[RP]Obake Blade

[Rogue Nine]

"Funny you should ask that, Toa," Tellis said silkily, "as I recall placing the bandages under your robes." She favored him with a mischievous grin. "But as you were hit pretty hard by that bone dragon, I imagine you'll be sore for a little while. Once we're on the road, I can concoct a tonic that will ease the pain, if you wish."

 

****

 

Carwyn watched Aya walk back into the room. “Say, where’s Akira gone to?” she asked.

 

"Haven't the foggiest, Aya," he answered. "He's not exactly forthcoming when it comes to what he does. He just up and left."

[JasraLantill]

"Akira is coming with us, right?" Aya asked Carwyn with a slight hint of worry in her voice.

 

She then looked at Kyo. "You didn't changed your mind, did you? You haven't decided to go alone, have you? We're all going together, aren't we? Safety in numbers on the road North and all that...."

 

Her voice trailed off as she began to mentally recount what the old lady had said to Kyo. Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Spirit... "You, Toa,..." Her eyes flicked to the newly revealed Hydromancer. "Tellis....

 

"Kyo... I thought, that the old witch told us, told you," she self-corrected, "that you needed all five elements to open that puzzle thing to get the clue for your quest? So... where's Air? I thought it was Hoshiko because she was an Aeromance, but what if it wasn't her?" She glanced at Tellis again. "What if there's someone else who was meant to go with you? Some... unknown elementalist like Tellis was?"

 

Aya sighed then. Although she kept telling herself that this whole business with the old woman telling her that she was the 'Spirit' elementalist, a miko, that Kyo needed, she was beginning to realise that it just might be true. A lot of strange stuff had occurred recently, and she even felt that Bob was beginning to act a bit odd. It pained her to admit it, but the old woman might have been right all along.

 

She looked at Carwyn, Takara, Kai, and the old man who called himself Yuri. They had all been sitting at the table, or near enough to it, when Kyo had opened the puzzle. And so had Akira. It was possible that one of those people was a representation of the Air element--and maybe, like her, they didn't even know it.

 

"We can't leave without Akira," she said definitively.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn looked at Aya curiously. "I'm not sure that's really up to you, Aya," he said. He cast a sidelong glance at Kyo, who was also eying the merchant strangely. "Kyo's the leader of this little expedition, and the final say on when we leave is up to him."

[Jason Skywalker]

Akira looked at the house. It seemed rustic. He knocked on the door, hoping for an answer.

 

"Let's see if the old witch has an answer to me..."

 

(ForceFight, i guess you can RP the old lady.)

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo tapped his fingers against the wooden table top, his eyes moving from one face to the next. With a sigh, he sat back in his chair again.

 

"Akira can join us, if he wants." the swordsman finally said, "If he's back in time to catch us as we leave, then so be it. However, I've already seen him cause problems in this group," - he looked at Carwyn pointedly - "With a bit of goading of course, but problems none the less. I'm not going to waste my time chasing after him."

 

He looked to Aya. "You say you've finished packing up Bob?" he looked to the others, "What of the rest of you? How soon can you all be ready?"

 

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

 

"KITTENS!!" the old lady's voice bellowed through the door. Something very breakable was thrown against something very solid - there was the sound of something shattering, and a screetch from a cat. "KITTENS, I say!! You mangy son of a gun! Baka!!"

 

After a few moments, the door whipped open and the small, three foot woman bounded forward. Jumping up, she grabbed Akira by the neck of the shirt, yanking him over double as she landed again, dragging him inside.

 

"Kittens, I tell you! That baka yaro of a husband!! He can't even stay within his own species, for gods' sake!!" she hissed. She moved over to one of the arm chairs and threw the man into it, glaring at him with her bug eyes.

 

"Now, what are you here for? Fortune told? Yes, yes, of course you're looking for your fortune told! They always come for their fortune to be told. Now, let me see your hand!!" Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Akira's wrist and flipped his palm up, tracing the lines there with her finger.

 

"Ah, yes yes yes! Here it is! Hmmm....long life, yes, tis evident, yes yes. Many children, many children...four sons! To carry on the family name! Such a strong family! Oh, but dear dear! Would you look at this! A gnome?? No, no, I must be reading it wrong. Gnomes have been extinct for almost an age now! Surely you wouldn't find one to be your wife!"

[Jason Skywalker]

Aya was right. She was crazy. With an odd look, he gently took away his hand.

 

"I thank you, but, actually, i came from something else. I'd like to know if you know who killed my parents and master," He said, looking at her seriously, "By the way, i do have a crush on an younger lady. Perhaps that's what it means."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"No, no, no, no, I do not read a young lady. I read...eh...nevermind. It may be best that you don't know after all."

 

She looked at him, her bug-like eyes skeptical. "Now what is this buisness about parents and master? I don't know who you think you are, sir, but not everyone knows your name - or your parents' names. Or your master, for that matter. I'll need more than just that!! My dear boy, I am not a mind reader!"

[JasraLantill]

"You say you've finished packing up Bob?" Kyo asked Aya.

 

"Yup, all packed and ready." Aya picked up another piece of toast and began to spread some strawberry jam on it. "Anything anyone wants Bob to carry, just let me know. He can carry a whole lot more that what he's got at the moment."

 

As Kyo asked the rest of the group how long they would take to get ready, Aya ate her toast. She was thinking about the missing Akira. Obviously, something had happened while she was gone to cause him to leave. She wondered if it had to do with something someone said, or something else--something personal.

 

"Kyo...," she asked slowly, "you don't think that Akira went to see that old crone, do you? You know, to get his fortune read or a travel blessing or something? After all, I do remember telling him how creepily 'odd' she was in giving out that prophecy of ours. Yours!" she quickly corrected herself. "Prophecy of yours."

[Jason Skywalker]

"You can read my fortune right?" He asked her, "Maybe you can read my future again and tell me if i am going to have any more encounters with assassins or so." If she couldn't tell him, then he'd have no other options but to travel to the North--with our without companions.

[ForceFightWMe12]

The old woman looked at him like he had four heads.

 

"Well duh you're going to have encounters with assassins and the like." she said, then began speaking slowly, as if to a 'slower' person. "You - are - a - traveler. And a warrior, besides. I didn't have to read your palm or your future for that! What a foolish boy you are! You plan to go north with the ones who came before, don't you? Well, what do you think you'll meet along the way?"

 

She shook her head. "I know that you're going with him - with the Son of Earth. And I can also tell that it is the Daughter of Heaven that you have a fancy for. I warn you now - be careful of your heart. Do not throw it away foolishly - the journey you are about to leave on will be trying in more way than one. I will tell you now that you will encounter the ones that you are searching for - as well as many, many more. You must keeps yourself aware, or suffer grave consequences."

 

The old woman came quite close to him, giving him the full benefit of her eerie eyes. "Trust will be greatly favored and greatly needed on this journey, boy. Your habit of covering things up will come to an end - or you won't survive."

 

With little more warning than that, she grabbed him by the collar and hauled him to his feet. "Now out with you! I must deal with my baka husband! A toad - a toad is what I should have changed him into! Not a cat! Cats are always so fickle - and so baka!! GET OUT!"

 

She shoved him out the door and locked it behind him.

 

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

 

Kyo shook his head. "I don't see why he would. It is, of course, plausible that he had gone...but he doesn't know what she can and cannot do. Not knowing much about Akira, other than what I've learned from this trip, I can't truly say whether or not he would benefit from a visit to her."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn caught the cautioning glint in Kyo's eyes as the swordsman mentioned "goading" and couldn't repress the grin that crept across his face. He had made his comments in jest, not really expecting Akira to take them so seriously, but from the way the warrior had responded, Carwyn could only surmise that he'd touched a nerve with his comment. When Akira had confronted him about the docks, Carwyn had shot back, as he wasn't one to back down when someone took a dig at him. He didn't expect Akira to leave in a huff, but apparently the 'mysterious' warrior wasn't quite as mature as he made himself out to be.

 

He stretched his arms, raising them over his head and popping joints. Grunting in satisfaction, he told Kyo, "I'm ready to go whenever." He cast a glance outside a nearby window. "Looks like it's going to be a sunny day. We shouldn't waste the daylight anymore than we have to."

 

Tellis downed the last of her water, then daintily wiped the corner of her lips with a napkin. Hefting her medical kit, she said, "I am ready as well."

[Jason Skywalker]

"Hmm, i still had one question though," He mumbled, "If i will follow them." Yet, one of her phrases echoed still on his head.

 

"I will tell you now that you will encounter the ones that you are searching for - as well as many, many more. You must keeps yourself aware, or suffer grave consequences."

 

"If i really will find them, i must go with them. Dang, there are alot of things in my head, agh!" He talked low, then thinking.

 

I've got to apologize...

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo nodded. "Good to know." he said, "And Carwyn's right - the sooner we leave, the better."

 

The swordsman slowly rotated his injured shoulder, gritting his teeth as he did so. Standing, he looked to the merchant.

 

"Would you mind joining me for a moment, Miss Aya?" he asked her, "I've something in my room that may prove of use for the journey. I was hoping that I could borrow Bob for a bit."

[JasraLantill]

Aya swallowed her last bit of toast as she rose from her seat. "Yeah, sure. Like I said, Bob can carry a lot more stuff. And one thing I've learned when travelling--the less you have to carry yourself, the faster you can travel." She paused. "Erm... not like I'm in a hurry to get anywhere, but...." She eyed him over critically, but reserved voicing her conclusion that he was in a hurry to get someplace. "So, lead the way."

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo couldn't help but smirk faintly to himself as he weaved his way through the chairs and tables, Aya following close behind. They quickly made their way to the room that Akira and Kyo were supposed to have shared, through Kyo hadn't slept there at all during their stay in Ryuu-Tokai. Moving to one of the beds, he reached under and began to search for the bag that he had stashed there.

 

"Did you get enough sleep last night, Miss Aya?" he asked, looking up at her with humor in his eyes. "You seem to be a bit confused this morning - you're generally more coherent than this."

[JasraLantill]

"Confused?" Aya's brow crinkled in the middle as she tried to think what Kyo was referring to. "Oh...," she said after a moment. "Yeah, well, after the crazy events of last night, it was rather hard to decide whether to have orange or blackcurrant juice. But I think I slept okay," she said, stepping towards the window. "I mean, I didn't have any bad dreams or anything."

 

She scowled as she looked out the window and saw the square, or what was left of it. "All those poor people," she said. "Houses and businesses destroyed by a dragon and all that's left is a pile of... decaying bones. You think the King will be benevolent for once and help them out?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

He shrugged his right shoulder, his gloved fingers found the strap of the bag beneath the bed, and he slid it out from its hiding place.

 

"Ryuu-Tokai is a very large port and it helps to support much of the Continent's economy." Kyo said, his eyes averted from her as he flipped the pack open, surveying the items inside. "I don't see why some help wouldn't come their way."

 

The swordsman looked up at her, grinning faintly. "Though, I guess we now know why Ryuu-Tokai was named 'Dragon City'."

[JasraLantill]

Kyo's comment made Aya grin, despite the scene of destruction she was looking at. "Guess so," she agreed.

 

She turned towards him and looked at the pack. "Oh, Kyo! You don't have to take anything out of that," she said helpfully. "Bob can carry that whole pack without any bother. Promise."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"You sure?" Kyo asked, raising his eyebrows. His grin became a bit of a smile as he stood. His fingers took hold of the thin, gold chain that had slipped to the edge of the pack. The chain, and the ring attatched to it, slipped unseen down his gauntlet as he hefted the pack.

 

"Shall we, then?" he asked.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn drummed his fingers on the table impatiently. More and more sunlight crept into the room from the window, bathing the booth in warm luminescence. We need to go... he thought to himself.

 

A broad hand clapped down on his shoulder. He looked up to see Renn standing there, a grin on his well-worn face. "Don't worry lad, there's plenty of light to be had today. You'll have a good day of traveling. I can feel it."

 

Carwyn returned the bartender's warm smile. "I certainly hope so."

 

"Can I get you anything for the road?" Renn asked.

 

"No, not rea---" Carwyn started, then stopped short, remembering something. "Actually, yeah." He gazed up at Renn hopefully. "Do you have any cookies?"

[JasraLantill]

Aya led Kyo out the back door of the kitchen to where she had last seen Bob. Only, Bob wasn't there.

 

Aya let out a irritated sigh. "Now where'd he go?" she complained. "He did this earlier today. Went to the stable and he wasn't in his stall, he was here waiting to be...." She paused, thinking for a moment, and then she walked around to the front of the building.

 

There Bob was, standing by the hitching post waiting as if he knew that people were soon going to be exiting the inn and packing more things on him.

 

"Bob!" Aya wagged a finger at him. "Don't do that! When I tell you to stay put, you're supposed to... well... stay put!" She bent down near Bob's belly and loosened up a strap to make room for Kyo to slide his pack under.

 

"You put the pack under that strap and I'll tighten it," she said to Kyo. "Just make sure it won't jiggle too much. Jiggling's bad for going up mountain passes. Makes the load all wobbly for him."

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo nodded, sliding the pack under the strap. He held it in place as the merchant tugged on the leather cord, Bob snorting softly and clicking a hoof impatiently. As Aya finished her work, Kyo's eyes wandered to the inn's window, through which he could see Carwyn stuffing his face with - what else - but cookies. The swordsman chuckled to himself.

 

"Tell me, Miss Aya..." he said, his eyes still on Carwyn, "Did you give your first kiss to that guy?"

[JasraLantill]

Aya paused, a bit taken aback by Kyo's question, and then she looked up and followed Kyo's gaze through the window. She immediately started to flush.

 

She cleared her throat. "What makes you think that was my first kiss?" she said as nonchalantly as she could while she fiddled with one of the catch's on Bob's bridle. "I could have kissed lots of people. Hundreds. After all, I've been travelling for... well, most of my life. Bound to meet scores of people that I could have kissed before... erm... now."

[Rogue Nine]

Renn had brought a whole plate of freshly baked cookies to the table and Carwyn was more than helping himself to the bartender's hospitality. He sighed contentedly as he savored the sweet, sugary goodness, then washed it all down with a gulp of milk. He set his glass down on the table, then stared as a napkin fluttered down on top of the glass. Looking in the direction it had come from, he saw Tellis trying to suppress a smile as she bit daintily into a cookie. He grinned at her and took the napkin. "Thanks Tel," he told her as he wiped his mouth.

 

He spotted movement in the far window across the room. Squinting, he saw Kyo and Aya outside, conversing. He waved at them.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo chuckled, waving to Carwyn but watching Aya now. He shook his head in disbelief, raising his hand to tick reasons off on his fingers.

 

"First off, you've told me yourself how protective your father was. From what I understand, he wouldn't let a man within ten feet of you if he didn't know the man or trust him. Second - if I recall correctly - you could hardly tell whether or not you were flirting on the ferry two days ago. I believe you had to ask me why both Carwyn and Akira had left seeming so...awkward after someone mentioned the word 'flirt'. And third..." he looked at her humorously, smiling fully now and half laughing to himself, "You're blushing, stammering, fiddling with Bob's strap, and you can't seem to look me in the eye."