[RP]Obake Blade

[JasraLantill]

She frowned slightly as she gingerly lifted the urn from his hands, then possessively hugged it close to her chest. "Because," she answered, "you still have my coin, and don't seem like you're intent on giving it back anytime soon, so I was just afraid that... well, that you might... keep this, too. You know, trade one for the other." She bit her lower lip as she eyed him over. He didn't look as if he had been intending harm, but...

 

"I'm sorry if I mistrusted you," she apologised anyway. "But... this urn is very important to me." Her brow furrowed as she looked at the puzzle he held in his hand--and her coin that was attached to the end of it. She sighed. "More important than my coin," she added.

[ForceFightWMe12]

He looked surprised by her answer. "Oh...I'm going to give the coin back, Aya, don't worry. I just need to hold onto it until I've solved this." he held up the cylinder, "And it shouldn't take long. Just a bit of mind bending and wracking to do. As for the urn..."

 

Kyo's eyes grew sad as he nodded gently in understanding. "I would never do something as cruel as that, no matter how much I needed something. It wouldn't be fair, and simply wouldn't be..." he trailed off, seeming to struggle for words for a few moments before the gleam of the moving dragons reflected off the clasp to one of Bob's saddle bags, catching his eye and distracting him.

 

"Your profits are in there, by the way." he said, pointing to the bag, "You left them back at the stall, with the urn."

[Rogue Nine]

"Some merchant you are," Carwyn called jokingly from the door of the inn. In his hands he held three flagons of ale. He approached the merchant and the warrior and held out the mugs. Aya took one, but Kyo shook his head and raised a hand to refuse.

 

"I don't drink, remember?" he told the ranger.

 

"Right, forgot," Carwyn said. He opened his mouth to say more when an explosion lit up the dusk sky. Toa and Hoshiko's dragons were locked in beautifully artful combat above their heads, a testament to both mages' powers. Carwyn could do little but watch in awe as they controlled the giant elemental beasts dancing across the sky.

[JasraLantill]

Thanking Carwyn, Aya took her ale and sat down on the bench, setting the urn close beside her as she watched the firework display. It wasn't quite dark yet, but still the fighting dragons were impressive to watch.

 

She glanced over at the puzzle Kyo was fiddling with. "So, when you figure that out, what are you going to do? What's it for? Some kind of treasure or something?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Presumably..." he said, twirling the peices, "Inside the confines of this...thing are the secrets that're going to tell me where to go from here. I suppose what I'm hoping for is a treasure map of sorts, yes, though it's to something far more valuable than simple treasure." he paused a beat, glancing at her. "The Obake Blade."

[JasraLantill]

Aya sighed. "Oh, not that again.... Kyo, the Obake Blade is just a legend. It's not real. Just like... like...." She thought a moment while she took a sip of ale. "Like Giant Rock Snakes. I mean, I've been through Rock Snake Canyon a dozen or more times, and I have yet to see any evidence of a single Rock Snake, giant or otherwise."

 

She looked up at the 'mancer dragons, fighting their colourful battle in the skies above her. "The Obake Blade is about as real as those dragons are."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn moved over to lean on Bob, still holding the flagons of ale. He set one on the bench, then used his newly free hand to rub the pony's mane. Taking a sip of his ale, he continued to watch the bright spectacles in the sky and half-listen to Kyo and Aya's banter. They were talking about something that Kyo had gotten from the old woman and was now playing with in his hands. It was obviously very important to him, since he'd never seen the warrior talk so passionately about anything.

 

He let his mind idle, mulling over the things that had happened to him that day and deciding what to do. He would have to find his sister, there was no question of that. That would entail questioning Tellis, who had promised to tell him what she knew. He'd hoped it would be enough to point him in the right direction.

[ForceFightWMe12]

((Co-Postiness, wheeeeeeeeeeee.))

 

Kyo chuckled softly. "But you can still see those dragons, can't you? They still have shape, sight, and something that composes them and created them."

 

The warrior again pulled his eyes away from the puzzle to look at her. "Do you believe in the gods, Miss Aya? Do you place any faith in religion?"

 

"Well, yeah," Aya replied. "I mean, I probably don't pray as often as I.... Yeah, of course I do!"

 

"So then it's safe to say that the gods are quite real, as is their power. To you, that is." Kyo looked up at the skies, "To many people - and, gods forbid it, that number is growing - who don't believe in the gods. To them, there is no greater force - there is only human kind and whatever power they can give to themselves. There is no heaven or hell, there is no afterlife once this one is through. There is only this Earth, this Continent, nothing more."

[3yks]

Kai had woken after only a few moments, his mind refreshed even if his body really wasn't after the whole of four or five minute long nap. He had mostly fallen asleep to keep Tellis from refusing his payment anyway. And so he had slipped up a few moments after Aya had dashed out, and moved outside, hearing the fireworks. He leaned against the building, next to the door. By all rights he should hardly be standing. But he knew what hsi body could handle, his eyes at the sky. Where fake dragon's battled. He caught peices of the conversation going on near him between the three that had helped him earlier.

 

Obake Blade caught his attention, he had heard the legends of course, who had not? He listened a bit more intently, his attention still partly on the dragon fight in the sky. "Those dragon's will burn you just as any thing will, Kai think's, but is it not man who makes those dragons? Is it not that there is power inside of the Mancer's that are manipulating their reality to form them? Why does there need to be more?" He said it softly, but they would probably hear him. "Kai thinks that with all that is evil, and bad in this world, that even if the gods exist, they don't help us, or guide us. Maybe they laught at us. Maybe they play games with us ... "

 

He pushed himself up and moved infront of Kyo, standing at attention.

 

"I am Kai Senuko, and if you seek the Obake Blade I pledge my fists, and mind into your duty."

[Grace]

Takara watched, scowling ever so slightly as Dr. Waverly departed. Then, as Katsuro caught up Xan's tabard and belt, she turned and reached to help him up. "The less strain you put on your injuries, the better," she offered as explanation for her help. "Let's get you to the inn."

 

Half-supported by Takara, who was surprisingly strong for her size, Xan made his way toward the inn, with Katsuro following close behind. When they reached the room Takara and Katsuro had used the night before, Takara helped Xan ease slowly to one of the beds.

 

"Last night, I slept for the first time in months," she said softly. "Tonight, it's your turn."

 

She positioned herself at the door and knelt with her back to the room. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and relaxed her body into a restful, but prepared posture. Though it almost seemed as if she could be sleeping, her mind was acutely aware of everything happening around her. She listened as Katsuro crawled into bed and a faint smile came to her face an hour later when his breathing deepened, indicating sleep.

[Jason Skywalker]

"Hey there fellas!" A voice came from outside. It was Akira.

 

"So....you have Kyo, Carwyn, Aya and...Kai, is it? Yeah, and Kai together, and Aya hasn't got her coin so i'm guessing this is about the Obake Blade?"

[Rogue Nine]

Tellis looked at the diamond the curious warrior Kai had given her in payment for her services. It wasn't her usual form of compensation, but if he wanted to give it her, then she wouldn't refuse. Tucking it away in a pocket, she made her way to the bar where Renn was dervish of activity.

 

"Something happening tonight, Renn?" she asked, gliding into a seat.

 

The kindly bartender looked at her out of the corner of his eye as he washed glasses in the sink. "I plan on throwing a little shindig here in celebration of Wolf getting the stuffin' knocked out of him. Something like that doesn't happen everyday." He threw her a grin. "Can I get you something?"

 

But Tellis was already sipping water out of a cup that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "No, thank you," she said, her eyes glassy.

 

Renn shook his head and went back to cleaning dishes while barking orders at his helpers.

[Master_Archon]

Old Yuri, as he had told Renn to call him earlier, sat sipping his tea in his little corner, his eyes half closed, and his gaze staring nowhere in particular. His face was blank, but what little you could gather in his eyes, you could see he was getting annoyed.

 

He snapped to reality, staring at the door intently, two minutes later, a rather exasperated Dr. Waverly came into the inn. Yuri's face turned into a small smirk, the Doctor nodded at Renn, and hastily moved to the corner Yuri sat at, ignoring everyone, Tellis included.

 

Dr. Waverly sat down hastily, his breathing was rapid, obviously he had gotten here by running. "Y-yes, Old Yuri, you wished to see me?" The doctor asked.

 

"Yes, about a favor," Yuri told him, Waverly seemed to relax at hearing this, but he was still fairly nervous. They conversed quietly, mumbling and chatting like a bunch of opium dealers in the corner of a pub.

 

Renn stopped cleaning dishes, and barking out orders, and shuffled into the kitchen. Only moments later he came out with a small cup, and a kettle of tea in hand. He Approached the table that Dr. Waverly and Old Yuri conversed at, setting down the cup, he seemed to offer Dr. Waverly some tea, the doctor looked at the cup, then up to Renn, and almost reluctantly, he nodded.

 

Renn poured the tea, but instead of leaving, he seemed to join the conversation, nodding, agreeing, and so forth. After some time, Renn bowed very slightly, and left, going back to what he had been doing.

 

All the while, Dr. Waverly and Old Yuri conversed quietly, secretly. The doctor seemed on edge, but instead of sweating like Renn did, he looked around nervously, like a rabbit, and tapped his fingures on the table, along with his hand twitching ever so often. Instead of sipping his tea, like Yuri, the doctor seemed to gulp it down like it were ale.

 

Finally, it seemed like their conversing was coming to an end, as both of them were leaning forward, speaking to eachother softly, and their eyes intent. The doctor leaned back and sighed, he opened his bag, which was on his lap, and pulled something rather unknown out, and he quickly slipped it under the table, Yuri snatching it up quickly, all the while talking to the doctor.

 

Old Yuri slipped the hand which held this unknown thing into his sleeve, and hid it within his cloak and robes in an unknown location on his body. His hand reappeared moments later, reaching over the table, he took Dr. Waverly's hand, and shook it with a sly smile, the doctor smiling back nervously, his own hand shake reluctant.

 

Yuri and Waverly exchanged a few more words, and then the doctor got up, swallowing the rest of his tea in one go, he bowed slightly to Yuri, who just smiled back at him, and the doctor left, ignoring everyone, as he had done when he came in, his departure just as hasty.

[JasraLantill]

"Hey there fellas!" A voice came from outside. It was Akira.

 

"So....you have Kyo, Carwyn, Aya and...Kai, is it? Yeah, and Kai together, and Aya hasn't got her coin so i'm guessing this is about the Obake Blade?"

Aya looked at Akira, then at Kai, and then, lastly, Kyo. "Oka-aaay...," she said slowly. "Say the Obake Blade does exist, Kyo. And, that puzzle thing you have in your hands will somehow, eventually, tell you where to find it." She paused. "That means that in order to get my coin back, I'm going to have to go with you, and Akira, and Kai on this... quest of yours, right?"

 

She sighed softly as she looked at the puzzle again. She really wanted her coin back, but seeing the determination on Kyo's face, she knew he wasn't going to give it back anytime soon. And certainly not before he was finished deciphering the puzzle.

 

"If you're so determined to find this 'mythical' blade, Kyo, I suppose I'll have to go with you, if for nothing else than to get my coin back." She bit her lip. "But," she said firmly, "that still doesn't mean that I believe in it, and certainly doesn't mean that I believe what that old woman said about me being some sort of 'spirit wielder.'"

 

The sky exploded with colour as the two 'mancer dragons started to taper off their battle in the night sky. Aya drained the last of her ale, and then looked at the others. "Well, looks like the fireworks are almost over. Toa and Hoshiko did an excellent job. Hope I see them again so I can thank them."

 

A cool breeze tickled the back of her neck and she shivered. "I'm getting cold. And, I don't know about anyone else, but I think I need a refill." She cocked her head to one side. "Carwyn, was that Renn I just heard shouting something about free drinks?"

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn grinned. "He's nearly jumping out of his pants; he's so excited that Wolf got the snot beat out of him." The ranger motioned with his nose at the still-full flagon on the bench in front of him. "You can have that one there Aya, Kyo ain't drinking it and Bob's the designated driver." He winked at the pony, who nickered almost sarcastically in response.

 

Draining the last of his ale, Carwyn took the pony's lead in hand. "You all go inside now," he said, waving everyone towards the door. "Like Aya said, it's getting a bit cold out here. Go on in and enjoy the drinks, especially since I think Renn has something planned." He looked at Aya. "I'll go get Bob tethered up in the back, you go on ahead. It's been quite the day for you."

[Jason Skywalker]

"Well, talking about refills, this is odd...I haven't even had a fill! Renn, my good man, bring me an house ale, "pôr favor"," He told Renn.

 

"Here, take my cape," He said, taking out his cape and handing it to Aya, hiding the flares, "I'll be right back by the way. Don't steal my spot," He smiled, still hiding the flowers. Making a marathon race to his room, he took out all his weapons, stored them and hid the flowers.

[JasraLantill]

The inn was beginning to get crowded. It was always crowded after the first day of the Quarter Market, but tonight it was even more so as Renn had decided to celebrate the fall of Wolf with the offer of free drinks. A group of musicians had decided to play for the crowd, and set themselves up in the corner of the great room. Tables and chairs were pushed away and moved outside into the courtyard, making an area for people to dance inside, and as the music played, the atmosphere became more and more celebratory.

 

Aya gladly took Akira’s cloak, and while he was away she looked for someplace to sit. Spotting an empty table out in the back courtyard across from the stables, she made a beeline to it. It was still a cool evening, but with the open fire pit now blazing, and so many customers (half the town it seemed!) milling about, Aya didn’t feel at all chilled.

 

She draped Akira’s cloak over one of the empty chairs, set her ale and her urn down on the table, then took a seat herself just as one of Renn’s servants came through with four pints of ales and sat them down in front of her. She frowned slightly. “I thought Akira just ordered one pint?” she asked the serving lad.

 

The boy shrugged, then grinned. “It’s free. Don’t complain.”

 

Aya smiled in return. “You’re right. Sorry. Silly me.”

 

As she waited for Akira and the others to join her, she took a long sip of her ale. She was beginning to relax a bit now, the stresses of the day fading away—Wolf, the old woman, the fight. She traced a finger down the side of the decorative urn. “Well,” she said to it, “I may have temporarily lost your coin, but at least I had had a good day of business, and I’ve still got you."

 

She looked around at the gay atmosphere, then sighed. It certainly wasn’t very cheery or festive to have an urn full of ashes as a table decoration. "When Akira gets back," she said quietly, "I’ll take you back to the room. Or to Bob. Someplace safe at any rate.” A call for a toast rang out, and although she didn't know what she was drinking to, Aya lifted her glass like the rest of the people near her did. “Besides, you were never much of a drinker, Dad."

[Master_Archon]

Old Yuri sat unhappily in his corner, all the people were bothering him. He had come here for simple, and silent meetings with some folks, and now there's practically the whole town in the inn.

 

But not long after Yuri had finally finished his tea, a tall, handsom fellow entered the room. He had brown hair and the like, and most would assume him to be a horse tamer. He approached Yuri, smiling broadly at him, the only one to do that so far. Yuri motioned for him to take a seat, but the man declined.

 

They began conversing, the man eventually handing Yuri a relatively decent sized pack. Yuri took it with a smile, continuing to speak to the fellow.

 

But before their conversation could go further beyond that, a woman, stout, but thin, and reedy, yet very beautiful entered the inn. Many parted way for her, many stopped what they were doing to take a good look at her.

 

She wore a simple kimono, and had waist length red hair, all this captivated, yet something was out of place. Her eyes were distant, and glassy, and she seemed weak, and sickly.

 

Yuri smiled kindly at her, his eyes turning from blank and emotionless, to concerned, the first time he had shown concern for one of those he spoke to.

 

"Dear Ms. Misumi, what's how are you?" Yuri asked softly.

 

Misumi just stared at him with her glassy, glazed eyes.

 

Yuri's face went stern, he sarted talking to her, lecturing her it seemed, after awhile her eyes began to water. Yuri's face went from stern to compassionate, he got up, walking over to Misumi. She began to weep, and Yuri spoke to her softly, he put his hands on her shoulders, she put her hands to her face, and Yuri only smiled softly.

 

"Now, now, dear, no need to cry...here, I'm sure you have some on you now, so hand it over," Yuri said to her, holdig his hand out. Misumi stared at his hand for a moment, then reached inside her kimono, pulling out three triangular shaped medical packets, placing them in Yuri's hand.

 

"Now don't you go back to taking it, you hear?" Yuri told her kindly, and fatherly. Misumi nodded, holding back more tears, Yuri smiled at her, hugging her.

 

"Oh, don't cry dear, many people resort to such things in times of stress and crisis," Yuri told her. "Go home, get some rest."

 

Misumi nodded, and started to walk off. The man that had come in earlier only looked at her as she went, his face concerned and confused.

 

"What was that stuff? If you don't mind my asking sir," the man asked Yuri.

 

"Hm, no I don't mind Gordon...It was opium, a man made drug, used to be rare, and difficult to obtain, let alone make. It's becoming quite common now...in man's decent," Yuri told him.

 

"Opium? But why would she take that?" He asked concerned.

 

"She's hitting a tough spot in her life...not too many people trust in a woman who work these days....the prejudice of people," Yuri said, shaking his head. "The decent of man, I say again."

 

"So sad," Gordon said. Yuri nodded, then turned to Gordon.

 

"Take this," he said, handing him the knife he had purchased from Aya. "Make sure she gets home safe, and make sure she gets rid of all of it....comfort her, and let her rest, but I need this taken care of by her, see she does it by morning, please," Yrui told Gordon.

 

Gordon took the knife, nodding, he turned to follow after Misumi.

 

"I know it seems cruel to make her do somethig, especially after this ordeal, but I need this done...she'll be okay in awhile, so I don't doubt she'll do this for me," Yuri told Gordon.

 

Gordon nodded once more, ad turned, hurrying after Misumi.

 

Yuri turned to sit down, but he paused, he noticed most of the people around his area were quiet, obviously Misumi crying ad gotten their attention. Renn cae up to that quiet little section of the crowd, he had a nervous smile on his face, he stared at Yuri, who gave hi a stern look.

 

Renn turned to the crowd, "another toast, come on people, no time to be quiet and daudle."

 

The group of people in that area began getting their drinks, after the toast, things went back to the ormal hustle and bustle of the party, in that section.

 

Yuri turned, grabbing his cup, he moved away from his corner, heading to the bar. A boy came up to Yuri, an employee of Renn's. "Would you like some free ale sir?" The boy asked cheerily.

 

Yuri stared at hi blankly, "no, don't drink, destroys a perfectly good mind, makes people into idiots...even the lightest of drinkers," Yuri told the boy.

 

The boy frowned, Yuri saw this and smiled, "tell you what, get me some virgin white wine, a good year, and if Renn asks, tell him it's for the geezer."

 

The boy smiled and ran off, Yuri chuckled at the boy.

 

Yuri turned, heading off, he went back to his corner, where he retreaved the merchant's things.

 

He turned and walked back to the bar, the boy waiting for him with a fresh bottle of virgin white wine.

 

"Good lad," Yuri told the boy, the boy smiling broadly. Yuri held out his cup, the boy opening the bottle and pouring some of it's contents into the cup.

 

"Thank you lad," Yuri said with a smile. Yuri turned, heading towards the courtyard, walking slowly, weaving between the jostling people. He kept walking, until he spotted what he was looking for, he smiled slightly, heading towards his objective.

 

Old Yuri got to what he was looking for, smiling even more, he sat down, setting the merchant's things on the table.

 

"Well now, I finally found you. You know, it's bad business to leave a customer at your stall...or wagon I should say, especially one so old; I had a bit of a time getting down you know," Old Yuri lectured Aya, though his tone showed he was only jesting.

 

"I believe all this is yours too; be glad I wasn't like most people, who would have taken your absence as an opportunity to steal your goods and earnings," Yuri told her, pushing her stuff towards her.

[JasraLantill]

"Well now, I finally found you. You know, it's bad business to leave a customer at your stall...or wagon I should say, especially one so old; I had a bit of a time getting down you know."

 

"Sorry," Aya apologised to the old wrinkled man. "It's just that Kai looked so badly beaten. I didn't want him to just run off. Renn gave me an excuse to help him." She snorted. "'Course, I don't know how much help I was. I ended up fainting."

 

"I believe all this is yours too." Yuri pushed her stuff towards her. "Be glad I wasn't like most people, who would have taken your absence as an opportunity to steal your goods and earnings."

 

"Thanks," Aya said. "But my earnings aren't with this stuff. They're someplace... erm, safe." She grinned at him. She didn't like to talk about money with strangers.

 

"Anyway, I think Gabe sold most of my goods today. Not sure how he did it, or even if he got the right prices for it, but... I'm glad I only have what little is left here." She took the sack with her things in it and set it down under the table on the ground between her feet. "But thanks again," she said to the old man. "I'd offer to buy you a drink, but they're all free tonight, and plus, I see you already have one.... Anyway, thanks for picking up my stuff. You didn't have to. Gabe would have taken care of it. Eventually," she added, sounding mostly sure about it.

 

She eyed him over. "You said earlier, before we got interrupted with the fight, that you knew my father, but I can't ever remember seeing you before. Tell me, where did you meet him?"

[Master_Archon]

Yuri listened intently to what the merchant was saying as she went on.

 

The merchant eyed him over. "You said earlier, before we got interrupted with the fight, that you knew my father, but I can't ever remember seeing you before. Tell me, where did you meet him?"

 

"Aye, I did know 'im...did," Yuri told Aya, his voice low. "Be at peace Sam," he whispered, though loud enough for Aya to hear.

 

Yuri smiled, his eyes growing soft, sad, and fatherly as he looked over at Aya. "I'll tell you all you want of our meeting, and more, but first," Yuri paused, glancing over at Aya's urn.

 

"Could I pay my respects?" Old Yuri asked softly, and kindly, reaching out towards the urn, but stopping, incase she didn't want him touching it.

 

((Tell me if I got Aya's father's name right.))

******

Xan sat at the ede of the bed, he was tired, but he had some responsability before he colapsed.

 

Getting up, he slowly moved towards the old rucsac he owned, picking it up, he headed for the bed, sitting on the edge once more. He opened the rucsac, the little white dog popping it's head out, it's face in a happy grin.

 

"Hello Akkan, little rascal, how're you?" He asked the dog, the dog replying with a wimper.

 

Xan frowned, "I know you're hungry, but I can't get you anything right now." Xan pulled the dog out of the rucsac, laying down, the dog moved up to his face, licking his chin.

 

"Alright, alright, I missed you too, but I need some sleep, so I'll set you down, and you can expend that energy that's been storing up from being couped in that rucsac," Xan told the dog, picking him up, and putting the dog on the floor, the little fellow began scampering around happily.

 

Xan smiled, "hey, maybe you could cheer Takara up." Xan said to the dog with a smile, the dog just staring at him, his tongue lolling from it's mouth.

 

Xan laid back down, only to go to sleep moments later. Akkan on the otherhand, just scampered around the room, sniffing here, there, and everywhere; until he came upon Takara, who he took some time to study with his one good eye, then he panted at the kneeling figure, yipping at her, circling her, wondering if she'd feed him, or play with him.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo and Kai appeared in the courtyard, having just stepped out of the back door of the inn, each with a mug in hand. They quickly strode across the grass, weaving their way through the jostling crowd. Kyo seemed to be in a rare mood - happy and energized, seemingly absorbing the festive air around him.

 

The drinks were being passed quite quickly and in earnest, roaring laughs errupting from groups of men and women, oohs and aahs escaping from the lips of those who stood staring up at the sky, looking at the display of dragon battle that was coming to a finale in the darkening sky. The noise and roudiness didn't seem to disturb him, though. On any other day, in any other place, he would probably be crawling into the most deserted place he could find. Tonight, however, he was quite happy to sit in the center of it all tonight with the people he had grown to like.

 

Like. Now that was a dark thought.

 

But he wasn't going to let that bring him down now. He would be leaving them soon anyway...though he still had the situation with Kai to think over...and there was almost no way that he would dare try and drag Aya with him.

 

Presently, he sat down at the same table as Aya and the old man from the stall earlier that day, a faint smile playing about his lips.

 

"You have your goods back then, I take it?" he asked the merchant, taking a drink of the water in his mug.

[JasraLantill]

"Could I pay my respects?" Old Yuri asked softly, and kindly, reaching out towards the urn, but stopping, in case she didn't want him touching it.

 

Something told Aya not to trust this man, no matter how innocuous he looked. She'd never seen him before today, and he had dodged around her question of how he had known her father. Besides, that there was something distinctly 'odd' about him--something she couldn't quite place her finger on--and with all of the other strange happenings of the day, she began to feel uneasy. And now, he was reaching towards her father's ashes....

 

"Erm...," she pulled the urn a bit closer to her. "I'd rather you not touch it," she said tentatively. "But if you knew my father, I'm sure you know that he would appreciate your sentiment, even from the beyond," she added, just as Kyo and Kai appeared.

 

"You have your goods back then, I take it?" he asked the merchant, taking a drink of the water in his mug.

 

Aya smiled at him, thankful to have someone familiar joining her. "Yes. What's left of them. Gabe was quite industrious while we were away." She looked at the old man. "Again, thank you for looking after the rest of my inventory. I'm sure my father would have appreciated it."

 

She nodded to the empty chairs at the table. "Have a seat," she invited Kyo and Kai. "But that one with the cloak is Akira's though. He'll be back soon."

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo nodded and did so, Kai taking the seat across from him.

 

The swordsman glanced around quickly, reassuring himself that there was no danger in the courtyard. Everyone was in good spirits, there was very little chance of a fight breaking out and - even if it did - it didn't seem as if very many of the occupants were armed.

 

Perhaps relaxed, but always wary. he thought to himself, smirking inwardly. Still, he couldn't help himself...

 

"So then, Akira will be joining us soon? I haven't seen him all day...hardly caught a glimpse of him at the festival. I'm curious to see what he's been up to all day..."

 

No need to mention that he himself was hardly even at the market.

[Master_Archon]

"I'd rather you not touch it," she said tentatively. "But if you knew my father, I'm sure you know that he would appreciate your sentiment, even from the beyond," the skeptical merchant said, she was growing nervous, he could tell. Though that was odd, normally only the people in town that knew him were nervous around him, and even when he wasn't disquised as Old Yuri, people looked to him as a father figure, which was why he became a hermit in the first place.

 

"Worry not, I won't touch it," he told the merchant, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Oh, I know he does, and worry not young Aya, he rests easy," the old fellow said.

 

"Again, thank you for looking after the rest of my inventory. I'm sure my father would have appreciated it." The merchant said to him once more.

 

"I know he'll appreciate it," the slightly slumped over man confirmed, nodding at her comment with a bright smile.

 

The old fellow quieted after the merchant's friends arrived and sat. He studied them like an owl, his eyes glinting with a bit a mischief. He studied them with the same eyes as two previous creatures, seen earlier in the day, and he looked over at Aya, who he studied for a brief moment, with the same intent, passionate eyes; light green, and faded with age...still, after all this time, unblinking. - ((Boohaha! The Druid's infamous ending phrase! Ooh, look at it's ominousness, look at it! ))

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn secured Bob's lead to a post in the stable, then reached up to pet the pony's shaggy head. Bob whinnied softly, enjoying the ranger's ministrations.

 

"Bet you've had quite the day too," Carwyn said, scratching behind Bob's ears. "That weird old coot did somethin' weird to you back at the market, didn't he?"

 

The pony snorted and shook his head.

 

"Yeah, I don't like him either," Carwyn agreed. Just then, a shout came from the direction of the inn. "Looks like the festivities are starting. I'll be sure to bring you back something nice." He stood up and smiled at Bob, who brayed appreciatively.

 

Carwyn made his way into the courtyard, where quite a few people were gathered, including Kyo, Kai, Aya and that strange old man from the marketplace. "Oh brother," he whispered under his breath as he swung a chair to the table, backwards of course, then straddled it and leaned forward. "Nice night," he commented to the group.