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Post by Kage on Apr 23, 2010 21:58:04 GMT -5
The daunting winds, and rain undermined her ultimate plan to set up shop. In fact, it put a damper on her entire day. The seemingly young woman quickly stuffed her belongings into her haversack, which she hurriedly fastened under her haori. "Oh, cursed rain," she mumbled, beginning to walk away from her chosen spot in the market. Why did this have to happen?
Kage checked her small coin purse to find a small handful. She sighed as the rain began to pour even harder, drenching her clothing, and black hair. The streets had neared empty now, since only a few moments before. Merchants, and other traders had freed themselves of the horrid torrent of rain that drown the people of the city. Kage felt like a rat, a wet, and cold rat. She was so wet in only a few minutes. She pushed her sopping black hair from her pallid face, and looked around the streets.
For goodness sakes, she'd just arrived in this damn city, and it already started pouring down. She didn't even know where there was an inn, or even a bath house. She groaned hopelessly before trudging through mud and sop down one of the streets. She'd merely have to hope for an inn, or some sort of shelter, at least until the storm stopped. For about five minutes Kage trek down the road on a seemingly fruitless venture, until finally her eyes found the sign to an inn. 'Oh, thank you!' She thought, hurriedly heading for the door.
A group of men busted out the door, just as Kage was about to enter. Their drunken stupor echoed under the rain, and not even the fresh scent of the harrowing weather could drown the stench of alcohol from their mouths as they shouted at each other. The necromancer stepped back, allowing them through. When one of the particularly disgusting men stumbled towards her. "Oohh, she's pretty, don'tcha think guys?" He laughed pointing a grubby finger at her. Her eyes stared calmly at him, "Sir, you should be on your way," she smile politely at him, before moving towards the door. But the man was persistent, and grabbed her arm. "Hey, I'm talking to you..." He growled. Kage was pulled back slightly, and looked towards the men. Most of them were stifling laughs as their friend harassed her. "Really, please be on your way," She urged, still maintaining her polite tone. The rain had softened only a little, as the small group stood in the muck and cold.
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Post by Uesugi Norimasa on Apr 24, 2010 1:05:09 GMT -5
A pair of worn geta walked down the street, its wearer glad of the extra height that kept his feet out of the muck created by the rain. As for the rain itself, Heida Kazuki was quite enjoying that, looking up from under his sedge hat and seeing the cascade of droplets pour from the sky. Its sound was soothing and he enjoyed the smell of damp soil which would come after the rain stopped. While other people were seeking shelter and peddlers were packing up their wares, Kazuki was strolling down the street at a leisurely pace. He did not mind his clothes getting wet. Holding the strap in one hand, he carried a tattered brown rutsack slung over his shoulder. His reverie, however, was interrupted when he noticed a group of people standing in the street. His gaze moved over the drunken men and fell on the girl. 'Huh. She's not human...' He thought to himself. 'Those men are too drunk to realize what they're getting into.' "Hey now." Kazuki called over the rain, coming up to the group. "Perhaps you didn't hear her, but I believe the girl asked you to be on your way." He spoke in a pleasant tone as he addressed the man who had grabbed the girl by the arm. "You look like you've had a lot to drink, my friend. So, maybe you ought to go sleep it off before you get yourself into any trouble."
(Sorry. Kinda a 'blah' first post.)
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Post by Kage on Apr 24, 2010 7:11:52 GMT -5
Kage's crimson eyes drifted from the drunk man, who was still grasping her arm, to the newcomer. She could tell instantly he was not completely human. His hair was a dead giveaway, and just his aura. It wasn't easy to see the aura, most likely because he was a mixed blooded person. Kage stopped thinking about it and stared hard at the man who still held her arm. He didn't seem to notice her heavy gaze, as he was too busy looking at the newcomer. He took a swing of glances at all his friends, and licked his lips under the rain. "Is this your business?" He asked Kazuki boldly.
"Hey come on man, let her go," One of the others said, obviously beginning to snap out of his drunk stupor and realizing that both the newcomer and this girl could be trouble. Perhaps she knew him, and was related to him, or maybe they were lovers. Whatever the case, this man did not want to get on their bad sides. Finally, the other released her arm, and snarled at her, before stumbling off with his friends through the rain.
Kage straightened herself, and fixed her soaked haori, and even went clothing underneath. She looked down at her bare feet, and the mud that had soiled the hems of her clothing. Oh this would definitely be a pain to clean up. She attempted to make her hair look less monstrous before she finally spoke to the young man. "Thank you," she nodded at Kazuki, "I appreciate that," Kage grabbed the door to the inn, and held it open motioning inside, "Are you going in?" She asked, smiling slightly.
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Post by Uesugi Norimasa on Apr 26, 2010 6:29:48 GMT -5
Kazuki watched the men wander off, then turned his attention to the girl. Small or incorporeal yōkai and spirits were everywhere, but he was curious what a humanoid yōkai such as herself was doing in a human city. "Oh, it was no problem." He said, politely returning her nod. When she asked if he was going in, he turned toward the building. It appeared to be a small, modest inn. Hanging orange paper lanterns had the name Ryokan Taro written on them. Signs advertised cheap room and board, but the building seemed tidy and in good repair. Through the open door, Kazuki could see the back wall of the entrance way was decorated with a small shrine to Jizo, the Buddhist deity of travelers and children. Before Kazuki answered Kage, a smiling man, short and rotund, rushed up to greet them. Bowing he said, "Irasshai, Irasshai! I am the innkeeper, Taro. Thank you for getting rid of those ruffians before they caused any trouble, sir. Please come in out the rain to warm yourself with a nice cup of sake." When the man stopped bowing and stood up to take a look at Kazuki and Kage, his expression quickly changed. The man seemed most perturbed by Kage. However, he attempted to keep his tone pleasant, for fear of making them angry, "Um... Will you be staying long?"
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Post by Kage on Apr 26, 2010 10:13:23 GMT -5
Kage peered into the inn as Kazuki did. She admired the cozy tone that emanated from within. Then the innkeeper greeted them quite pleasantly, before realizing who he was speaking to. She smiled politely, she was used to humans changing their disposition as soon as they realized what she was. It wasn't new. The few who braved being near her often didn't regret it though. So, it didn't anger Kage that humans were so prudent and often attempted to avoid her. Some humans were quite rude about it, and others were very cautious - like this man.
"As long as you'll have me," she said gesturing her wet clothing. "I mostly just need to dry off kind sir," Kage smiled. She returned his bow politely, before stepping into the inn. The necromancer ignored the patrons' disgusted or frightened looks that began to shoot her way as soon as she had entered. "Drink with me sir?" She asked Kazuki softly. She had hoped he would. Regardless of his answer however, the soaked woman spotted the irori and gracefully made her way towards it, shedding her soaked haori and haversack. The sack had managed to stay mostly dry, with a single soaked side. Her kimono for the most part was dry as well, with the exception of being particularly wet at the shoulders and arms. She looked up to see if Kazuki had followed or not.
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Post by Uesugi Norimasa on Apr 26, 2010 15:00:51 GMT -5
"R-Right... Yes." The innkeeper said, looking at Kage's wet clothes. He backed up to allow them entrance. Kazuki shrugged and slipped off his sandals and socks, leaving them in the inn's genkan. He followed Kage to the irori, where he removed his sedge hat, He placed it next to him as he sat down on the straw matting. Taro again approached them, eying Kazuki's swords nervously, and waved two young men over. He handed them a register to sign and then said, "If it pleases you, my sons will take your bags to the storage room... and give your wet clothing to my wife for cleaning and drying..." The man looked around at his uneasy patrons. "Perhaps... if it would please you... you might warm yourselves in the privacy of your rooms? You must be hungry, yes?"
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Post by Kage on May 11, 2010 22:09:53 GMT -5
"Well," Kage sensed the keeper's severe discomfort. She offered a polite smile, and kind eyes. But despite that, she was still feared by both the owner and it's patrons. Kage scribbled her name upon the register before rising off the mat from the ground. "Do you have a bath sir?" She asked, gently folding her belongings into her arm. "I would love a good soak, and this way I will be out of sight of your uneasy customers," Kage smiled at the man, before looking at Kazuki. "Would you like to join me traveler?" she asked softly.
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Post by Uesugi Norimasa on May 12, 2010 14:24:07 GMT -5
"Ah, yes! Ryokan Taro has a fine bathhouse. Come, come." The innkeeper quickly moved off, indicating that they should follow him. Kazuki shrugged and picked up his hat and swords. "A hot bath would be good after being out in the rain." The innkeeper led them from the main room and across a small garden to the bathhouse. Climbing the steps of a narrow veranda, he slid open a door and poked his head in. "Good, good. It looks like you have the bath to yourselves for now." Taro said, beckoning them inside. From a cabinet, he gave them each a small cloth and a bag of rice-bran soap. He pointed to a basket, "I will send a maid to collect your clothes and have them washed and dried. She will leave fresh yukata for you to wear in the meantime." With that, the innkeeper backed out and slid the door closed, leaving them alone. "Um..." Kazuki mumbled. He had been to bathhouses before, of course, but they had always been busy. Never had he been alone in one with a pretty girl. "Don't worry... I won't stare or anything." He turned and placed his swords on the rack. He hesitantly removed his clothing, strategically covering a certain area with the cloth. His body was marked by several scars, evidence that he had seen much combat. He then entered the dim, steamy bathing area. Filling a bucket with warm water, he found a stool, sat down facing the wall, and began scrubbing himself off in silence.
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Post by Kage on May 12, 2010 17:04:57 GMT -5
Kage followed Taro quietly, up the steps and into the bathhouse. She graciously accepted the cloth and the soap, before curiously glancing at Kazuki. She chuckled at his obvious discomfort, before turning her back to him as he undressed. "I am not worried," Kage said before unwrapping her obi. "So, you haven't told me your name," She dropped her kimono to the floor, before slowly removing her nagajuban. At this point Kazuki had disappeared to wash himself, and so, she turned folding her clothing before placing it into the basket.
Kage's slender body was marked everywhere with the remains of her past. She felt only shame in the several scars that marred her porcelain skin. Her stomach looked as though it had healed from a large burn that spread over her left side, and up towards her breast. It was where Zanaku had used anti-matter on her. Several smaller scars in the form of lesions, and splatters were elsewhere upon her back, neck, and all over her legs. The necromancer sighed before hesitantly entering the bathing room.
Kage found a similar stool not far from Kazuki and began to slowly wash herself, maintaining the same level of silence. She examined each scar as she ran the cloth over them, remembering how each was received. As Kage finished, she rose, her muscles tightened and moved around her bones as she gracefully made her way to the bath. The necromancer slowly entered the hot bath, before seating herself into the steamy water. "Oh this feels lovely," she whispered closing her eyes.
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Post by Uesugi Norimasa on May 13, 2010 17:18:18 GMT -5
"Ah... I'm sorry. How rude not to introduce myself." Kazuki said as he washed himself. "My name is Hieda Kazuki. What is yours?" He soon finished washing himself, and poured the rest of the water in the bucket over his head to rinse off any remaining soap. Standing, he again used the small towel to cover himself as he walked to the bath. "Don't worry, I'm still not peeping..." He said, holding a hand over his eyes. In retrospect, this wasn't the best of ideas, as he tripped on the edge of the bath and belly flopped into the tub.
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Post by Kage on May 13, 2010 18:49:21 GMT -5
"My name is Kage," Kage replied as he introduced himself. She walked as he watched, his eyes concealed, and attempted to stifle the giggles that began to erupt in her throat as he belly flopped into the bathing tub. Kage's silly attempts to hide her laughs failed, and she began to giggly heartily. "Oh, my are you okay Hieda-san?" A grin was plastered upon her thin lips, and her dark eyes twinkled with amusement.
Kage moved around to a different side to give him more room, before dunking her already soaked hair in. The hot bath water felt so relaxing to her. "This was a great idea," she stated leaning against the edge of the tub and sighing with relief. "So, Hieda-san what brings you here? Specifically, helping a little lady such as myself?" Kage questioned politely. To be honest, she was somewhat curious as to why he would engage into any sort of situation with her. Much less help her with ruffians who were too drunk to realize the trouble they were getting into... not that she had any intention of actually harming them.
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Post by Uesugi Norimasa on May 14, 2010 16:46:15 GMT -5
Kazuki thrashed around a bit under the water before surfacing. "Um, what? O-Oh... Yes, I'm fine. I think." He said, settling himself down. The hot water was quite soothing. "Ah... this feels nice." He looked up at Kage. "You can just call me Hieda. I've never been one for formalities... As to why I helped you? Well, to be honest, I was more concerned for the men then you. Uh. But, please, don't take that the wrong way... If I thought you were the one in trouble, my actions would have been the same."
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Post by Kage on May 31, 2010 17:18:31 GMT -5
Kage grinned, "All right then, Hieda." She leaned back and closed her eyes and sighed. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't have harmed those men. I have no intent to hurt anyone. Personally I find that sort of thing kind of grotesque. And don't worry, I don't take that the wrong way. I understand I am sort of frightening," She looked up and smiled at him, before leaning backwards again. Kage sighed peacefully, letting the silence settle.
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Post by Uesugi Norimasa on Jun 2, 2010 23:07:34 GMT -5
"No, your appearance doesn't frighten me, Kage-san," Kazuki said. Although he didn't mind dropping the honorifics for himself, he did not know if she felt the same way. So, he would use them as manners dictated, unless she said otherwise. "Whatever you may look like, your aura doesn't seem evil to me... As you might have surmised by now, I'm not completely human myself."
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Post by Kage on Oct 24, 2010 12:36:17 GMT -5
"Please, just Kage," She stated, smiling slightly at Hieda. "And yes, I can see that. Although, you're fortunate to avoid most despising eyes of humans. It's a little more difficult for me... but I manage, the best I can. Some humans are less judgmental than others, and in a case when that happens, I feel blessed." Kage looked down into the water for a few moments, before breaking the silence again. "I take it you're very nomadic?" She asked, stirring up casual conversation.
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