[RP]Obake Blade

[Rogue Nine]

Chuckling, Carwyn stole a glance back at Kyo from the corner of his eye. "Were I a pig, I would have offered them only one of my hands for them to both latch onto," he said, playing along. "But being that I am a gentleman, I offer a hand for each lovely lady here, as I know full well that they are both entirely separate people. You can hardly fault me for taking the initiative of offering my escort." He turned back to look at Aya and Maggie, both women looking as if they were trying very hard to hold back their laughter. "Dear Miss Roche did us quite the favor by leading us here, and Miss S'Ornaku has had quite the exhausting day as well, so I merely offer my service as a gentleman should."

 

"Were you a true gentleman, you would have grown a third arm to offer it to me," Tellis said silkily from behind Carwyn.

 

Craning his head backwards, he shot the healer a sheepish grin. "And you know I would do so in a heartbeat Miss Llyr, but alas, I am but a simple ranger of the woods, devoid of any fantastic magical ability that so many of my companions seem to possess and thus unable to produce an extra appendage to offer thee."

 

He heard her laugh, then say, "Oh, that's quite all right, Mr. Stormchild. The splendid view of thine backside is quite enough to keep my mind escorted all the way down to dinner." Tellis moved to the door, chuckling.

 

Carwyn felt his face color quite nicely.

[JasraLantill]

"No need to escort both of us," Aya said to Carywn. "Kyo's got a free arm." She nudged Maggie in Kyo's direction, then winked.

 

Aya linked her arm with Carwyn's, but at Tellis' comment she raised her brow with astonishment. "She thinks your backside's splendid, too?" she said quietly to him. "I thought healers were trained to ignore such things?"

[Quist]

Maggie couldn't help but giggle at Carwyn's comical display. His jovial manner and brilliant smile made her want to accept his offer, but before she could do anything, Aya had pushed her towards the other blonde, Kyo the swordsman. Standing up tentatively, she approached him and tried to emulate the dramatic tone that he and Carwyn had used in their little charade. "Wouldst thou offer a lady thine arm in escort good sir?" she said, surprised at how well she was able to deliver the words.

[Rogue Nine]

"I'm sure healers of all people can appreciate such things," Carwyn whispered back, though his face was still burning from Tellis' comment. "And 'too', Aya?" he prodded, a smile curving his lips.

[ForceFightWMe12]

"If you would allow me to have such an honor, miss," Kyo said, smiling as he bowed in true gentlemanly fashion, "I would happily be your escourt."

 

He offered his arm to her, glancing from the corner of his eye at Carwyn and Aya, noting them conversing in low tones about Tellis' comment. Apparently, Frood wasn't so awkward a friend as he had been before. His eyes turned back to Maggie.

 

"Shall we go to dine, then, milady?"

[JasraLantill]

Aya felt herself blush at Carwyn's comment. "Yeah... well...," she said quietly. She bit her lip, trying to surpress her grin. "I can have my opinions, can't I?" She gently gave his arm a squeeze. She liked him, there was no doubt about that, but being here in the familar surroundings of the monastery, she was feeling a bit more confident.

 

"Maybe, after dinner, I can show you around the garden," she suggested. "It's lovely. The monks have lots of 'contemplation' spots scattered about the grounds. Good places to...," She frowned slightly. "... erm... contemplate."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn observed Aya's cheeks redden as she said "contemplate" and chuckled. "I'll 'contemplate' with you all you want, Aya," he told her, winking. Her face continued to color nicely and he laughed as he led her out of the room. "Just kidding," he whispered, giving her arm a comforting squeeze. "Besides, I thought you wanted to catch up with Maggie anyway. I'd not want to hold you back from getting yourselves reacquainted with each other." He grinned. "I can already tell you and her make quite the pair."

[Quist]

Maggie took a hold of Kyo's arm and stood up. "I'd be happy to have you as my escort, so yes, let us go to dinner," she said merrily, leading Kyo out and following Carwyn and Aya. On the way out, they passed Abbott Carlisle, who smiled knowingly at Maggie. She couldn't help but blush a bit as she remembered that the monks had always taught her to be wary of strangers, especially male ones. It seemed as if Abbott Carlisle had accepted these new travelers as good, honest people, however, so Maggie didn't feel bad becoming familiar with them at all. And if Aya was with them and considered them her friends, then who was Maggie to question her friend's judgment?

 

She looked up at Kyo as they walked and noticed a stray wisp of blonde hair obscuring his eye. She reached up carefully and brushed it back, hoping he'd not take offense. "All the better to see your eyes," she reasoned, disappointed at how tinny her voice sounded.

[Master_Archon]

Old Yuri's eyes grew soft, his stare full of empathy, and knowing, "whether you speak to me, or you speak to nature and the wind itself, I care not, I will do as you have asked. I will guard your daughter, I will guard your grandson, with great valor, even if my breath should cease, remember this, and hold this promise to your heart, for you know I keep my promises true." He told her confidently, but quietly.

 

"This I promise: you will see them again, and that they shall not fail nor fall on their journey, for as long as they are within my vigilence. But this I can also say, though it may be hard to bear: though you would see them walking back down the road towards this very building, you may see many figures, but me you may not see again, for to keep this promise, and to keep their lives, my life may be forfeit...would you be willing to keep the lives of your kin, only to look upon them and see my blood?" He questioned softly.

 

"But I know you would see them safe, even with my own life gone, so my word and my promise I will keep. Not only that, but I shall watch and protect the group itself, even though they know me not for who I really am, nor do they trust me as I am now, I shall travel with them, though they know it not, and keep them as they are, and if one should fall, I shall come to aid that one," he told her.

 

"But your grandson must learn, that to call upon my aid in it's strongest form, he must blow the horn, he has not done so, so far, and if danger comes that he cannot handle, and he forsakes the horn, then my strongest self cannot help him, and my life might be forfeit early. Also, he should tell the group, anyone in it he trusts, whether the swordsman, who's name is Kyo, and is one of the original few that I first followed, by the signs of nature, or the merchant, who's name is Aya, who also the signs of nature pointed out; he must tell them to use it, if ever they are near it, or it is at hand; he knows I will come if it is blown, but he does not have to tell them this, he only has to tell them that it will aid them when they are in trouble, this way, I may aid any one of them, if they only blow the horn," he told her in all seriousness.

 

"Do not think I can tell him all this, because I can't, if the others see me as I am now, then they will grow suspicious, wondering how I got here, even before them, and I don't need any more distrust from them, especially the swordsman, Kyo. So tell Katsuro, you must, at dinner, or another time, but, if you find no right time to tell him, then tell your daughter, so she may know of the horn, at the least, so she may tell the boy, do this for me, at least," he asked Kaori.

 

After his long promising, and speech he was quiet, he stood staring out the window for a long time before the silence was broken. "Be well my friend, may the wind carry blissful dreams to you as you sleep, while your daughter and grandson travel this dangerous road," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder, and pulling her gently away from the window. "Come now, give yor ol' friend an' guardian a hug," he said, taking on smile, and with it, his Old Yuri demeaner.

 

He embraced her for a moment, pulling away, then smiling, he spoke kindly, "you're only as old as you feel, but you choose to be old, if you were as old as you just acted, then you're worse off than me, which is impossible, because you know I'm older than you....decades upon decades older than you, so buck up, if you're anything like me, you won't get old until you're ready." Old Yuri's smile broadened, then he turned and began to leave.

 

He paused, turning back to speak to her one last time, his smile was a sad one. "I hope your reunion with your daughter goes well, and maybe if you're lucky, you can make amends with Katsuro, so be well. I'll be around if things go ill though, for guidance, and counsel, as always.....Be well my friend...be well, and safe travels to you," he said, his words heavy, and sad, his eyes misting as he gave her a weak smile, knowing this may truely be the last time he would ever see his old friend Kaori.

 

At this he reluctantly tore himself away, opening the door, and closing it softly behind him, heading towards Katsuro's room.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo's mind was wandering again, as it often did. They had had three battles in the span of three days - first the bone dragon, then Wolf and his cronies, and finally an ancient rock snake. While the swordsman had spent a great deal of his life on the road, it had never been quite this...exciting.

 

There was still much to be done, he knew. He had finally gotten some clue, some faint inkling as to where the Blade might be hidden. And though it wasn't an exact location, it was more than he had found in many years of searching - it was quite enough for him now. However, he also knew that the libraries and histories here at the monestary could potentially hold knowledge that would give him a more defined path.

 

Perhaps that would be the place he would visit after dinner. There wasn't much daylight left - the sun set earlier in the north - but all the same, it would be good to at least acquaint himself with the way things were set up and those who were in charge, so that he could begin an entire day of research the following morning. Perhaps it would yeild nothing - but there was always that small chance...

 

A hand appeared in front of Kyo's face, lightly brushing away a strand of hair that had fallen into his eyes and had gone unnoticed. The movement had wakened him from his reviere, and he looked down questioningly at Maggie as she pulled her hand back to her side.

 

"All the better to see your eyes." she said, her voice rather soft. He smiled at her, his eyes sparkling for a moment.

 

"Thank you, Miss Roche." he said, nodding a bit, "And my apologies for ignoring you so blatantly. My thoughts tend to run away from me."

 

They had reached the stairs now and, looking a few feet ahead, Kyo couldn't help but notice how close the young merchant and ranger were standing, conversing - not quite in secretive tones - but in a hushed way that would indicate a private discussion. As the staircase curved, he caught sight of their faces and couldn't help but wonder what had caused Aya's face to turn such a brilliantly red color.

 

"So you've known Miss Aya since the two of you were children?" he asked, turning to Maggie, "How did you end up living amongst the monks here, anyway?"

[Grace]

"Thank you," Kaori breathed softly. Slowly, she closed the window. Then, she turned away from it and slowly made her way down to the dinner table.

 

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

 

Takara knew her son would come down to the table when he was ready, so she went ahead without him. She found the table without trouble and took a seat, watching as the others came in.

 

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

 

Katsuro emerged from the room he'd chosen and was startled to find Yuri. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "Guess I wasn't paying attention." He tapped his forehead with a grin.

[Jason Skywalker]

Akira had already gotten out of the stairs and looked around, trying to find the kitchen. Maybe it was right in front of him. Maybe he was in it already. But his hungriness was messing with his brain. He walked around a bit more and now seemed to be outside at the entrance. Akira walked a bit more, but then, he almost slipped and then regained full control of his brain. He saw he was almost falling. But he then saw something. A little farm nearby on a plained area of the canyon. It seemed to be covered on still to be cut grass.

 

"The...the old farm," Akira said as a tear flew out of his eye, immediately being taken by the wind, "No, no...It can't be. But, i remember it. I remember this. But well, i better get inside."

 

Akira turned around and with hands on pockets, slowly made for the door but made a last glance at the setting sun.

[Quist]

Maggie pursed her lips as she thought of how to best answer Kyo's questions. "Well, I've known Aya since she and I were both young girls," she said. "She and her father Sam would drop by the monestary every few months and stay for a little while. Sam would always have business with the monks, leaving Aya to play with me." She smiled as she remembered. "We always looked forward to her visits. She was traveling with her father constantly and I was here with the monks, with no female interaction at all. Her companionship was very much welcome to me."

 

She paused. "As for me, I came to live here by---" She didn't get to finish her sentence as they finally made it into the dining hall. A long wooden table took up most of the middle, with place settings already put out. "If you'll sit by me, I'll tell you the rest," she whispered to him. "I have to warn you, though. It's not terribly interesting."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"I'm a rather curious person by nature," Kyo said, still smiling faintly, "I think you can hold my attention."

 

The two proceeded to a couple of empty place settings, not far from where the others were sitting, and with enough settings around them for those who hadn't come to sit down.

[Jason Skywalker]

Akira made his way to the dining hall where everyone was sat down. Most where talking, but Akira still looked like he had no emotions at all. He pulled a chair and sat down on basically the middle of the table. He was motionless. Like he had nothing to gain and nothing to lose. But before he stayed in that too long, we went back to a smile.

 

"So, has anybody seen the sun setting from up here? The view's always beautiful," Akira said to nobody in particular.

[Quist]

"Well, I've been here thirteen years next month," Maggie said. "I'm twenty years old now, so the monks took me in when I was seven." She frowned. "Before that, I don't really remember anything. Nor will the monks tell me how they came to take care of me. Not even Brother Hanzo, who has been the closest thing I've had to a father here." She smoothed out a wrinkle in her dress absentmindedly, a distant look coming upon her face. "Sometimes though...I dream of when I was younger, younger than seven. It's always the same dream, however. Everything's on fire..." Maggie rubbed her arms unconsciously, shivering at her own recollections. She composed herself within a few moments, however, then turned to look at Kyo again. "So yes, I've been here since I was seven and don't really remember anything before that. See, I told you it wasn't very interesting."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"On the contrary, quite interesting." Kyo said, his eyes studying her a moment. He had not failed to miss the small bit of - was it fear? - that had shone in her eyes when she mentioned her dreams.

 

"It's strange that you can't remember anything at all from seven years of your life - it's rather intruiging, actually." he murmured, "You don't even have an inkling as to who your mother and father were? Or where you had lived?"

[Quist]

Maggie reached out and pulled the napkin in front of her from the table and wrung it in her hands. She always needed to do something with her hands when she was nervous. She knew she wasn't nervous because of Kyo, in fact, she actually felt quite at ease around him. She was nervous talking about her past, because she remembered so little of it.

 

"I have no definitive memories of before seven, m'lord," she told Kyo. "I've asked the monks countless times about my past and they refuse to tell me anything about it." She shifted. "What makes it more confusing is that they have never held anything back other than the information from my past. It's frustrating, in a way." She twisted the napkin around her index finger. "So I really have nothing to go on other than my dreams. I hear people in them...probably my parents. And everything is on fire...but I think I'm in a room...with chairs and tables." She looked up plaintively at Kyo. "Best I can surmise is that my parents died in a fire and that I survived somehow." She glanced back at the table. "Great dinner conversation, huh?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

He reached forward to gently put his gloved hand over hers, causing her to cease her twisting of the napkin. The movement was jerky, and he could tell by the way she had picked it up that it was a practiced movement - it would appear that Maggie was the type of person who's hands couldn't sit still when they were anxious or nervous. He put his hand over hers, as if to say 'Calm. There's no need to be.'

 

"Please, don't call me 'lord'." he said. His smile was still kind, though it was not quite as big as it had been prior. "I've done nothing to deserve the title.

 

"As for the fire..." the swordsman continued, his hand returning to his side, "That's strange to hear..." pausing a moment, he glanced away from her before continuing. "My grandfather died in a fire as well." he said, "Well, I can't really say that he died in the fire...his wound had come before that, but..."

 

Sighing, he hung his head a moment before looking up at her, his smile replaced on his lips. "I'm terribly sorry. I tend to ruin perfectly happy moods when I try to have a conversation. But please, perhaps we can find something else to talk about?"

[Quist]

"Yes, let's," Maggie agreed. Craning her head, she noticed the other swordsman, Akira, sitting towards the middle of the table. His posture was quite stiff, as if he had a meterstick taped to his back and his face held a strange smile.

 

"So, has anybody seen the sun setting from up here? The view's always beautiful." he said, his face still smiling, back still rigid.

 

Turning back to Kyo, she smiled at him. "I know. Why don't you tell me about your companions. Starting with yourself, of course."

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo's eyes had followed hers to where Akira satr, ramrod straight with the strangest grin on his face. Kyo frowned slightly. He made a mental note to do a search of his personal effects for anything...illegal.

 

His eyes lingered on the other swordsman when Maggie asked her question. Shrugging a bit, he looked back to her. What was there to say about himself?

 

"My name's Kyo Ruroni, and I grew up with my grandfather in the South. I'm a curious person, and a bit of a historian. I like to explore things." he shrugged again. "Nothing overly special.

 

"There's Carwyn Stormchild, a ranger from the West. He grew up with his two sisters and was taught the way of the ranger by his mother. He wanders the Continent, much as I do, and provides a bit of comic reliefe to our little gang.

 

"There's Akira, another swordsman. He doesn't say much, but he's a good hand in battle.

 

"Then there's Takara, and her son Katsuro. Takara is a windmage, and she wanders with her son. They're a rather quiet pair, and often keep to themselves, though they are far from unfriendly. Katsuro can sometimes be a trouble maker, but he's still young. One can't truly grow up until one's caused at least a bit of trouble. Both of them are very kind, and quite friendly.

 

"Xan...now he's a mystery. He talks even less than I do, and keeps mostly to himself. He seems to have some sort of almost...social barrier that he puts up around himself, and keeps away from the group.

 

"Toa's the pyromancer who was knocked out when we came in. He tired himself after fighting the Rock Snake and passed out on Dovetail. He's kind enough also, and a good man to have around.

 

"And Tellis. She's the healer in our little group. She's a mysterious one, she is. She doesn't really keep to herself, and she talks as much as any other person, but none of us know all that much about her. She is a kind person, though."

 

Within those few moments, Kyo realized that that was probably the longest span of time he had talked in a long, long while. He smiled at her. "And then you already know Miss Aya."

[Grace]

Takara wasn't paying attention to any of the words being spoken as the others began to file into the room. She heard her name and turned, but then she realized Kyo was merely introducing their group to the girl, Maggie, and she stopped listening. Soon, she even tired of watching the group enter the room and she turned away, thinking about her decision to join this quest.

 

It was a decision she hadn't quite understood when she made it. Her mother once told her that the winds had a way of sweeping you away on a journey that you could never have expected or planned. It was the last thing Takara had ever heard from her mother, come to think of it. In her travels since the day her mother left on her 'journey of the winds', Takara had heard rumors of a woman wanderer, a windmage with dazzling silver hair and clear blue eyes, but there were no confirmed sightings of her mother.

 

"Lady Haruka!" one of the monks exclaimed. "I had no idea you were coming down to dine with the party."

 

"The place is set," Kaori answered pleasantly. The voice caught Takara's ear and she paled, pushing back from the table abruptly, her chair groaning in protest as she spun, coming face to face with her mother.

 

"Hello, Takara," the elder woman said softly. Takara was speechless, staring at her mother in shocked silence. Kaori chuckled and turned her daughter around, gently forcing her to sit again. Then, she took the seat next to her. "Take your time, Takara. I want you to sort your thoughts before saying something you might regret."

 

"Thanks..." Takara muttered, still working to sort out the whirlwind of thoughts the sight of her mother had stirred up.

[JasraLantill]

Aya sat down at the table next to Carwyn and across from Maggie. She eyed Akira strangely, then nudged Carwyn with her knee.

 

"What's up with him?" she asked quietly. "He's acting a bit... odd, isn't he? I mean, I know he's hungry, but surely he knows that the monks always give travellers a fair-sized meal, even though in humble surroundings."

 

Carwyn hadn't had time to answer before Lady Hakura entered the hall, pausing to converse with Takara, and then sitting down. Like the colour of her hair, she was dressed in shimmering silver robes, looking very elegant and refined. Aya raised an eyebrow and then exchanged a look with Carwyn.

 

"Though, I'm feeling slightly underdressed at the moment...."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn looked from Aya to Lady Haruka, then back to Aya. The poor girl had stuck her foot in her mouth again, for the second time in as many minutes. He couldn't help but grin. "Oh, I don't know about that, Aya," he said, brushing a wisp of hair away from her face. "You've got more than enough on as it is."

 

****

 

Tellis splashed cool water on her face, then patted her cheeks dry with a washtowel. She'd ducked into a lavatory on the way down to dinner to freshen up. Rubbing her cheek, she looked outside the window, observing the day give way to night. As the monestary cast its giant shadow on the land, she noticed a small fire off in the distance. That's probably Kai, she thought to herself. I didn't see him come in with us.

 

Hanging the towel up, she exited the lavatory and padded quietly down the stairs.

[Quist]

"I do, yes," Maggie said, returning Kyo's smile. She glanced over across the table where Aya and Carwyn sat, still conversing in low tones. From the color and expression on Aya's face, it was pretty evident that she and the ranger enjoyed each other's company quite a bit. Turning to face Kyo again, she leaned towards him and whispered, "It seems that while she's been away, she's found herself someone." Maggie bit her lip, contemplating her next words. "I should have expected it, since her father isn't around anymore to watch her..." She pulled back a bit, stealing another look at Aya and Carwyn. "Back when we were young teenage girls, we'd often bet each other who would be the first to find someone. I guess she won that bet, huh?"