[RP]Obake Blade

[Rexraptor2000]

"That better?" Hoshiko asked teasingly.

 

"A bit better, although I thought the other way was cuter in my opinion." Toa said letting out a chuckle and then said "I suppose we should find an inn though or something, as I doubt the library will be open at the moment. Plus it's getting a bit too cold out here for my liking."

[Quanon]

Bora Chos thoughts where whirling and howling like a mad storm inside his head .

It was difficult to calm the hurricane of thoughts and emotians .

 

The last days where quite exciting , new faces , new people , more story and historys to unraffle . Still the last hours where the most unnerving .

 

The nightmare on the ship ... the fight on the dock .

 

Bora Cho wrinkled his nose , he was amazed that his smiting powers still worked , they looked like they had improved even . But how was that possible , his trainging as monk was never completed .

 

Saddly enough Bora Cho was to unsure to use his healing skills .

He could have helped Carwyn , if he had been succesfull Carwyn would already be running and jumping around .

But if Bora Cho had failed ... well ... things would have been worse .

THe memory of the poor animals where the young monk had to practise their skills on .

 

Later Bora Cho slowly opened his eyes , the fire was out , a small smouldering pile of ashes remained . Istengard was sleeping peacefully .

[JasraLantill]

Aya watched as Kyo climbed the stairs and went inside the building that housed the strange old witch. But as soon as she heard the woman cackle from inside, she turned to Akira and said hurriedly, "Ok, let's go. I don't want to hang around this place any longer than I have to."

 

She started back the way they had came, but after a few yards down the alley, she paused, looked over her shoulder, then placed her hand protectively over her shirt where her coin necklace hid underneath.

 

The alley was dark, but overall quiet. Not even the sounds of rats rustling through the piles of rubbish could be heard. Moonless night, no wind, but---

 

"Akira, you ever get the feeling that you're being watched?" Aya asked quietly, as she looked up at the building where they had left Kyo. Maybe the old woman was watching her. Maybe Kyo. Maybe... someone else. She shook off the feeling and started up the dirt trail that would eventually lead to the top of the hill and the cobbled streets of the main market place.

[Jason Skywalker]

"I could lie to you and say i never get those feelings which make me invulnerable to it, but yes, i sometimes have felt like being watched. Of course, i'm always prepared," He said, slowly and carefully slipping out a dagger and slipping it back in.

 

"You're probably wondering how i never get cut with these. It's quite simple," Akira told Aya, slipping one sleeve to the elbow, showing an holster, "See?"

 

There was a bit of silence until Akira broke it.

 

"So...you mind i ask about that old lady?" He said, obviously knowing she felt bad talking about her.

[Master_Archon]

Xan had let Takara go on ahead while he cleared the bodies away from open sight, and looted as many weapons as he could find. Also finding random discarded clothes items as well.

 

Xan headed into the market district, which was eerily quiet. Xan entered the common room of the 'Smoking Dragon', it had some people from the journey he knew, most promonent of his attention was Takara and her son.

 

Xan smiled under his helmet, which he had repaired in his spare time on the ship. Xan had the weapons he found at the fight scene under his arm, while he had an excess bag hanging from his belt; it was the money he was payed for, by Irithoi, though it was a little less than expected, he guessed he deserved it.

 

Xan came over to Takara, setting the bundle of weapons on the table he set all his gear there as well. Xan sat next to Takara, "well, lost track of you there for awhile...what's happening?" He asked cheerfully. He looked over at Katsuro, who was interacting with an unknown male.

 

"Hm? I'm assuming that's a relative?" He asked questioningly.

[Grace]

Takara smiled faintly and nodded. "That's my father," she said. Her smile faded to a thoughtful and worried frown. "He asked us to meet him here... and he's come to a decision I cannot help but find a little concerning."

 

She looked over at Xan. "He's going away for a long while... to live off the land away from civilization for a time. I do not fear for his safety, for he is the one who raised me as I am. But still... it's so sudden..." Her voice faded to silence and she turned again to watch her father and her son interacting.

 

Almost inaudibly, she murmured, "Oh, father, why today of all days?" It was the question that puzzled her. Why had her father chosen her birthday of all days to convey the information of his 'split from society'? It was a puzzle she could not understand.

[Dark_Lady]

"Well, I'm staying at the Wandering Wind," Hoshiko said. "It looks like a decent place." Although, of course, you can never tell just by appearances.

 

"How long you think it'll take before someone wonders what the meteor was?"

[Rexraptor2000]

"How long you think it'll take before someone wonders what the meteor was?"

 

"I don't know, but I don't want to be around if any of her friends start wondering. I suppose I have enough money to afford a night at an inn, although I'm going to have to take up an odd job again if I don't want to run out." Then Toa took a glance at his surroundings and asked "You wouldn't happen to know your way through this maze, would you?"

[JasraLantill]

"So...you mind if I ask about that old lady?" Akira said, obviously knowing she felt bad talking about her.

Walking beside Akira, Aya looked at him askance. "She's strange," Aya replied. "Collects all these weird artefacts and scrolls and stuff, reads people’s fortunes, and," she added emphatically, "she actually has conversations with that scrawy, mangy cat of hers!" She rolled her eyes. "Thinks it’s her husband or something. Can you imagine? Talking to animals?” she said, totally oblivious to the fact that it might appear to others that she ‘talked’ to Bob in a similar manner. “But she knows a lot about the Old Ones and all the legends and stuff. That’s why I thought she could help Kyo out.” She paused for a moment, unsure if Kyo had shown Akira the scroll with the strange writing on it, and wondering if she had actually said too much. After all, she had promised Kyo not to mention the scroll to anyone. "With his... research."

 

It wasn't long before they had snaked their way through the alleys and sidestreets and found themselves back at the inn.

 

"Looks like things have picked up," she said to Akira, nodding at the crowd that was now gathered by the fire in the common room.

 

She stopped by the bar, talking with Renn privately for a moment. Then she exchanged with him the silk scarf around her neck for a plain, but clean linen tunic.

 

"I think I could use a drink," she said, returning to Akira. "Can you get us something?" She handed him a few coins. "I'll join you later. Just want to check on Carwyn first. See how he's getting on. And give him a clean tunic." She headed towards the corridor that led to Carwyn's room. "Oh, and nothing too strong, please," she added over her shoulder. "Just either a house ale, a glass of mulled wine, or failing that, just some blackcurrant juice. Too much alcohol muddles me up."

 

Leaving Akira to get them a table and the drinks, she padded down the hallway to Carwyn's room. She heard voices within, one of them she assumed was the doctor's voice that Renn had told her was now treating Carwyn. Unconcerned, she opened the door and went inside.

 

Her mouth dropped in shock. A dark-haired woman stood over Carywyn, her body partially obscuring everything but his face from Aya's view, and this woman seemed to be caressing her hands down his legs--in a very non-medical like manner. Aya turned away, but it was then that she noticed Carwyn's old tunic laying casually over the back of a chair. Her eyes widened, then narrowed venomously.

 

"Well, looks like you're feeling much better," she said coldly to Carwyn. "Here's your tunic." She tossed it to the floor. "I'll be in the bar, if you need me. Although I doubt you will," she added as she wheeled on her heels and turned to leave.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn was in two very different worlds. On one side, he was being sewn up by a kindly, but shaky-handed doctor. He winced every time the doctor's needle pricked his skin. On the other side, he was being tended to by a very pretty lady who seemed intent on making him feel good as much as mending his injuries. She was currently working out a kink in his left leg with her soft but firm hands. Carwyn desperately tried to focus all of his attention on the more pleasant of the two worlds, but the sharp point of the needle kept yanking him back to the other.

 

Just as he thought he was gaining some control over his focus, the door to the room opened again, admitting a newly-returned Aya. The world seemed to move in slow motion as he focused on the young merchant, whose facial expressions went from shock to something he had never seen before.

 

"Well, looks like you're feeling much better," she said coldly to Carwyn. "Here's your tunic." She tossed it to the floor. "I'll be in the bar, if you need me. Although I doubt you will," she added as she wheeled on her heels and turned to leave.

 

Carwyn raised his arm towards her and tried to form her name in his mouth, but he continued to move in slow motion. However, Dr. Waverly looked up at just that moment, accidentally letting the needle slip a little too far into Carwyn's skin. "Yeeeeouch!" the ranger yelled, snapped out of his seemingly drunken stupor.

 

"Oh, I'm sorry about that dear boy," Dr. Waverly said, quickly retrieving the needle. Turning to the exiting merchant, he called out, "Aya! Surely you'd like to hear my expert diagnosis on how our dear Carwyn is doing." Lowering his tone slightly, he continued, "As well as greet an old friend properly."

 

Aya turned and her pretty face was awash with embarrassment. "Ah, Dr. Waverly!" she said. "I'm so sorry, I didn't even see you there." Her eyes darted to the woman still caressing Carwyn's leg.

 

Dr. Waverly must have caught the glance for he said, "Yes, well. I've yet to introduce you to my newest assistant, Tellis." He gestured to the brunette.

 

Tellis stopped her ministrations on Carwyn's leg and turned to face Aya. She held out a delicate, long-fingered hand. "Pleased to meet you," Tellis said, her voice warm, but enigmatically neutral.

[JasraLantill]

Aya's eyes flicked from Tellis, to the doctor, to Carywn, back to the doctor, then back to Tellis, to Carwyn once again, and then back to the very beautiful Tellis. Hesitantly, she extended her hand to her. "Nice to meet you," Aya said, in a small lowly voice. "You're really the doctor's assistant?"

 

Tellis nodded.

 

"Oh." Aya could feel her face flush with embarrassment even more now. "Sorry, I thought you were.... Well, it looked like you were.... I mean, when I saw his tunic over there, I thought that...." She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry. I guess I sort of jumped to the wrong conclusion."

 

She craned her neck to see around Tellis to Carwyn, whose modesty was intact with a well placed corner of the bedsheet. She could see that his wound was now a neat row of tiny stitches, thanks to Dr. Waverley. "You feeling better now?" she asked him. "Doctor Waverley is one of the best doctors in the city." She made a mental note to thank Renn more thoroughly when she next saw him for summoning the doctor.

 

"Thanks for the compliment, Aya," Doc Waverley said. "And being as I'm the best... I can't help but notice that you need some of my ministrations as well."

 

"Me?" Aya asked. "I'm fine."

 

The doctor cocked a bushy eyebrow. "Oh, really? That's a new one. The patient telling the doctor that they're fine." He motioned to the edge of the bed. "Sit," he ordered her.

 

Frowning slightly with confusion, Aya moved past Tellis and gingerly sat on the edge of the bed,careful not to move the sheet too much or to jostle Carwyn. "What?" she said to the doctor.

 

Doc Waverley stood in front of her, and gently traced along her neck. He lifted up the small cord that held her coin charm. "This doesn't hurt?" he asked her.

 

"My necklace?" she asked, confused.

 

"No. This." He traced the thin reddened garotte line that was around her neck, and she winced a bit.

 

"Well, yeah," she said. "Now that you're prodding it, it does."

 

The doctor nodded. "I take it then that's not a self-inflicted wound?"

 

Aya rolled her eyes. "No."

 

"And does this hurt?" He squeezed her shoulder.

 

"Ow!" Aya frowned. "It does now."

 

Doc Waverley nodded again. "Tellis? Be a good lass and put some of this ointment on her neck. And give a bit of a massage around her shoulders." He looked at Aya. "Otherwise, you'll be mighty stiff in the morning."

[Rogue Nine]

Tellis gave Carwyn's thigh a final squeeze, then moved to take the bottle of ointment from Dr. Waverly's hand. Sitting behind Aya on the bed, she gathered the young merchant's thick hair in a bundle with her left hand, then took Aya's hand with her right and brought it up to the mass of hair. Aya dutifully held her hair in place as the apprentice healer dabbed some ointment onto her neck, then used lithe, supple fingers to massage it into her bruise. Aya was tense at first, then gradually found herself relaxing under Tellis' gentle kneading.

 

Dr. Waverly observed the two women for a few moments then, satisfied, turned his attention back to Carwyn. "Well, Mr. Stormchild, I think we're through here," he said brusquely. "That wound is all stitched up with some special thread that should dissolve right into your skin once the injury is all healed up." He looked pointedly at the ranger. "Do try to stay out of any further 'scraps' while you're here."

 

Carwyn nodded, still alerted out of his poppy-induced stupor by the doctor's sewing. "I'll try, doc," he said. Reaching for his trousers on the ground, he shook them out and ruefully examined the rip in them. "Pity, I liked these too. I don't suppose you do pants too, doctor?" He offered Dr. Waverly a crooked smile.

 

The doctor snorted and pushed his glasses up. "I'm a doctor, Mr. Stormchild. Not a tailor." Standing from the stool, he gathered up his implements into the kit and closed it. "You should be able to walk without discomfort in the morning," he told Carwyn, moving to the door. "But until then, given your current state as diagnosed by my assistant, I suggest you have a healthy dinner, then get a good night's rest." Pulling the door open, he addressed Tellis. "I will be staying at the Wavering Wind across the street for the night, as it's getting far too late to travel back. I trust you'll be able to make arrangements for yourself?"

 

The dark-haired woman turned to look at her mentor, still kneading Aya's neck. "Of course, doctor," she replied.

 

Dr. Waverly nodded. "Well, I bid you all a good night, then," he said, stepping outside the door and shutting it behind him.

 

Carwyn looked at the closed door, then back to the two women sitting at the foot of his bed. It was then he realized he was practically naked under the sheets, his rear still partially exposed. Hastily drawing the sheets over his lower half, he reached gingerly for the tunic on the floor, grasping it with his fingertips. He pulled it on, happy again to be wearing something and was about to reach for his pants when a cool voice asked, "And just what do you think you are doing?" causing him to look up.

 

Tellis was the speaker, looking at him with piercing grey eyes as she continued to work Aya's neck.

 

"Uh, the doctor said I should eat a good dinner?" Carwyn said hopefully. "And I'm kinda hungry too, so I thought I'd go out there and get some." He made to put his trousers on under the sheets, but found Tellis' hand again on his leg.

 

"And what, mess Dr. Waverly's handiwork up with all your movement?" She clucked her tongue. "You will do no such thing except lay there like a good patient." Her voice was soft, but carried a definite air of command.

 

Aya took this opportunity to speak up. "Ah, I'll bring Carwyn's dinner for him," she said, moving to get up, but was unable to as Tellis' firm hands dropped to her shoulders, pushing her down to the bed.

 

"You will do no such thing either," Tellis said in the same soft, yet authoritative voice. "I am not finished with you." She removed her hands from Aya's shoulders and stood up. "Wait here. I will go and make arrangements for Mr. Stormchild's dinner to be brought here, then return and finish tending to you. Then you may go as you wish." With that, she turned to the door and swept out into the hallway.

 

Carwyn watched as she left, then turned back to find Aya staring at him. "Strange lady," he said in a quiet voice, a little taken aback by the intensity of Aya's look.

 

****

 

Outside, Dr. Waverly approached the bar. Renn turned to greet him. "How's he doing?" the bartender asked.

 

"He'll live," Dr. Waverly replied. "Nothing too serious." Looking around, he noticed a brown case on the stool next to him. Turning back to Renn, he asked, "Where did Chris go?"

 

Renn furrowed his brow. "He took off a few minutes ago in a hurry. Said he had something to take care of. Looked real spooked too."

 

"I can't imagine by what," Dr. Waverly replied dryly. Probably his debtors again. Picking the case up, he turned to the door. "Sorry I will not be able to offer you my patronage tonight, Renn."

 

The bartender waved him off. "It's no worry, doctor. I owe you a free lodging for coming on such short notice." He looked around the crowded common room. "When it's a little less occupied, that is."

 

The good doctor chuckled. "Yes, I'll remember that Renn, thank you." He strode to the door, then stopped halfway through it. "If you require my services again, do not hesitate to send for me. I bid you good night."

 

Renn waved. "Good night, doctor."

[Jason Skywalker]

"Well, sounds pretty crazy. Yet, you also seem to talk to Bob," He smiled, "That? Oh yes, i know of that. It has to do with the Obake Blade legend."

 

The continued their way onto the inn, and found it to be quite crowded.

 

"Looks like things have picked up," she said to Akira, nodding at the crowd that was now gathered by the fire in the common room.

 

"Yep, quite crowded," Akira said. He had noticed Istergard sleeping and Bora Cho meditating, "Quite crowded indeed."

 

"Sure," Akira told her, receiving the coins and closing his hand, "No problem Aya!"

 

Akira went to the bar counter, "Bartender, two House Ales please," He told him as the bartender told his employees to get two house ales.

 

"So..what's on with Ryuu-Tokai?" He said, receiving his two drinks and handing out the coins.

 

"Not much. Some territory war i believe."

 

Territory war? This intrigued him. He looked for a table and sat down.

[Master_Archon]

Almost inaudibly, she murmured, "Oh, father, why today of all days?" It was the question that puzzled her. Why had her father chosen her birthday of all days to convey the information of his 'split from society'? It was a puzzle she could not understand.

 

Xan heard her words, for the fact that he was right next to her, and that being partially blind heightened his hearing.

 

Xan raised an unseen eyebrow as Takara seemed distraught about the departure of her father into the wilderness, 'on this day of all days', what was this day? Xan wondered.

 

"What is 'this day'?" He asked curiously. "If he's so capable, then why do you worry about which day he conveyed the information to you?"

[Darth_Velrogh]

Istergard awoke and got his sowrd out while getting up with a jump. The sound of the door opening and the cold wind outside startled him and the entire feeling of safety vanished. He looked around but saw only Bora-Cho, Akira and the bartender looking at him wide eyed.

 

"Sorry..." Istergard whispered sliding his sword back in, he headed to the bar and asked the bartender for the same thing Akira was having and sat next to him.

 

"So, who were the guys that attacked you?" he asked trying to find out what had happened in the docks.

 

"I didn't see the mancers bodies, but where are they?"

[JasraLantill]

Carwyn watched as she left, then turned back to find Aya staring at him. "Strange lady," he said in a quiet voice, a little taken aback by the intensity of Aya's look.

 

Aya cocked an eyebrow. “Pretty, too. And very… capable with her hands,” she added, as her eyes flicked quickly to his leg and back again. She beckoned with her hand. "Give me your trousers.”

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn looked at her stupidly. "What for?" he asked.

 

The look she gave him was something between looking cross and amused. She raised an eyebrow.

 

Then it clicked. "Oh, right," Carwyn said sheepishly, placing his trousers in Aya's outstretched hand.

 

Aya giggled lightly. "I thought you'd just got hit in the leg, Carwyn," she said, moving to the dresser next to the bed and extracting a needle and a spool of thread from the bottom drawer. "I didn't think you'd gotten your head knocked around a bit too," she teased, tossing him a wink as she resumed her spot at the edge of the bed.

 

Carwyn found himself wishing she was sitting a little closer. He sighed. "Well, that drink you gave me certainly doesn't help me think any straighter."

 

Her eyes danced with amusement as she put the thread tip to her lips. "No, it doesnt," she agreed, putting the thread to the eye of the needle. "But it's great for dulling pain, isn't it?

 

Carwyn couldn't disagree there. "Yeah, 'tis."

[JasraLantill]

"So," Aya asked while she sewed, "how should we go about finding this missing sister of yours? I mean, I can put the word out, but with it being market day tomorrow, there'll be a lot of people around. Couldn't guarantee how 'discreet' other people might be." She looked up. "Market day here can be pretty wild when it get crowded. Especially later in the afternoon." Her brow crinkled slightly. "When 'the Wolf' comes out."

[Rogue Nine]

"Well, I was just planning on going around town tomorrow, asking around in a discreet fashion," Carwyn replied. "Of course, that was predicated on me having my locket around to show people." He sighed. "I'll have to go back to the docks in the morning, look around for that coat of mine."

 

Aya nodded. "I'll see what I can manage at the market," she said, her brow still furrowed.

 

Carwyn noticed. "This 'Wolf' person seems to trouble you. Why's that?

[JasraLantill]

Aya looked up surprised. "Why?" she repeated. "Well, he's just plain evil for one. And he's selfish, arrogant, demeaning to just about everyone--just generally mean. And rich. Very rich. But he doesn't do anything for anyone unless it immeditately benefits him. And that's why he's called 'the Wolf.' Circles around the weak like an alpha male, then pounces on them with his 'pack.' Needless to say, my father and I didn't get along with him very well. Merchants compete with each other, sure, but they should help each other, too, you know? But Wolf.... he just wants to control everyone." She frowned, shivering slightly as she did. "Even though all the merchants pay the city a fee for operating a stall, Wolf has this idea that it's 'his' market, and that everyone should pay him as well." Her eyes narrowed. "My father always refused, but what Wolf really didn't like, was that my father would convince other merchants to do the same." She sighed. "I'm just hoping he'll leave me alone tomorrow at the market. It'll be the first time I've been there on my own." She snorted. "'Course, I'll still have Bob. He doesn't like Wolf much either," she said, just as Tellis returned.

 

Tellis was carrying a tray with a hot plate of roast chicken, boiled new potatoes, and steamed broccoli, and a cool glass of milk. "Hot, healthy meal, just like the doctor ordered." She set the tray down on the table by Carwyn.

 

Aya started to rise. "Well, I'd better get going." She folded Carwyn's mended trousers and laid them on the edge of the bed. "Akira's holding a drink for me in the common room."

 

Tellis merely arched a perfectly shaped brow. Carwyn did the same. "Oh?" they said in unison.

 

Aya looked from one to the other. "What? I can't have a drink? After all that's happened today, I think I deserve one."

 

"You can have one when I'm finished with you," Tellis said, her voice calm but firm. She gently pushed Aya back down to a seated position. "Now, while Carwyn eats," she said, giving Carwyn a look that said 'clean plate club, or else,' "you relax. Otherwise, you are going to be very sore indeed in the morning."

 

She sat next to Aya, and with skillful fingers, began to knead her shoulders. "You're tense. Very tense. Just relax. There's no 'Wolf' here. You're perfectly safe here."

 

Aya immediately tensed. "You know him?"

 

"Everyone knows him," Tellis said calmly and evenly. "Now, please, be a good patient and just relax. Concentrate on the moment. You're safe. You're warm. Relax."

 

Aya let out a sigh. "Fine. I'll try."

 

"Think of a lovely, peaceful forest," Tellis continued, in a soft, hypnotic tone. "It's a warm, clear day. You're relaxing by a clear, babbling brook. Birds are singing their songs in the trees. A soft breeze rustles through the leaves on the trees. The sun is sparkling on the water. You haven't a care in the world...."

 

As Tellis kept talking and massaging Aya's shoulders and neck, Aya's lids began to droop, becoming heavier and heavier until her head began to nod forward as if she were falling asleep.

[Jason Skywalker]

"Huh?" He said as a voice told him who where the guys that had attacked them. It was Istergard, "Oh, i don't know man. Not psychic. But, they seemed like some sort of ninjas or something. Carwyn was injured on the leg. And about Toa and Hosh, i think they're at another inn."

 

Aya seemed to be taking alot. Akira got ahold of his drink and took a sip, cooling himself.

 

"This the stuff," He muttered, "So, Ister, mind if i ask you how you got those?" He said, obviously talking about the armor, the sword and the skulls.

[Rogue Nine]

Between bites of chicken and potato, Carwyn glanced up at the healer woman working at Aya's shoulders. Tellis' voice grew soft and melodious as she told Aya to relax. It seemed to work quite well, as the young merchant closed her eyes and began to droop her head. Quietly Carwyn asked, his mouth full of chicken, "Ah, excuse me, Tellis? What exactly are you doing?"

 

Tellis looked at Carwyn with piercing grey eyes. "Well, what does it sound like I'm doing?" she asked semi-rhetorically, her lips curved enigmatically. "And chew your food before you speak, please."

 

Carwyn gulped his food down sheepishly. "Sorry, bad habit." He offered a crooked smile. "Er, um... It sounds as if you're hypnotizing her."

 

Tellis nodded. "I suppose you could call it that. I've placed her in a relaxation trance. It helps ease out tension and stiffness as well as blank out her mind of all thoughts."

 

Carwyn raised an eyebrow. "Blank out? Meaning making her forget things?"

 

"Oh, nothing of the sort," Tellis laughed lightly. "She still retains her memory. This trance just clears her mind of anything that could possibly stress her. Helps with the tension." Tellis ran her tongue over her lower lip. "As well as making her susceptible to suggestions."

 

The ranger's other eyebrow shot up to move in line with its twin. "Suggestions?"

 

Tellis smiled. "Not quite suggestions in the common manner of speaking. It merely makes her more open to answering inquiries she would otherwise be predisposed not to answer."

 

"You mean someone could ask her something deeply personal and she'd answer truthfully?" Carwyn was intrigued.

 

"Yes, that's usually how it works," Tellis replied.

 

Carwyn's brow furrowed. "Is that ethical, though?"

 

Tellis chuckled, then speared Carwyn's eyes with her own. "Why Mr. Stormchild, I do believe you'd like to ask our dear Aya here some questions." Her tongue ran over her bottom lip again.

 

Carwyn sat up, taken aback at Tellis' pointed statement. Did he want to? The young merchant was a pretty open book, but there was something about her he couldn't help but wonder about... Inhaling sharply, he looked at Tellis. "Will she remember any of this?" he asked guardedly.

 

Tellis shook her head. "She will answer, but not be able to recall what you ask, or even if you talked to her at all," she answered. "And, I will not tell her," she continued, anticipating Carwyn's next question.

 

Carwyn wrestled with himself. Was it a breach of her trust to ask her pointed questions in her tranced state? No, a small voice inside his head told him. You're only going to ask her questions that have to deal directly with you, so it is not a breach of trust. He exhaled and looked up.

 

Ever-perceptive, Tellis sensed he was ready. "State her name, then ask your question clearly," she instructed.

 

He swallowed, trying to formulate the question properly. "Aya S'Ornaku, why do you always manage to phrase things in a manner that could be construed as suggestive when you are speaking to me?"

[JasraLantill]

He swallowed, trying to formulate the question properly. "Aya S'Ornaku, why do you always manage to phrase things in a manner that could be construed as suggestive when you are speaking to me?"

“Suggestive…?” Aya replied drowsily to Carwyn’s question. “I don’t mean to be. It just sort of happens.” She grinned softly. “I like you. Even though I shouldn’t,” she added.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn's eyes widened. His forehead wrinkled in thought. He could hear Tellis' quiet giggle. Ignoring her for the moment, he turned back to Aya and asked, "Why shouldn't you like me?"

 

"You're a stranger. I hardly know you." She paused. "My father wouldn't approve."

 

This answer caused Carwyn to smile. "I knew she was going to say that."

 

Tellis made a noise. "Her father was quite protective of her, yes."

 

Carwyn looked at Tellis. "You knew her father?"

 

"Now now, Mr. Stormchild," she said politely. "I thought we were interviewing Ms. S'Ornaku here."

 

Sighing, Carwyn nodded. "Yeah, you're right." Turning back to Aya, he said, "Then why do you?"

 

"I can't help it. You're nice, you're funny, you're easy to talk to. You're strong, but you have a kind heart. You're lovely." She grinned. "And Bob likes you. He's a great judge of character." Her expression darkened. "But you're a man. And a stranger. And my father told me I should avoid getting too close to strange men. They can lie. Deceive. Hurt." She frowned slightly. "And a good daughter should always heed and obey her father. Always." She said these last few words with a hitch in her voice and Carwyn noticed a single tear streak down her rosy cheek.

 

He switched his attention back to Tellis. "Okay, I think that's enough. I didn't mean to bring up something painful for her."

 

Tellis nodded. "I concur. Finish your dinner, and I will bring her out of the trance." Bringing a lithe hand up to Aya's face, she brushed the tear away carefully, then gave Aya's shoulders a final squeeze and removed her hands.

 

Aya slowly lifted her head back up and blinked.

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Um..." was all that Kyo could manage to say. He blinked a few times, then shook his head as the old woman went to sit down.

 

"Tell me, then, boy." she murmured, stroking the cat in her lap while holding the parchment half an inch from her face. "How was it that you came about this paper? Huh, huh?"

 

"It was my grandfather's." Kyo answered, studying her worriedly. She went fromm being completely insane to perhaps half lucid in the time it took for him to blink. It was a bit difficult adjusting. "It was the only thing I was able to take."

 

Her huge eyes locked on him, growing wide again. "Your grandfather, you say?"

 

"Yes, Obaasan-sama." he nodded, and she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

 

"If this is a hoax..." she said threateningly, "It is in very poor taste."

 

"It is no joke."

 

"Then you...you you you you you..." she got up, more slowly this time. The orange cat dropped to the floor and stalked along at her side. "You, boy...have been blessed."

 

Kyo blanched. "B-Blessed?" The old woman nodded gravely.

 

"Did you not hear me the first time? Blessed, boy, blessed!! Hohohohoho, this is wonderful, Hildoy, wonderful!!"

 

And then she was going again. Grabbing the cat beneath the front legs, she swung him round and round as she bounced around the room, as if the two were engaged in some sort of dance. "He is here! He is here!!! The son of the Earth, the nephew of the gods, he is here!"