyone. She looked at Katsuro. "Come on," she said, nodding to the tent. "These guys can keep watch outside the tent, but I could use a 'guard' on the inside of the tent. Think you could handle that?" She hoped he wouldn't insist on searching out his mother, instead of coming with her. For some reason, she just couldn't remember Takara's 'special' word at the present moment.

 

She rose, going inside her tent, but she soon returned with a few blankets. She handed one to Carwyn, one to Kyo, and one to Jonas. "Here," she said. "Extra blankets. Even though the fire's still going great, it still might get cold later on. And if you don't need it, just pass it along to someone who does." She grinned. "Like that crazy vagabond monk, if he's still around. Good night!"

[Grace]

Katsuro took one, but before sticking it in his mouth, he repeated, "Where'd she go?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

"She went to speak with Irithoi." Kyo covered, "She'll be finished soon. Now, go lend your slingshot to Miss Aya - a lady must be protected at all times."

 

The wanderer took the blanket offered to him, nodding a silent thanks and setting it, folded for now, across his knees.

[JasraLantill]

"She'll be back soon," Aya added, not wanting to spark the boy into wanting to follow her. She motioned with her head to the tent, winking at Kyo in the process as a thanks for his assistance in the matter. "So, are you taking the job to guard me for the night or not? I always pay my employees. Though mostly in carrots," she added, looking over at Bob. "But for you, I'll make an exception."

[Grace]

Katsuro eyed Kyo suspiciously for a moment. Then, he looked away. Standing slowly, he entered the tent with Aya.

 

"If she doesn't come back soon, I'm going after her," he said quietly, intending for only Aya to hear him.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo spoke something under his breath - a word hardly audible, except to the ears used to hearing it. Katsuro suddenly sat down inside the tent.

[JasraLantill]

Aya cocked an eyebrow at Kyo, surprised that he knew the word that Takara had spoken and that she had forgotten. "Thanks," she said quietly. "Again," she added with a small grin.

 

"Good night," she said again to everyone, and then she followed Katsuro into the tent, intending on getting a peaceful and well-earned rest. It had been a long day.

[Grace]

After sitting abruptly, Katsuro stared curiously out from the tent at Kyo. Then, he shook his head and crawled to the entrance of the tent, taking a blanket with him. There, he sat, looking out at the fire, which slowly began to die out. And there, he began to use a technique his mother had started to teach him.

 

It was a complex process, really, and one that the boy had not yet fully figured out. It involved slowing down nearly every bodily function, save for what was included in the head, the mind most important. Thus, while the body rested, the mind was wide awake and keenly aware of everything that went on in the surrounding areas. Takara had fully mastered it; her son had not. But still, he would be able to sit like this for another three hours. It would give him a portion of the rest he needed. Then, he would sleep for the rest of the night.

[ForceFightWMe12]

The night wore on; the fire died. As the chill began to creep in on him, Kyo tossed the blanket Aya had lended to him around his shoulders, staring into the small, flickering light that was the fire. By the time he had reached forward to stoke it a bit, he had noted that nearly everyone had gone to bed, a few restless souls like himself sitting outside of tents or near a wagon. He heard Xan - the thick-headed man he was - clinking nearby as he continued his dutiful watch.

 

He sat motionlessly, wordlessly, as he pondered once again the arrival at Ryuu-Tokai. He knew how slim the chances were that this woman would know anything at all about the legendary Obake Blade - but he couldn't stop himself from allowing a glimmer of hope and excitement to shine through.

 

Perhaps she did. Perhaps she would be able to descipher the runes written on the only scrap of his grandfather's scroll he was able to save. Perhaps the translation would mean something to him. Perhaps the translation would lead him somewhere.

 

But then again, perhaps it would not. There was always a chance that the verse on the scroll meant nothing at all. Just more useless information about the legend. Perhaps this lead was naught but another dead end.

[Rogue Nine]

"Woo, blanket!" Carwyn cheered. "Thanks, Aya." Rolling up his coat into a rough pillowy shape, he put it up against a log. Wrapping himself in the blanket, he lay down, placing his head on his coat. Within minutes, he was sound asleep.

[Relenzo2]

Even was planning on truning in soon as well. As soon as every last marchmallow in the vaicinaty had been cookid and eated. This was better than cooked beef! Often he would stay up late, but they had that guard... or "Can Man" as Even had decided to call him. And no bandits would dare try come into camp after Toa's little show.

[Master_Archon]

Xan frowned as he walked away, the woman's words staying in his mind. He walked slow, and when he saw the woman coming towards him as they were going opposite directions, he held his hand up to stop her.

 

He approached her, and unwrapped the cloth on his head. He lifted his blade a bit, but lowered it, and asked, "you threatened me, should I take offense?" He asked quietly, almost reverently. Before she could respond he answered, "I've been through worse and kept doing what I had to do. Do you not trust I can?" He asked.

 

He got closer, and bent down until he was eye level with her. "Or is there another reason? Perhaps my other...fault?" He asked, his partially focused eyes staring into hers, the swirling mist known as cataracts nearly covering his dark eyes.

 

His face grew sad as he wished he could see her more clearly, "do you not trust me?" He asked softly and saddly, his words barely audible.

[Grace]

Takara considered his words thoughtfully. "I think perhaps we have underestimated one another," she said finally. "You are stronger than you seem."

 

She took a step to the side, putting herself between two wagons, but still within Xan's sight. Softly, she told him, "I trust you." Then, she knelt where she was and closed her eyes. "If you need help," she said, her eyes still closed, "I'll be right here. Whistle and I'll come."

 

And there she stayed for the rest of the night. As light began to grow, she opened her eyes. Each time Xan passed her in his circular route around the wagons, she smiled up at him from where she knelt. She hoped her apparent trust in him would encourage him somehow. She also hoped that knowing she would be always within a few seconds to help him was also encouraging. But she did not know.

[Rexraptor2000]

Toa was glad that everyone enjoyed his S'mores, and put out the volcano once they were finished. It was now just a hardened cone of rock. He made his own little fire in the circle of wagons, although he stayed away from everyone else so he wouldn't keep them awake. He stared into his own fire, and began to sing his own little song that he had learned as a child. It was light, as not to wake anyone up, and the fires in the wagon circle seemed to dance with it as he sang it.

[Relenzo2]

Well, everyone else may be able to stay up all night patrolling wagons or singing or doing something or other, but Even needed his sleep. He was about to find himself a cozy spot on the deck... er, wait, well, the floorboard of the wagon here, guess they didn't get beds here either... oh, heave it. He went by Toa's fire, and sang dusktime sailorsongs the rest of the night.