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Ashes
Jan 25, 2014 22:48:46 GMT
Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 25, 2014 22:48:46 GMT
A Sake House, Not Far From the Temple District
Shiba Kaigen peered blearily at the empty sake bottles. Even if he wasn't seeing double, the pile was downright grotesque.
Well, I'm sure the proprietor appreciates the business.
Shame, of course, that it hadn't worked.
I still remember her face. That shocked look when the blade hit the bone. She looked like Mariko, then.
He wasn't exactly torn on the subject of slaying a maho-tsukai. But he couldn't shake the recollection of the child she had been.
What could I have done? Her life, her choices, vile as they were. What could I have done?
Something. I could have done something.
Something more useful than floating away on a river of sake, anyay.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 12:15:18 GMT
If Kaigen could get past his drunken depression, he may notice an equally sad sight. A girl in what looked like quite old monless robes, a Ronin of some sort, being harrassed by a few drunken men. She didn't seem to be happy or willing to do as they suggested, and nobody seeme willing to help the girl, likely because she was a Ronin. The men were a lot bigger than her though, and eventually one pulled her quite harshly to her feet obviously intending to pull her out of the sake house...
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 17:37:24 GMT
Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 27, 2014 17:37:24 GMT
The Phoenix half-turned his head, sizing up the group.
Big.
Feh. I'll dealt with bigger.
"Oi. She's not too en.. enthusiastic. So why don' you... shuffle off, hm?"
One of the drunks pointed at Kaigen with one of his four arms.
"This isn't your business, Phoenix..."
Kaigen produced a few koku from his obi and threw them to the proprietor.
"Sorry about the mess."
And then he was in drunken, unstable motion. The first of the men, clearly thinking the inebriated samurai wasn't going to be much of a hassle, waved his fellows off and tried to tackle Kaigen to the ground. His jaw made a sound like a sake jar shattering as Kaigen bodily lifted him and put him through the nearest table.
He blinked at the two rather shocked customers who'd been using it.
"Sorry. Might wanna move. Gonna get worse."
And then they were upon him.
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 17:42:19 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 17:42:19 GMT
The Ronin, obviously shocked at what happened, tried to pull away and back away from the group, only to be grabbed by one of the men as the rest pounces on Kaigen.
"Yer not gettin' away that easy Ronin" he sneered. She flailed, trying to break free but clearly she wasn't strong enough. She showed a little smart though, stamping down hard on the mans foot to make him wince as she pulled away and ran towards the group brawling hoping the Phoenix would grab the larger man chasing her
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 27, 2014 17:50:24 GMT
Discerning individuals was a little tricky, given the rolling nature of the scrum, although a trail of downed thugs was developing as Kaigen fought toward the exit. However, the ronin must have been lucky- or perhaps, even deeply in his cups, Kaigen as a man of considerable perceptive powers. In either event, a sake bottle flew out of the melee to slam into the side of the man's head.
The Phoenix had started singing, horribly off-key, some sort of indecent song about a naive young Moshi and the wide, cruel world. He may have been the only one disappointed when one of the thugs clipped him on the jaw, making further musical efforts somewhat painful.
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 17:53:24 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 17:53:24 GMT
Finally free of the thugs as they seemed more focused on beating up Kaigen, the Ronin made a beeline for the exit, but not before hiding casting a spell...which knocked a lot of the thugs over in a gust of wind.
Which obviously just came from outside. A lucky break for Kaigen.
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 18:01:18 GMT
Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 27, 2014 18:01:18 GMT
Who, never a man to question good fortune, took advantage of the confusion it caused to finish laying out the man who'd stopped his melodious voice, then working his way through the pair who remained standing.
He stood, wobbling, looking back at the trail of carnage he had left, then glanced at the proprietor and the customers who hadn't managed to escape before the brawl erupted.
"My apologies for the dis... turbance."
He bowed unsteadily, fumbled out another couple of coins for the proprietor, then slumped outside to wait for the magistrates.
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 18:03:50 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 18:03:50 GMT
His stumbling almost caused him to knock over the Ronin who was outside. He stunned her at least.
"T-this way lord Shiba" the girl said, almost too quiet to be heard, taking the mans arm and pulling him away down a side alley before any magistrates had shown up.
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 18:12:27 GMT
Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 27, 2014 18:12:27 GMT
"Hm? Oh, heavens no, miss, th-those people know who I am, no sense'n'denyin'it..."
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 18:17:24 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 18:17:24 GMT
"Shh" she said quietly, pulling him down the alley which lead to a different street. She let go of his sleeve then, although they were alone, and bowed deeply to him.
"Why did you protect me, Lord Shiba? Nobody else cared to help a lowly Ronin" she kept her eyes on the floor, which meant Kaigen could see her messy brown hair. It was kinda cute, even with a few pieces of straw in it
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 27, 2014 18:20:03 GMT
"Can't abide rude behavior innaman. Won' tolerate it."
Hm. Pretty. Vulnerable.
...
Trap?
Eh. Probably.
"Doesn't matter yeraronin. Some things jus'... won'go."
I'm reasonably sure there were words in there...
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 18:22:26 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 18:22:26 GMT
The Ronin bowed deeply again.
"Thank you Lord Shiba...your kindness is heartwarming. I do not know how to repay you."
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 18:26:35 GMT
Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 27, 2014 18:26:35 GMT
"No need."
He started to bow... and then, wobbling, instead slumped down against the all of the alleyway.
Ah. So much more comfortable than standing up.
Hm. I sincerely hope that's not my blood.
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 18:28:39 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 18:28:39 GMT
The Ronin gasped.
"Please..let me help you" she offered "I am staying nearby, you can rest there until you have recovered enough to walk."
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Ashes
Jan 27, 2014 18:33:07 GMT
Post by Shiba Kaigen on Jan 27, 2014 18:33:07 GMT
"Tookind."
Bet it smells better than this alleyway, though.
"One moment."
He clambered to his feet, blinking blearily.
"Leadon."
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