[RP]Obake Blade

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Why the hell would you give him that?" Kyo asked, distracted momentarily from his prize by Carwyn's drunken movements. "The guy's already close to being drunk under the table. Another ale and he won't know which way is up and which way is down."

[Jason Skywalker]

"Hmm. Maybe you should get some sleep. All of we. Although, i don't wanna sound like an "i told ya' so" type of guy, but, if next morning you have agonizing headaches, don't tell me i'm not telling you right now, i told ya' so."

[JasraLantill]

"Just as long as Carwyn knows which way is North tomorrow, that's all that matters, isn't it?" Aya said. "And that's easy. You just go towards the mountains." She closed her eyes. "Through the city gates, take the road to the right, up the hill, across the plain, turn on the side road where the old Toko farm used to be, follow it up the hill until you come to Boulder Pass, take the left fork toward Rock Snake Canyon, pass the Devil's Hand and then right, then left, then...." She suddenly opened her eyes, remembering a conversation she had had with her father years before.

 

~~~~~

 

"Father, how come we never meet anyone travelling through Rock Snake Canyon?" a thirteen-year-old Aya asked as they led their ponies through a particular rocky patch of the pass they took to the Northern Monastery.

 

"Because people normally take the longer high road, not because they like paying the toll, but because they don't want to get lost," Aya's father replied. He stopped walking. "The red rock, even with all the twists and turns, it makes all of the canyon trails look the same to them. I only know the way because my father showed it to me, and his father showed it to him, and his father from his father, and so on. And now, you know it because I've shown it to you. It's a S'Ornaku family secret."

 

Aya giggled. "There are a lot of them. Twist and turns, I mean. Is that why they call it 'Rock Snake Canyon' then?"

 

Her father chuckled. "No. They call it that because legend says that some of the twisty rock formations are actually Giant Rock Snakes, frozen in time since the Dark Days. See that one there?" He pointed out what looked like a pillar of coiled red rock just ahead. "Doesn't it look like a sleeping snake?"

 

Aya tilted her head to one side. "Sort of. I guess." She squinted, then grinned at her father. "Erm... not really, no."

 

Her father laughed. "Come on, Aya. We need to reach Dovetail Peak before midday."

 

~~~~~~

 

Aya cleared her throat. "Sorry," she said to the others at the table. "Just rambling again. Ale." She took another drink, then looked at Carwyn. "Speaking of sleeping, are you planning on sleeping in my bed again tonight, or with the rest of the guys?"

[Rexraptor2000]

Toa was startled by Aya's question Carwyn, and, taking it the wrong way, said laughing "I didn't realize that my comment on the ship would send you off on the bandwagon with Carwyn so soon. I was only joking when I said that on the ship."

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo's eyes - which had been shut up to that point as he scratched the back of his neck - shot wide open as he heard was Aya had said. Rolling his eyes, he took a drink of water before correcting the merchant.

 

"You might want to rephrase that, Miss S'Ornaku." he said, looking up at her, "I believe you've been visited by your friend Frood again."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn perked up and looked at Aya, who was blushing a brilliant shade of scarlet, to Toa, who was chuckling merrily, to Kyo, who was covering his eyes with one hand and shaking his head back and forth, then back to Aya.

 

Fueled somewhat by his alcohol-induced stupor, he leaned in close to her, to the point where his face was inches from hers. "Why, Miss S'Ornaku, are ye tryin' to seduce me?" he breathed throatily. At her absolutely stricken look, he pulled back and laughed gaily. "Och, that was too much, I'm sorry," he said, tears forming in his eyes.

[JasraLantill]

Her mouth agape, Aya was visibly mortified by what she had just said. She hadn't meant it in the way that people seemed to be taking it, but was too embarrassed and tongue-tied now to explain herself.

 

She looked at Kyo, then Toa, and finally Carwyn. "No," she said slowly, "I am not trying to seduce anyone, and I think that... that this 'Frood' person is not my friend. And when you can all stop laughing at me, what I 'meant' to ask was if Carwyn was planning to sleep in my...." She paused, then sighed. "No matter how I say it, it just sounds... wrong."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"You lent the bed that you had reserved for yourself to Carwyn, and you're wondering if he'll be borrowing it again tonight." Kyo rephrased, "Is that better?"

[JasraLantill]

Aya grinned at Kyo, and let out a sigh of marked relief. "Yes. Much better. Thank you." The music was still playing and the night was still young. And she had to do something about her recent adrenaline rush from her latest and most embarrassing to date 'foot-in-mouth' moment. "Erm... do you want to dance, Kyo?" She turned quickly to Carwyn. "Not that I didn't have fun dancing with you, Carwyn, but...." She shrugged. "I just feel like moving and not getting my toes stepped on at the same time. You understand, don't you?"

[Rogue Nine]

"Believe me, you're not the first lady to tell me that," Carwyn replied, then took a long swig of water from a glass that Tellis had given him. "I totally understand, so go and have fun not getting your toes stepped on." He placed a shaky hand on Aya's arm. "Oh, and in answer to your question, since you had to spend the night with Bob because I was taking up your bed, I think it's only fair I keep Bob company in the stables tonight." He chuckled, then hiccuped.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Aya hadn't heard the last of what Carwyn was saying - she was too busy dragging Kyo off to dance. The crowds that had been dancing before had begun to drift off, many deciding that they were a bit too 'tipsy' to be able to dance without killing themselves or someone else. It was this fact that caused Kyo to speak up as they reached the dance floor.

 

"Are you sure you're alright to dance?" he asked her, "You've had quite a bit to drink..."

[3yks]

Kai had been studying the parchment Kyo had pulled out, it moved around some as Kyo spoke to Carewyn and Aya, but he was lithe and sober and managed to keep reading. As Aya dragged Kyo off he snagged the paper from Kyo. "I just want to take a look at this." He murmured, he glanced at the ales, and pushed them a bit farther away, there was still two full one's on the table. He set them over infront of Carewyn.

 

Kai frowned tracing his finger along the words "Go North," he mummbled to himself. Scratching his temple, something was off here. "Gonorth." he murmured, slurring the word togethor a bit more. "Kyo!" He looked up, frowning when Kyo wasg one, remember that he had gone to dance. Kai pushed up and looked around, spotting Aya and Kyo, he wove his way through the crowd. "Can I cut in?" He asked, Aya, who looked at Kyo and wasn't sure, but Kyo cut in. To both Kyo and Aya's suprise he took up Kyo's arms though.

 

"What if it's not telling us to go north?" He asked the confused man infront of him. "What if Go north isn't ... go north, but Go'north ... a specific place, named that?"

 

((If i'm way off that's fine, i'm just grasping at straws, and kai is crazy ))

[Jason Skywalker]

Akira streched himself, "Hey, can't anyone say things wrong in accident these days?" He had commented before let it go off. He then closed his eyes slowly and started napping...

 

---

 

A young, 15-year old Akira played with his ball on a green field. His black hair flowed through the air as he kicked the ball, scoring a goal. The game continued on and after finishing, he couldn't find his parents.

 

"Mom? Dad?!" He shouted out repeatdly. They where nowhere to be seen. Just then, someone screamed. Smoke came out from a house. It was Akira's house.

 

Akira ran to his house, only to found it already reduced to ashes. He still entered it, avoiding the fire and splinters. He then found his dead parents, a cut that resembled a crescent quart of the moon. Akira leapt into the floor into a state of depressed crying.

 

"Get up boy! Your parents didn't die for you to die as well," An elder voice said as Akira then turned around to see an old man, rounding his 60's.

 

"What do you want?!"

 

"I want you alive, and if you stay here, that's not going to be possible. Now come on!

[JasraLantill]

Aya was gobsmacked as Kai cut into her dance with Kyo, and instead of taking her as a partner took the stout warrior in her place. She stared open-mouthed at both of them for an instant, then shook her head, and backed away to leave them to it.

 

She cast a quick glance at the table, looking for another potential dance partner. Although a bad dance partner was better than no dance partner, a really drunk bad dance partner was probably a bit more than her toes could handle itonight. Carwyn was out.

 

And although Akira had claimed to be immune from the effects of alcohol, nonetheless he was now leaning back in his chair... apparently asleep. He was out, too.

 

She looked around for Jonas. She'd seen him earlier, but now there was no sign of him.

 

Toa was a possibility, but she wasn't sure 'mancers danced without magic. Could put a whole new spin on the phrase 'burning up the dance floor.' She wasn't sure if she wanted to chance it.

 

Aya sighed. It looked like she was going to be on her own for a while, or at least until the next song started. "Dern it," she pouted under her breath as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "I just wanted to dance...."

[ForceFightWMe12]

In complete honesty, it took Kyo several seconds to recover from the surprise of Kai's sudden entrance and notice that they - two fully grown men - were dancing together. His mind was a bit faster to comprehend what Kai had said.

 

"The specific name of a place...?" he repeated, pondering for a second as they danced. "I can't say that I know of a place called Go'north - not now and not from any of the legends that I've heard in prior years. The closest I've heard of would be Vortith, but that's a trading city down south...I don't think the Blade would be hidden there."

 

By this time, the swordsman had realized what they had been doing and, blinking, stepped back from Kai, standing still again. His reaction time was slowed - perhaps by only a moment or so, but it was definately slowed.

[Jason Skywalker]

"Huh, oh, urr, dancing? Don't worry, i can," He said, opening his eyes, and getting up.

 

"Just having a flashback... But i don't want to bother you. Dance you say?"

[3yks]

Kai frowned thinking, "Hmm, true, neither do I." He pondered a moment, and offered Kyo the parchment back, "Oh well. Kai thought that perhaps Kai ahd found something." he grinned, non plussed, and headed off, "Kai will see this man in the morning." He told Ko, slipping away and into the crowds.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo said goodbye to the departing man before looking down at the parchment in his hand again, walking back to the table as he studied it. Go'north...Perhaps Kai had been on to something...but nothing added up. He sighed and slipped the paper back in his pocket. Only time will tell.

[Grace]

"Going north," Takara said quietly as Kyo returned to the table. "Or to Go'north..." She searched her memory and then shook her head. "To my knowledge, in my travels I have never come across such a place... and unknown places are always the hardest to find as only a very few people if any at all can tell you where it is..."

[Rexraptor2000]

The moment Kyo had entered the word for the puzzle, the eyes of the bone dragon lit up red, and it shot to the surface, breaking it with a shattering roar that rung across the sea. The clouds above turned dark, and it began to rain freezing rain all over the east. The bone dragon's dead wings flew open as as the rest of its body left the water and it flew high into the air before turning to head towards Ryuu-Tokai.

 

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

 

Toa felt that something was wrong. The chill had turned into ice in his spine as soon as Kyo opened that canister and now something was nagging him at the back of his mind, telling him something bad was going to happen. The rain that had started outside didn't help. He looked at everyone and smiled though, but his uneasiness was not easily covered.

[JasraLantill]

"Dance you say?"

 

Aya looked at Akira and smiled. "I'd love to," she replied, taking his hand and leading him to the dance area.

 

As they danced, however, Aya kept a watchful eye on Kyo and Kai, not because they were dancing, but because they seemed to be talking about the parchment that Kai held in his hands. Finally, Kai gave the parchment back to Kyo, and then abruptly departed into the crowd--off to bed, Aya reckoned.

 

She looked up at the darkened sky. "Hey... where did the stars go?" she asked, just as the first drops of icy rain began to fall.

[ForceFightWMe12]

The night darkened a bit rather suddenly, and Kyo glanced up at the sky. A large, dark cloud had rolled in over the full moon, blocking it's light and extinguishing the stars. He frowned slightly, wondering how in the world he had missed what appeared to be a storm rolling in. Even so, it hadn't quite started to rain just yet.

 

"They've decided to play a game of hide and seek." Kyo answered the merchant, smirking faintly as he held out his hand. "May I cut in? I don't think we really finished our dance from earlier. Well, if you could even call it a dance."

[JasraLantill]

Aya chuckled. "It was rather... abrupt." She looked at Akira. "Do you mind? I promise I'll dance the next one with you."

 

She took Kyo's hand and the pair began to dance. Kyo was very light on his feet--a huge change from Carwyn's dance style--and Aya soon found that she didn't have to keep looking down to avoid any toe crushing steps on his part.

 

Aya looked up to the sky again. "Strange that a storm came in so rapidly," she said as a few droplets of rain pelted her cheeks. "I mean, it was clear just a few minutes ago, wasn't it?" She grinned. "Or have I really had too much ale?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo laughed. "If you've had too much, then so have I." he said, also looking up to the sky, "I only just noticed it myself a moment ago. Perhaps the nights of traveling have caught up with me."

 

As the rain began to come down in light sprinkles, he looked back to her. "What did you think of the opening market day? Exciting enough for you?"

 

Aya grinned. "I suppose so. With Wolf's threats, and then the fight...." Her eyes narrowed, but in a playful sort of way. "Not to mention that visit with that old witch of a woman. Still don't know what she was on about me being a 'wielder of spirit'."

 

He shrugged, looking at her innocently. "For all I know, you do have the powers of a priestest. And for all I know, I'm going to start growing plants out of my ears. 'Son of Earth'...what the devil is that supposed to mean?"

 

"I told you she was... strange." She snorted. "So, I suppose you'll be heading off North then in the morning?"

 

"Most likely." he said with a nod, "The sooner we leave, the better."

 

Kyo looked off to the side for a moment, hardly noticing how the rain had begun to pick up strength, wetting his hair and clothes. "Will you be joining me, do you think?"

 

Aya hestitated. "Well... I've got some things to take care of first. Merchant stuff," she added quickly. "You'll be taking the Great North Road, right?"

 

"Most likely." he answered with a nod, looking back to her now. "It's the fastest way out of town - though you would know that already, wouldn't you, Miss Aya?"

 

Aya let out a chuckle. "It's the only way out of town," she joked. She frowned. "You got money for the toll? And supplies? You'll need supplies. Bob can carry them for you."

 

He shrugged. "Most of us who're leaving have been on the road before - I suppose that they would have their priorities sorted out and have everything they'd need for the journey. As for the toll...we'll manage."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn lay with his arms akimbo on the table, eyes glazed over, mouth making small puff-puff noises as he breathed. It was clear that he was pretty far gone. A tiny raindrop hit his nose, followed by a few more.

 

Tellis looked up at the sky and smiled. Ah, how pure the rain is. Oh but to dance in it... Eyeing Carwyn again, Tellis stood smoothly and moved to his side. Lifting his head carefully, she poured a bit of water down the semi-conscious ranger's throat. She whispered a few words under her breath then, as if by magic, lifted Carwyn up by his arms as if he weighed nothing. His previously jelly-like legs supported their own weight, as if controlled by an invisible puppeteer. Tellis guided him onto the floor and began swaying along with the music, Carwyn's face still completely dazed, but his feet following along in time.