[RP]Obake Blade

[ForceFightWMe12]

The rain had warmed in the time that they had been in the common room, and Kyo found it more refreshing than numbing. He allowed it to fall on his upturned face, to drizzle through his damp hair, matting it down again, and soak through the fabric of his clothes. The leather pauldrons that usually protected his shoulders were now off to the side, the rain water staining the shoulders of his shirt. The water weighted his shirt against his injured shoulder, creating an almost warm compact. Meanwhile, the night's events played through his head.

 

He had seen and met many people like Aya before. They refused to believe that anything of the old stories could be true, no matter what was presented before them. Normally, he wouldn't have even payed attention to such stubborness, discerning that whether or not they believed what he said was their problem, not his. But Aya...if what the old woman had to say was true, then he would need her at some point in the future. At first, he hadn't creditted a single word the woman had said, but things were different now. The old woman had said that the young merchant was a miko, and that was now proven by what she had done earlier when she saved Toa. The ancient soothsayer seemed to become more and more credible with each passing hour.

 

The Bone Dragon had also been an interesting development...and Toa had said something about its appearance being connected to the opening of the puzzle. Perhaps it was? If it was true...then something was happening to the land. The Old Magics were being revived, and it would seem that anything left in this world from Obakenare's crusades were going to try and feed of the magic. If that happened, then the Continent was about to become one very violent place.

 

"How's your shoulder?"

 

Kyo's eyes flashed open and sought out the speaker, finding Tellis standing next to him. He frowned faintly - he hadn't heard her approach.

 

"How did you know?" he asked as his eyes returned to the grey sky, not in the mood to be evasive.

[Rogue Nine]

"When you picked Kai up, you favored your right arm just a little bit," Tellis replied. She peered through the rain, looking at his bruised right shoulder. "Parting gift from the bone dragon, I take it?"

[JasraLantill]

As Carwyn headed off to the stables, Aya lifted a hand and lightly brushed the cheek he had kissed. "Good night," she called after him, with a small dreamy grin.

 

She had acted rather boldly in kissing Carwyn the way she had, and although she had done it to make a point to Kyo that she wasn't anything special, she couldn't say that she didn't enjoy the experience. In fact, if it hadn't been for Kyo's and Tellis' intervention, she may have even kissed him again.

 

She frowned slightly thinking about Kyo and his ideas. She wasn't sure what had happened between her and Toa, but she still wasn't buying the idea that she was any sort of 'miko'--despite what Kyo and the old woman said. But what bothered her the most was the fact that Kyo apparently didn't care whether or not she believed him or whether or not she came with him on his 'quest.'

 

One thing was clear though. He was going whether she went with him or not and he was leaving in the morning. And being that he so determined, he probably wouldn't want to stop for any detours along the way.

 

She pressed her lips together, deep in thought about the events of the evening and what tomorrow would bring.

"Hey Aya," Akira started, "Mind accompanying me? I want to show you something."

"Huh? Oh, erm... sure," she said to Akira. She smiled at him. "Anything to get away from all this madness for a while."

[Grace]

"Once she's drunk the tea, she'll be right as rain, and sober as a priest. Infact, she won't even crave alcohol in the future for quite some time...usually two or three months," he told Katsuro. "She can even eat the leaves if she wants, for extra effect, they taste pretty good too," he said to the boy with a wink.

 

At this he turned, taking another sip of his drink.

 

 

Katsuro smiled sincerely. "Thanks. For everything."

 

As he turned and climbed the stairs back to the room he and his mother shared, he murmured, "But after the night we've had..." He shook his head. "Nightmares. There will be no sleep for a mind-reader..."

 

He slipped into the room and observed Xan watching over his mother. Then, without a word, he moved without a sound to Takara's side. Gently, he massaged her jaw until she rolled onto her back and opened her mouth a little. Smiling a little, Katsuro let a drop fall from the vial Yuri had given him. Then, he tucked the vial and the boozeberry leaves away for the morning.

 

"You can get some sleep," Katsuro said to Xan, but without fully looking at the man. "I will not be able this night."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn opened the back door and stepped back out into the pouring rain. It hadn't let up at all; it was still coming down in sheets. He trudged to the stables, knowing that if he ran, it really wouldn't make much of a difference. By the time he reached the awning, his hair and clothes were soaked again.

 

Bob whinnied a greeting at Carwyn as the ranger approached the stall, then let out a small snort, as if saying "Well look what the cat dragged in."

 

Carwyn stuck his tongue out at the pony as he swung the door to the stall open, then collapsed in a heap next to Bob, who was already pulling a blanket from the pack on his back with his teeth. Carwyn pulled the rest of it out and quickly wrapped himself in it, then huddled up against Bob, whose body heat felt nice against his wet clothing. "Thanks Bob," Carwyn said gratefully.

 

Bob nickered at the ranger, then took Carwyn's sleeve in his teeth and tugged. "What?" Carwyn asked, wondering what the intelligent pony was trying to tell him to do. After a few more tugs, Carwyn finally understood. "Right, if I stay in these wet clothes all night, I'll be more likely to make myself sick." He looked at Bob. "But what am I supposed to wear? I didn't bring a second set."

 

The pony whinnied again and motioned with his head over to a canvas bag that lay in the corner of the stall. Carwyn scooted his way over and opened it. Inside were a few items of clothing in various sizes. Carwyn rooted his way through a couple of blouses and too-small shirts until he found a pair of pants that looked like it would fit him. Extracting it from the bag, he flapped it out and snorted. "No wonder Aya couldn't sell this thing," he remarked to Bob. "She'd have to sell it to someone who's either colorblind or has no shame." The pants were plaid and garishly colored; they looked as if they were meant for some sort of jester. Carwyn sighed, then began tugging off his wet tunic. "Beggars can't be choosers," he muttered to himself as he pulled the tacky pants on. They fit a little tightly, but they were dry and comfortable enough for him. Standing in front of Bob, he stood upright and said, "Well, does it suit me?"

 

Bob bared his teeth at Carwyn and the ranger could have sworn the pony was grinning at him. He laughed and wrapped himself up in the blanket again. Taking his wet clothes, he draped them over the stall door, then returned to Bob's side and cozied up to the pony's warm body. Bob whickered and put his own head down.

 

Carwyn lay against Bob's warm back, staring at the ceiling and listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops against the stable roof. "Bob?" he called out after a few moments and felt the pony's head raise in response. "Aya kissed me just now in the inn," he said, almost feeling silly for telling an animal such a thing, but Bob wasn't just any old horse. He'd been with Aya longer than any person had and it felt right to Carwyn to tell Bob about what Aya had done. "Twice," the ranger continued. "What do you make of that?"

 

Bob neighed and Carwyn could almost hear the sarcasm in the animal's noise. "Yeah, I figured," Carwyn sighed, putting his hands behind his head. "You're the closest thing she has to family, so I really hope you don't mind." Carwyn waited for an audible response from Bob, but got the pony's shaggy head rubbing against his own as an answer. He stroked Bob's muzzle affectionately and grinned. "Glad you think so too."

 

Carwyn shifted for a more comfortable position against Bob, his brow furrowed in thought. Aya had kissed him to prove two points: one to Kyo that his miko whatevers, Obake mumbo-jumbo and her 'life-giving kisses' were just figments of his imagination; and the other point to Carwyn himself, that she would have indeed kissed him before Toa. She'd even done it twice. He touched his lips, remembering how hers had felt against his. Carwyn wasn't sure what to make of everything, since it had all happened so fast, but he was sure of one thing: he'd have to sit down with Aya at some point and have a talk with her.

 

He returned to staring at the ceiling after a few moments, then exhaled again. "Should be a preeeeetty interesting day tomorrow..."

[Jason Skywalker]

Akira grinned, one of the things he liked about her was her humor.

 

"Alright, follow me," He said, climbing the stairs to his room.

 

"Well, Aya," He started, "Earlier today, i was with Gabe, when he was selling your things. I asked him about you... And he told me you liked what your father called yeller flares, and one thing led to another, so..." He told her, his hand hidden behind his back, giving her a bouquet of yeller flares.

[ForceFightWMe12]

((Sorry it's taken me so long to post. I haven't had any time to post since opening night Anyway. We've been kicking butt in our performances, so tonight shouldn't be any exception. And now, I believe I should post...))

 

Kyo nodded, closing his eyes. "That bugger's tail was stronger than I thought it was. It flung me off and I landed on its back, shoulder-first. It didn't do much damage, though. I'm sure it's better than it looks - I'll be fine by morning."

[Rogue Nine]

Tellis chuckled. "You warrior types always say things like that." She moved a little bit closer. "I could numb the ache for you, if you wish. It should help you sleep comfortably tonight, if nothing else."

[JasraLantill]

"Well, Aya," He started, "Earlier today, i was with Gabe, when he was selling your things. I asked him about you... And he told me you liked what your father called yeller flares, and one thing led to another, so..."

Aya's eyes widened in surprise as Akira pulled out a bouquet of 'yeller flares' from behind his back.

 

"Oh!" Caught off guard, she was speechless for a moment, then she sniffed the flowers and smiled. "You shouldn't have," she said, closing her eyes and inhaling the sweet fragrance of the Dragon's Blood flowers once again. She knew the flowers were rare. "These must have cost you a pretty penny," she said through half-closed eyes. "You really shouldn't have, but..." She smiled bashfully at him as she took the bouquet in her hands. "Thank you. They're beautiful."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"I could numb the ache for you, if you wish. It should help you sleep comfortably tonight, if nothing else."

 

With the upcoming trip, a good night's rest would be most ideal - unforunately, a large amount of the night was already gone. He would need to fully uilize what was left if he would be efficent the next day. Looking back at Tellis, he shrugged his uninjured shoulder. It couldn't hurt.

 

"What do you want me to do?"

[Rogue Nine]

"Nothing," Tellis said as she placed a hand on his injured shoulder. She whispered a short incantation and her fingertips glowed faintly blue. The faint blue aura transferred from her fingers to Kyo's shoulder, where it shimmered for a few seconds, then seemed to wash away with the rain. Tellis then withdrew her hand. "Better?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

The swordsman shivered slightly as the blue aura traveled down his arm, bringing with it a cool, tingly sensation. Little by little, he realised that the pain was gone - that he had, in fact, lost feeling in the arm all together. He raised his arm and allowed it to drop, testing the limb. There was still movement. He opened and closed his fingers several times, and found that their ability to move was also still intact, if a bit clumsy. Kyo smirked faintly.

 

"Quite." he said, allowing his arm to settle back at the side. It was like having a ghost limb - only backwards. "Thank you."

[Rogue Nine]

"You're welcome," Tellis replied. "Try not to sleep on it, so you arm continues to receive circulation." She turned to stare back into the rain. "I will be back in the morning to accompany you on your journey, so please do not leave without me." With that, she moved forward, into the sheeting rain, until she disappeared from view.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo watched her go, his hands in his pocket. He leaned back against the wall, allowing the few inches or so of roofing that formed a bit of an eve shelter him from the rain. Amber-blonde bangs had fallen into his eyes, and he allowed the rain to drip from his hair as he watched the spot where Tellis had disappeared. His eyes were soft, but distant. He was thinking - always thinking.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

As the dawn drew near, little rays of sunlight began to spill through the window, falling in bright purples and faded golds across Kyo's closed eyes. His eyebrows knitted together as he began to stir, seeming almost against his will. However, the swordsman said not a word as his eyes slowly, gently opened to reveal his green eyes, which were as soft as the dewy grass outside, rather than the chips of emerald that they usually were. He didn't shift from his position at the booth in the inn's common room that he had fallen asleep at the night before. Rather, he stayed with one leg stretched out, one bent closer, his arms folded across his chest, his head and upper back resting against the corner of the booth, his sword propped up against its side.

 

The morning was quiet and peaceful. No noise disrupted the silence - no doubt many were still sleeping. Renn would probably be up soon, as the others would be as well, no doubt. But for now, he revelled in the quiet stillness.

 

((OOC: Whee, morning! If you still want to post Akira's reaction, Jason, then you can just post it and fast forward in the same post.))

[Master_Archon]

Xan was asleep when Katsuro had come, asleep on the chair, he rested which was much need.

____________________

 

Old Yuri had stayed within the inn all night, even until dawn, not even going to sleep once. Misumi the silversmith returned, seeming better from her ordeal from yesterday, she handed him a small sack of unknown stuff, she smiled and waved as she left, and he smiled back, nothing more than that happened, though this had happened even before dawn, and before any of the others awoke.

 

Old Yuri now sat in his little corner, staring off, his thoughts wondering hither and thither. He looked over at the sleeping swordsman, smiling, then only a minute or two later the swordsman was awake.

 

Yuri chuckled, "well g'morn good sir, and how did ye sleep?" He asked kindly. He laughed heartily at this.

 

"I know your thinkin', 'what's this strange old koot asking how I am after me sleep?' Well maybe not exactly like that but.....you get the point. Anyway, I think I'll just leave you to your thoughts, seems you want some peace...see it in yor eyes," he told Kyo, a smile on his face as he looked away, searching the room with his searchless eyes.

[Grace]

Takara awoke with a start to find Katsuro perched at her side with two cups of tea in his hands. With a gesture to silence her, he handed her one of the cups. Without a word, she drank it. Then, she glanced over at Xan, still seemingly asleep in the chair. Turning back to her son, she donned a reproachful glare and accused softly, "You drugged me."

 

"You drugged yourself," Katsuro corrected in a normal tone. "I gave you a remedy. Xan isn't asleep either, so you don't have to whisper." In the same tone to Xan, he said, "Good morning, Xan. You needn't pretend sleep any longer."

[Master_Archon]

Xan opened his eyes grudgingly, he stretched, he had infact, been sleeping, only very lightly, coming in and out of conciousness.

 

"Who's pretending," he muttered to Katsuro in a gruff voice. He stretched once more, yawning, and rubbing his eyes, the bandana that had been covering them fallen of in his sleep.

 

He opened his eyes, looking around meekly, staring over at what he could make out to be cups in Katsuro's and Takara's hands. He sniffed the air, smelling the aroma of tea, "what, no tea for me?"

 

He sighed and smiled, getting up he walked around until he decided he was feeling well, and rejuvinated. He took his cuirass off, slipping his hand inside his worn tabard, he felt around on his chest, feeling his wounds, which had healed marvelously.

 

"Amazing, I feel great, and the wounds are almost totally healed," he said with a smile, taking his hand out of his tabard. "Well, if there's no tea, or drink, or food for me this morning, then I guess I'll just get my armor back on," he said, picking his cuirass back up, taking a couple minutes to strap it back on.

 

He moved in the direction the rest of his armor was.

[Jason Skywalker]

"Maybe i shouldn't have, but i did," He smiled, "I won a bet with the local flourist, but that doesn't matter."

 

"Thank you. They're beautiful."

 

"You're welcome. And they're not as beautiful as you," He said, giving a quick kiss to her cheek, "But now, let's go to sleep. See you tomorrow," Akira told her, leading her out of his bedroom.

 

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

 

Akira woke up early. Everybody was still probably asleep. He put on his clothes and went to a waterfall a little far from Ryuu-Tokai. He had gone there since he was a kid, until he moved to the East. He took out his shirt and jacked and left his pendant there. He carefully walked through the rocks until he reached one in which the calm waterfall dropped water. He sat down, his well-flexed muscles feeling the cold water, yet he didn't even move...

 

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

 

Akira's life had simply gone berserk. His parent's killed, he was now guided by an old man who he didn't even know, or did he? He was just so confused right now. It seemed like a race against time. They eventually stopped when they reached a boat as they left for the East. The old man stood standing at the door while Akira moaned and weeped at his bed.

 

"I thought you'd be thougher than that."

 

"Get lost, i don't need your help. I just want to disappear."

 

"And why?"

 

"Because now i hate myself and i want to die. There's nothing left for me."

 

The old man got angered, lift him up and slapped him, "Yes there is, if you are willing to be a man, and not a crying woman! Stand up and let it go! There was nothing else to you there, but there will in the future."

 

"Do i have your word?"

 

"I promise, in the future, whether it is sooner or later, you will know love."

 

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

 

His eyes slowly opened as the water washed his dirty eye lids, and he began to sing.

 

"Show me how it ends it's alright, show me how defenseless you really are, satisfied and empty inside, well, that's alright, let's give this another try...You're so cold, but you feel alive, lay your hand on me one last time..."

[Grace]

"Oy!" Katsuro exclaimed, finally turning to face the man. "Don't be so quick to assume I didn't think of you." He gestured to a chair by Xan's bed and the tray with food and a cup of tea on it. Takara grinned, but said nothing; Katsuro shot an odd glance in her direction before shaking his head and sighing.

 

"Hey!" Takara snapped. "Don't you go reading me like that!"

 

Katsuro made a face and shot back with, "Don't think so loud!"

[Master_Archon]

Xan had been putting his greaves on when Katsuro had motioned to his food and tea.

 

"Too bad I'm not much of a tea person," he said with a smirk. "Don't worry, I'll drink it," he replied, chuckling to himself as he took a few more minutes to finish up putting on his greaves.

 

"Hey!" Takara snapped at Katsuro. "Don't you go reading me like that!"

 

Katsuro made a face and shot back with, "Don't think so loud!"

 

"Both of ya need to keep quiet before the whole building wakes up because of your shouting and hollering," he told them in a calm voice, but it was all too serious.

 

He got the food, eating it quickly, downing the tea before he could taste it, he was obviously not a tea lover, like he said. He spared some food, for Akkan's sake.

 

He moved over to the bed that Katsuro and Takara were on, looking at one, then the other, then back again, doing this several times. "I think you two traded places, he's not much of a kid, and you're too much of one," he told Takara, thinking over how Katsuro had gone from a fairly quiet individual, to some eleven year old, going on forty.

 

He glanced over at Katsuro, making out that the cup was empty, he picked the boy up, lifting him under his arm like a sack of potatoes. "Come on squirt, your mom probably wants to rest for a little while longer without you acting like a mother hen hovering over her," he told the boy as he walked towards the corner with his armor.

 

"Besides, I need some help getting this armor back on...squire," he said, smiling to himself at the last comment.

[Grace]

Rather than resting, Takara sat up and watched as Xan carried Katsuro over to his pile of armor. The boy laughed and for once, he actually seemed like a kid, kicking and squirming as Xan carried him away. When he was set down on his feet, he snapped ramrod straight and saluted Xan.

 

"Squire Katsuro, at your service," he said solemnly. Takara laughed softly and shook her head.

 

"Both Katsuro and I have our moments of childish behavior," she told Xan. "It's good that we can count on one another to be there for correction when needed. Last night, for example." She shook her head. "If Katsuro had been with me, he would not have allowed me to drink. He knows what even a little does to me."

 

"So do you," Katsuro pointed out, his back still turned to his mother. "Why don't you restrain yourself? I know you're able."

 

"It's not easy to restrain when it's practically shoved down your throat," Takara protested.

 

"Still possible," Katsuro said. He shook his head and picked up a piece of Xan's armor. With a lopsided grin up at the man he teasingly grumbled, "Mothers these days..."

[Rexraptor2000]

((I have audited my last post due to suggestion from Rouge Nine))

 

Toa woke up with a jolt, his brow wet with sweat and his breathing heavy. He looked out the open window in his room to see that it was day, and he felt a cool breeze flow into the room. He shook his head to clear it of the dream, but he couldn’t shake it of the other that seemed to be with him now. He didn’t notice the other at first, but when left alone to his thoughts, it felt like there was another presence with him, which was just creepy at first. Then he concluded that it was Hedri, who was now staring out of the window at something.

 

“You’ve been there all night?” Toa asked the little Hydra in disbelief. Hedri just glanced at Toa before returning his gaze to outside the window. Continuing on, Toa said “This is the longest you’ve been awake, and I’ve had you since you were born. Is something wrong?”

 

Toa knew that Hedri couldn’t talk, but eyes and body motions said just as much as words sometimes. And from what Hedri’s six eyes told Toa, Hedri was looking for something.

 

“I’m sure we’ll find whatever you’re looking for. Now get back to sleep and I’ll tell you if we find what you’re looking for.” Toa said with a chuckle.

 

Hedri gave a confused look that said “But you don’t know what I’m looking for.” However, this did not stop him from leaping into Toa’s pack anyways. Toa laughed at this before getting dressed and grabbing the pack, reaching inside the stroke the little heads of the Hydra.

 

On leaving the inn, he headed for the inn that he assumed the others were staying at. They were traveling north, and so was he.

[JasraLantill]

Lying in her cozy bed, Aya finally woke up as the first rays of light shone through her window. She stretched and yawned, then paused. She looked to her left, and then to her right, then frowned and shook her head. For a moment, she had thought that there had been someone else in the room with her, but she was all alone.

 

She tossed off the bedcovers, then got dressed, combed and braided her hair, and packed up her few personal belongings, including her father’s urn, and left the room.

 

She entered the main room of the inn where she saw Renn setting up the breakfast table and the old man talking with a relaxed Kyo. Deciding it would be rude to interrupt them, she put her pack down by the breakfast table, and then headed out to the stables.

 

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” she said as she entered Bob’s stall.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn grumbled as he opened one eye sleepily. He'd been active again in his sleep, his head pushed up into a bale of straw, his arms out to the side, and one leg over Bob's back. He felt the pony move as Bob whinnied a morning greeting to Aya.

 

"Wha......?" Carwyn droned sleepily. "Is it morning already?" Pulling the blanket off, he attempted to stand, but didn't quite make it all the way before stubbing his toe on the ground. Muttering a curse, he slowly limbered up to his full height, rubbing his eye groggily. He squinted in the early morning light, trying to discern Aya's features. "Oh, hi there, Aya," he said, a bit more awake.

[JasraLantill]

Aya grinned at Carwyn as she fed Bob some oats from her hand. "I was talking to Bob," she said. "But good morning to you, too."

 

As he stretched she eyed him over, then stifled a laugh. "I didn't realise your 'magic pants' could change colours," she commented, referring to his colourful attire.