Otogibanashi (IC)

[Mormarth]

Kimura Amana
Morning
A Village at Edo Outskirts

There is silence, for a time. As much as there can be silence, in a caravan. The creaking of the wheels and hoofbeats on the ground, along with the various noises and grumbles of human life.

It is calming. As much as I, from upbringing as well as general inclination, enjoy calm solitude. I am at peace amongst the quiet presence of other human beings.

It is... soothing, in a way.

My feet still ache, however, and I am still unable to wash the lingering tension of battle from around my body.

I will likely require a bath and some true solitude to center myself.

We make our way through towards civilization, such as it is. Farmers and workers dotting the roads to the capital, murmuring and bowing as we passed. Instinct borne of experience mutters darkly at the sight of so much attention, but it is merely a matter of course, blood-stained guards around a well-protected wagon, lead by a well-dressed, bloodstained woman.

I sighed.

My mind was beginning to wander, I needed to focus.

Rising Sunbeams Reach
Quiet fades as the road goes
to Edo, the City.

I am nervous.

But what makes me nervous? The City, Court? The looming threat of dishonor and disgrace?

Many things.

The knowledge brought from clarity, albeit incomplete, brings some solace, and I settle into the brisk march onward.

Then, my instincts stir, and a queer, shiver-shock of alert quivers up my spine.

My head turns, there is a crowd forming, a group of men, thuggish and crude in dress and demeanor, surrounding a young lady, taller than me. Armed, as well.

Samurai-ko? No, lacks the proper poise.

Not police either, and isn't nearly aggressive or low enough to appear as yakuza.

A Ronin, perhaps?

It would not normally draw my attention, police would normally handle this sort of situation, and my duty called.

But.

But...

I felt that feeling, that pressure at my eyes.

Demon.

My pulse quickens and my eyes flit over the crowd. There is a stirring at the back of my mind.

My hunger is not yet sated, the malase, the uncertainty around my shoulders, it chafes at me.

I make a brief signal to the rest of my party, those aware of the hidden meaning behind the motion beyond 'stop' know of my intention and thoughts.

There is another duty I am tied to.

I shift my bearing once more, I make my way steadily towards the group, my gait drawing attention to the drying stains on my attire, and the subtle drawing of the eye to the blade at my hip.

I smile, serenely, "Please, fine sirs, let us not be stirred to violence." I open my arms the gesture of peace only serving to further reveal the remnants of battle.

"Surely, as we are all fine people of wisdom, we may come to some accord in this, without unnecessary trouble."

Perhaps, in court, or if I was interacting with actual people, I would be more subtle, less overt in my intentions.

But there is a snake in this grass of thugs, and I will find it.

[You]

Fujou Ran
Morning
A Roadside Inn

MP: 420/430

The girl was too cute to watch. Rather than a life partner or say a chance meeting, she felt like someone who had to be protected. A daughter or little sister so to speak.

Ran was terrible with those types of people, even if he had a daughter of his own. It wasn’t that Ran couldn’t get alone with them, simply even if he wanted to protect them, he wasn’t sure that he had the means. Scholarship only get someone so far in this world of violence. The murders were evidence of that.

As for the questions, Ran didn’t mind asking them; however, as for actually answering the questions, if Ran was to follow protocol that wouldn’t be possible. However, the Oumono was here – someone much more high-ranking than your standard bureaucrat.

Also, Ran knows priestess are usually stubborn and hard to deal with. After all, he himself comes from a line of priestesses. But considering the meekness of this one, maybe she had just finished her training? In that case…

Ran gave Shinsui a knowing look before saying, “I think it might be better if he answers your questions.” Then with the faintest hint of a smile, “In fact, I think you might prefer that no?” Capped off with a wink at Shinsui’s direction.

[Reiu]

Asakami Shiori
Morning
Forests Near the Main Road

Shiori looks at the mask. She herself being no expert in such artifacts, she directs her inquiry to Hakuei instead.

"Hmm?" The tsukumogami seems to consider for a bit. "While it has a demonic aura, that is for certain...it is not itself a demon, no. Wizardry of some sort is involved here, I would imagine."

Shiori hesitates. It would hardly do to leave a demonic artifact like this lying around for anyone to claim it, but simply destroying it may not be the wisest idea...who knew what it could unleash. At the very least, if it worked on some kind of spellcraft, even should there be some manner of trigger placed on it, it should be relatively ineffective on her---spellcraft has always been that way for her, for some reason. Nonetheless, there was no reason not to be cautious. Pulling out her wires again, she dexterously ties it around the horns without directly touching it, and hooks it to her person that way, while keeping it hidden under her cloak.

Now, it was time to catch up to the others. She proceeds to follow the highway, hoping on catching up soon but careful to not wear herself out; her short legs unfortunately made trekking the same distance cost more effort than it would cost someone like Amana, who was quite tall now that she thought of it (somewhat jealously, for Shinsui's height had also been a factor in which she had felt distance from him).

She supposed she could call on the blood of her ancestors, but it wouldn't do to be mistaken for the enemy in the unlikely occasion she came across other hunters. With a sigh, she treads along on a brisk pace, as fast as she could without wearing herself out.

The mask bounces slightly underneath her cloak with each step.

[Kirby]

Shiratsuyu-Hime
Morning
An Inn, Somewhere?

You make your way into the inn.

It’s a moderately busy place, with waitresses serving patrons, with plates of food and jugs of wine, merchants discussing business over dango, townsfolk drinking, the works. A woman greets you, a middle-aged innkeeper with just hints of wrinkles on a kindly face. You notice eyes on your state of dress, from her and the staff and the patrons, looks of surprise. Come to think of it, you must look wealthy compared to the others, among the common folk.

“Ah, welcome Miss. Something to eat? Or a room?”

Come to think of it, you don’t seem to have brought your money with you. Have you?

No, you have something with you. You carried a small purse with you, a light pocketful of coins.

Come to think of it, you were kind of hungry. You hadn’t had anything to eat since you sneaked out of the Chiyoda castle compounds. But then again… you did only come here to ask for directions after all.

The woman looks at you expectantly. You feel others looking, too. Most of them appear to be merchants and commoners, though some of them looked to be wealthier type of merchant, and some of the patrons wear blades at their side— samurai, from the looks of it.

[Kirby]

Fujou Ran & Kuze Yuzuha
Morning
A Roadside Inn

Shinsui made a face.

He shoots an annoyed glare at Ran, but sighs and relents. “Welp.” Looking over Yuzuha again, frowning, he seems to come to a decision. “I suppose if you’re a priestess, it should be fine.” He takes a cup of tea, and sips on it all the while.

“Well, introductions first then.” He hesitates for a moment, as if unsure whether or not he should proceed. He relents. “Fujou Ran,” he says, gesturing to the man next to him. “Asakami Shinsui,” he says, a hand on his own chest. He doesn’t bother with any more formalities than that.

Yuzuha recognizes those names.

“We’re investigators, in a sense. You’ve heard of the murders, no?” he says, tilting his head towards the street. “These have been popping up, recently. All in this area. Normally, this would be left to the governorate police, but…” He frowns, troubled. No longer an apprehension of the stray’s presence, but lost deep in thought, as if recalling something unpleasant. He grimaces. “Given the nature of the murders, these fall into our jurisdiction now. No longer something the police can handle on their own. If you’re a priestess, then this probably falls into your business as well. We suspect this to be the work of a demon.”

Though only Ran seems to get the pointlessness of those words. Of course, if it weren’t the work of a demon, they wouldn’t be here right now.

“I suppose you could call us exorcists.”

Exorcists. Yuzuha knows now, why those names sounded familiar. Exorcists. It was almost funny, in a grim sense.

She knew that it was true, in a way. But a half-truth. She knew them by another name.

Demon hunters.

[palad1n]

Shiratsuyu-Hime
Morning
An Inn, Somewhere?

It was a moderate place to be in.

Certainly the inn she is currently in is not as lavish or extravagant as she is accustomed to, but Shiratsuyu doesn't really mind it that much. There is a certain charm that she find in a modest place like this, charms that is simply absent in her home or Chiyoda Castle.

A kind, middle-aged woman greeted her, and she couldn't help but to notice the stares and looks of surprise that she began to gather. The princess could felt the nervousness coming back, but outwardly held her ground and kept her composure.

Now, what should she do?

With all of these attention, Shiratsuyu wanted to merely ask for direction and quickly make her way out post-haste. She is hungry, true, but if she eats with this kind of attention she wouldn't be able to enjoy her meal peacefully; The princess is simply too used to having meals alone with her thoughts that she finds it uncomfortable to eat in the open like this.

But things aren't that simple.

There is a feeling of guilt that would form if she were to march in here, with all of her imperial glory, and merely asked for direction without giving something in return. She might be of higher social standing than them, but Shiratsuyu simply couldn't find the gall to do such a bold move alone here. It would be much more appropriate to have a meal and then ask for a direction afterwards, which would free her from the feeling of guilt.

Besides, she is feeling rather hungry herself.

But does she actually bring any money...?

'Thank the gods.' Shiratsuyu inwardly let out a sigh of relief as she touched a small purse within her haori; it would be too embarrassing if she ordered without a single coin on her person. With that taken care of, Shiratsuyu gave a smile to the woman before she answered her expectation.

"I would like to have a light meal, please. Anything will do." She said, pausing to think whether she had any additional request before she immediately asked for tea as the drink; the last thing she needs is to be drunk after the meal. With that, she only needs to be seated, eats her meal, pay, and ask for the direction afterwards.

Still, there are some wealthy merchants and samurai inside the inn. Shiratsuyu hopes that they would keep a respectful distance, or if they do approach her for conversation, it would be short and quick.

The princess silently prayed that all would go without trouble, and she would be able to return to the castle soon.

[Katie]

Kurogane Kanae
Morning
A Village at Edo Outskirts

That brat intervened.

Kanae had no problem with crushing all of them to prove her point—that she was not to be messed with. This situation did not require some pompous brat to intervene. She was something less than a noble but more than a commoner, she surmised, which meant she had no business stopping a scuffle between a merchant and trash. Not unless she was to prove her superiority for some, subversive reason.

She glanced at the sword the new girl had, and dismissed it. Probably just for show.

“Hey, you with the black eye.” Kanae directs her attention to the one she had beaten previously. “Go home. If this gets any worse, I’ll break more than a table this time.”

With that, she cocked her head and turned to look at the girl playing mediator with her one good eye, wary and eager for blood.

[Kirby]

Kimura Amana & Kurogane Kanae
Morning
A Village at Edo Outskirts

The others guards of the convoy stop on the road, just outside the village square. Kanae can see them— that which she had been looking for— just out of reach. They let Amana go forth and perform her duty, watching silently. As Amana speaks, eyes turn, and the nearest thugs swings around with an expression of disdain and irritation.

“HUH—!? Who tha’ hell do you think you’re talking to, you—”

The man pauses mid-sentence, mouth hanging open dumbly, as he gets a good look at her. The others pause too, lingering on the evidence of recent battle and bloodshed. The man with the black eye looks like he’d rather be anywhere than here, now.

“There’s no need ta’ intervene.” The man that looks to be their leader evenly, but cautiously. There’s an edge to his voice, supressed emotion. “Imperials though ya’ may be,” he says, eyes flickering to the escort, “This is strictly our business— between her and us— we’re dealin’ with here. This girl picks a fight with us, the Kawazumi-kai, and she pays.”

“You’re right, though,” another thug pipes up. “Ain’t like she has to pay with blood.” The others sneer and hoot in response.

Kawazumi-kai. A bakuto group, from the looks of it, but not one you recognize. They must be a smaller time gang.

The others, once cowed, seem to gather courage from the leader’s words, now regarding the girl with less caution, but confidence, sneers and scorn. Their hands drift to their blades at their sides. Only the man with the black eye seems to be unconvinced, looking scared and gibbering, muttering something about monsters and idiocy and wanting to go home, slowly edging away from the rest. His fellow beside him shoots him a dirty look.

“With all due respect,” the leader says, if a voice that suggests anything but, “Keep your nose out of our business.”

[Kirby]

Asakami Shiori
Morning
Toukaidou Highways

The strange aura the mask gives off seems to disappear when you take it with you— thanks to those strange circumstances about you, no doubt.

You take your time, walking through the forest, almost relaxing now that you have the time to yourself, no need to worry of keeping up appearances for others, or anything to protect. Just you and the trees and the silence, save for whispers of the wind, footsteps against trodden earth.

Your senses are sharp, and you can tell you aren’t alone.

Bandits? No, not bandits. Nor are they other travellers, or assassins, or anything of the likes of human.

Humans and beasts give off a certain presence, but you can’t feel that in the air. Rather, a weight like thickened air, a haze. A presence you didn’t feel in the heat of battle and pursuit, but feels all too present in your solitude. Eyes in the air, in the wind. From the trees, the dew on the leaves. They whisper and rustle and watch you from the edge of the forests. A line drawn between your world and theirs. They watch, with neither malice nor goodwill, but with a primitive curiosity, for this stranger who walks just beyond their reach that treads the boundary between their worlds, this stranger so much like them.

Nature spirits.

Beyond the forest’s edge lies the division between your worlds. The

Far Shore

world of spirits

, and the

Near Shore

world of men

.

You notice movement among the trees, a figure, just beyond your range of sight.

Before you can think to look further, you notice the presence fade, as if hiding, afraid of the presence of more humans. Up further along the road, you see a man, a girl, and a horse-drawn cart, resting along the side of the highways. The man smokes a pipe, and the girl sits on the cart, legs dangling over the side, swinging idly. They’re further up, though, and have yet to notice your presence.

As you draw closer, the presence of the Far Shore wanes. You stop just before you’re within range of their attention, and glance into the forest. As you look into the forest, something looks back at you.

[Ayakashi]

--- Kuze Yuzuha A Roadside Inn Morning HP: 170 MP: 500

"Oh, Exorcists..."

A little moment of surprise could be seen as a passing gust of wind blew through the restaurant, dissipating the pleasant smile she had been trying to keep up. However, knowing that showing any form of reaction to such a name would raise suspicion, the girl somehow managed to transition her shift in facial expression from slight grimmace into a... sneeze.

"Achoo!" she let out, looking away and covering her mouth with a handkerchief. When she turned back, her cheeks were flushed red, probably from the constant embarrassment she kept throwing up at herself. Some of it was on purpose, but still, she hated the idea of looking like a useless idiot in front of these two. Maybe mostly in front of 'him'.

"I-I'm terribly sorry, it might be the sashimi... I never was good with spicy food..."

A terrible lie: she loved them. Still, the redness of her cheek could pass for her palette being set on fire, and the tears welling up in her eyes could pass for that very same irritation from overdose of spiciness.

These were actually tears of embarrassment but then, it was better that these two never knew. From Yuzuha's perspective at any rate.

'Why am I messing up so much...'

She felt like the whole world was coming down on her to bully her. It was really just her fault for even getting involved against her own better judgement... yet...

...Yuzuha looked back up at Ran and Shinsui. From the sight of these two, or perhaps just from the sight of Shinsui, the girl gathered her courage back and slipped back into her noble, composed stance that she always tried to maintain : the perfect form of a dainty shrine maiden respected by kami and men alike.

These back and forths were probably becoming painfully obvious from an observer's point of view, but then they'd all chalk it up to nervousness and the wonderful effects that handsome men like Shinsui had on the hearts of young maidens. There was after all, more than a mere modicum of truth to that notion. Yes...

Somehow, the knowledge that these very people could hunt her down should they know of her true nature did not deter her. Blissful ignorance? The inability to realize the danger that this situation posed? Or perhaps, that it was a conscious choice to overcome her fears? The optimism of a child that for better or for worst, still fully believed that man, woman, beast, god or spirit, anything could have good will in them.

"Yes, I've heard of the murders. An unfortunate tragedy... which I will help put a stop to."

The eyes of the meek, clumsy Yuzuha suddenly lit up with a conviction the two men probably witnessed for the first time. With a fire as strong as the sun, this declaration of Yuzuha's was like the pledge of a kami towards the people it swore to protect.

Indeed, she was a girl of hesitation, or fears, of uncertainties... but there was one thing that Kuze Yuzuha never doubted, never shied away from: the necessity to protect. She had experienced loss, a painful, traumatising loss that still haunted her to this day... and she would never let anyone suffer the same fate if she had the power to do so. Life was precious, life was the most valuable treasure one could hold, more than all of the riches of this world combined.

This flaring passion however, lead to an unfortunate wording by the precious, innocent Miko:

"Please use me as you like! I am but an instrument in your hands! Fujou-sama, Asakami-sama!"

The girl once again bowed, but this time, it felt like she was not giving her greetings, apologies or thanks, no, this time, she was giving her own self: Yuzuha was offering herself as a tool, a weapon to fight against these murders and help put a stop to them. If it was a chain to restrain the culprit, a bait to lure them out, or simply as a weapon to strike them down, the use they'd have for her would be fine.

Well, as long as 'striking them down' did not imply killing or bloodshed. But then, such things were subconsciously blocked from Kuze Yuzuha's head.

Silence. She was waiting for their answer, absolutely ignorant what kind of hell she might've set loose.

[Reiu]

Asakami Shiori
Morning
Toukaidou Highways

Shiori perks up a little at the sight of the cart; if she could catch a ride there, it would certainly make up for the lost time and help her catch up to the rest.

She gives a brief glance to the forest, but decides not to pay it any attention for now; she could do so if it should follow and prove a threat, but otherwise she had more pressing matters to attend to.

She approaches the cart and the people tentatively, relaxing her demeanor from a combat stance to the demure air of a well-bred daughter of a priest family. Even with her naginata, she wasn't afraid of appearing to be any threat. Indeed, it was far more often a problem for people to take her seriously, with her short stature and young looks.

"Excuse me, I was traveling to see some relatives and I'm afraid I've been separated from my escort...would it be too much trouble to ask if I could accompany you to Edo? If that is where you are headed to, of course...Although it is not much, I could offer some small recompense for the ride."

[You]

Fujou Ran
Morning
A Roadside Inn

MP: 420/430
Ran continued to sip his tea, watching the girl. If there was one type of person who Ran knew it was priestesses.

Overly pious.

Never expressing their true emotions.

However, the way this girl acted was completely different to the priestess he called “mother,” or the other priestesses who lived in the shrine he grew up in.

Slightly jealous but slightly happy that not all shrines were the same, he accepted her words for what they seemed like on the surface. Just a maiden bumbling around in her springtime of youth.

That was why,

“We appreciate the enthusiasm, miss. However, there are ways that you could hinder this investigation. And considering we are dealing with a murder, there’s always the possibility of death. Now, this guy here is used to all that, but you’re like me.”

He took another skewer of whatever was on the table onto his plate.

“We’ve seen some of your abilities. So, if you don’t mind me asking, how do you think you can contribute?”

Are you willing to leave whatever life you had before this and jump into the underworld of this city?

[Kirby]

Shiratsuyu-Hime
Morning
An Inn, Somewhere?

The woman nods, sitting you down at a table, and leaves to tend to the other customers. You suppose a waitress will come bring something later, but in the meantime, you find yourself waiting.

You feel the eyes on you lose interest, as they return to their usual business, eating and drinking and chatting. Once again, you’re lost in the crowd, just a stranger among strangers. No one really pays you any mind.

No, that’s not right. Seated on the far corner, you feel a piercing gaze.

The waitress arrives, before you can make out who it was, setting the bowl down on the table and leaving with a polite bow. Cold soba, topped with pickled vegetables and served with dashi and soy. It’s a humble meal, but filling nonetheless, refreshing under the summer sun. As you eat, you look around, scanning the crowd for the gaze you felt before.

You notice, as you start looking around, gazes pulled back, pretending not to have been watching you. Most of them seem to just be curious commoners, interested in your presence but hiding their intents, but others stand out.

By a table near the entrance, you see a young man, a samurai from the looks of it, staring at you with a tilted head. He wears a scrunched up expression, of concentration and annoyance, as if trying to recall something. At the entrance to the kitchens, you see several gossiping waitresses, speaking among themselves. One of them in particular keeps shooting you unsubtle glances, poorly hidden interest, as if she were trying stay furtive but failing miserably. In one shadowy corner, you see multiple men, wearing grim expressions and blades at their sides, speaking among themselves, shooting glances at you as if summing you up. Not yakuza or ronin, from the looks of it, but not samurai either. You quickly look away, but you see them returning to their conversation as you do so, apparently losing interest in you.

Even if no one has approached you yet, you feel as if you should finish your business here as soon as possible, lest you start attracting too much unwanted attention.

[Kirby]

Asakami Shiori
Morning
Toukaidou Highways

You decide to approach the travelers at the cart, and as you draw near you feel the stray spirits’ presence fade, like small animals scurrying out of sight. They look up at the sound of your approach, their expressions leisurely but faintly surprised, at the presence of another here.

“Huh?” The older one speaks up as you approach, looking at you with a bleary eye. The other is glazed over and milky white, blind from the looks of it. “Another traveler?”

He seems unconcerned and relaxed, though the girl on the cart looks at your naginata with a raised eyebrow. She hops off the cart and carefully dusts herself off, making her way over to you. Though she looked younger than you at first, you notice you’re still shorter than her.

They listen to your request, and the girl shrugs. “I don’t see the harm, I suppose, if you’ll pay us anyway. Though from the looks of it…” She frowns. “Hm. You a mercenary or something—? Ow!”

The old man lightly smacked her upside the head, sighing at his younger companion. “Oh, come on, look at her,” he says pointing to your garb. It’s only now that you realize that your clothes are still tracked with dirt and blood— not yours, though they don’t seem to know that— and torn in some places from the fights before. “Just asking for payment from someone in ‘er condition’s just cruelty. Come on now,” he says, beckoning at you. “Don’t worry yourself about payment.”

The cart ride’s bumpy and uncomfortable, but at least vaguely faster than just walking the whole way. This is probably the first time this whole journey you’ve gotten to ride anything, as your escort was originally by foot.

The man and the girl introduce themselves as Yamada and Amane, small-time merchants making a delivery from one of the highway stations to the main city. They make talk a bit about their trade, of their businesses in Edo and convoys on the highways. The old man seems to talk more than the girl, who silently watches— interested, but apparently not too suspicious.

“You got yourself into a real bind though, yeah?” So the man said, looking over your clothes dirtied from the fights. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“She doesn’t look hurt.”

“Doesn’t look severe, sure, but she still sure looks like she got into a few fights on the way.” He sighed. “What’s the world coming to, now? Back in my day, these roads were safe!”

So the cart ride leisurely passed.

At some point, you must’ve fallen asleep, because when you come to you find yourself not in the forest but the city, where the merchants drop you off and bid you farewell. The rest of your convoy is nowhere to be seen. You must’ve lost them, or been asleep by the time the cart passed them by, if it did.

You find yourself in a market, a street split along its length by what seems to be an artificial river, bridges linking the two sides, lined with shops and food stalls, restaurants and inns, posters and hawkers all about. A bit further from where you’d intended to land.

And you notice now, now that you’re in the middle of the city, the sorry state your clothes are in. Perhaps it’d be appropriate to find somewhere to change or rest up, lest you start attracting stares.

[Mormarth]

Kimura Amana
Morning
A Village at Edo Outskirts

I tried not to let the one-eyed girl's clear disdain bother me all too much, despite my rising blood-lust, I had no current quarrel with her.

Unless, of course, she was the Kishu I sensed.

As I speak my words of calm, one of the men, incensed at my interruption, turned to face me.

“HUH—!? Who tha’ hell do you think you’re talking to, you—”

He stills, the red haze of anger fading in the face of my sullied clothing, face falling slack as he takes in the full breadth of the object of his attention.

I shift, slightly.

“There’s no need ta’ intervene.” A man with more presence to him, more bulk and brashness allowing him to bully his way to the group of overgrown children, there is an edge to his tone, caution lingering with something else, perhaps something deeper.

“This is strictly our business— between her and us— we’re dealin’ with here. This girl picks a fight with us, the Kawazumi-kai, and she pays.”

“You’re right, though,” another thug pipes up. “Ain’t like she has to pay with blood.”

A chorus of hoots and assorted filth flits through the air.

A group of Bakuto, gamblers and money-lenders, saddling themselves together to ply their low trade, such as it was. Not even worth remembering the name.

Still, I mark it for later perusal, should I so happen to not end this farce of a group now.

I gaze silently upon the group of men, now boldly encircling the half-blind girl, weighing them carefully in my eyes. One of them, a scoundrel with a bruised eye, gibbers something about idocy and madness and-

Ah.

Monsters.

Hm.

Still, there's nothing to believe about the ranting nonsense from the mouth of a useless person.

“With all due respect,” Comes the rumble from the head-man, "Keep your nose out of our business."

My, how insolent.

Now I shall have to get involved.

I smile once more, an edge to it, and align myself in a graceful stance that, to the untrained eye, looked rather non-threatening, the 'False Geisha'.

"Gentlemen," I say, "It is unwise to continue playing when all you hold is ya-ku-za, is it not? I admit, I am not well known in the intricacies of your trade. But I am quite familiar with mine, clearly, there must be a way to resolve this conflict without further defilement, there is no need to taint the road and the minds and spirits of the people around us with such unpleasantness."

"Please," I ask again, shifting once more into 'Humble Snake', "As a show of respect to all involved."

[Katie]

Kurogane Kanae
Morning
A Village at Edo Outskirts

“You’re right, though,” another thug pipes up. “Ain’t like she has to pay with blood.” The others sneer and hoot in response.

“You’ve got poor taste in women,” Kanae says, instinctively reaching to feel the leather eyepatch. Attractive or even the term “pleasant to look at” weren’t words she would use to describe herself. More than that, she would rather die than be denigrated as someone unfortunate whore. She had her honor, what little it was, and that scrap she would defend with blood and steel.

"Gentlemen," I say, "It is unwise to continue playing when all you hold is ya-ku-za, is it not? I admit, I am not well known in the intricacies of your trade. But I am quite familiar with mine, clearly, there must be a way to resolve this conflict without further defilement, there is no need to taint the road and the minds and spirits of the people around us with such unpleasantness."

"Please," I ask again, shifting once more into 'Humble Snake', "As a show of respect to all involved."

“They’ve compared me to a whore—what respect is there left to show?” The words leave her lips icily. Perhaps it would be better that she did not fight the Yakuza here and now, but she had her own pride, her own bloodlust warming her body, making her feel alive. “If it bothers someone as sensible as you very much, we’ll settle this outside of town.”

I look at her again, realizing that despite her clothing, red streaks, blood, likely, stain it. Clearly uninjured, but this imperial was more than met the eye.

Even so, the yakuza was right. This was none of her business, and it should definitely stay that way.

[palad1n]

Shiratsuyu-Hime
Morning
An Inn, Somewhere?

Once again, Shiratsuyu find herself in a pinch for that day.

Certainly, the brief attention that she got from the multiple men was worrying. And true, the way the waitresses was gossiping - especially the one who keeps on giving her not-so-subtle glances - might spread unwanted rumors later on. But the one that scared Shiratsuyu the most and made her want to quickly get out of here was the male samurai near the entrance.

The way his expression scrunches into one of concentration and annoyance, as if to recall something, somewhat scares her. It might just be a gut feeling, an instinct, but Shiratsuyu feared that the man might be a hunter - the last person she wanted to deal with.

So she returned her attention to her soba, and focusing all her attention to it, began to finish it as calmly as possible; She doesn't want to attract attention by seemingly being in a hurry after looking around the room.

After she was done, silently muttering a gratitude for the meal by clasping her hands, she returned to the innkeeper to pay. Shiratsuyu deliberately tries to avoid looking around, merely focusing on the kind woman as she carefully counted the money she needed to give. All this while she tried to maintain her composure, to smile and not let it show that she wanted to quickly return to the castle.

Ah, she almost forgot.

"Um, miss..." She began, careful not to sound forceful or hasty. "Do you happen to know the way to Chiyoda Castle? Truth be told, I am rather lost at the moment..." She finished with a rather embarrassed smile.

Shiratsuyu prayed that the innkeeper could give her the direction, and she could return without any further trouble.

[Mormarth]

Kimura Amana
Morning
A Village at Edo Outskirts

“If it bothers someone as sensible as you very much, we’ll settle this outside of town.”

I maintain my smile, for I am calm and serene as a pond in springtime.

"It does my heart good to see someone so empathetic to another's feelings, such wisdom often comes from humble packaging in my experience."

I clapped my hands.

"So I implore you all to see wisdom in this, and take the quarrel outside and settle the grievance in a way which all may be satisfied, so as to not stain the ground with any unwanted filth."

Just a few moments more, and perhaps I'd be able to get a feeling for that Kishu, and then this petty squabble would truly be no more of my business.

[Kirby]

Kimura Amana & Kurogane Kanae
Morning
A Village at Edo Outskirts

“Take it outside of town, huh?” The leader makes a face, half grin, half snarl. The others eye Amana, wary glances at her bloodstained form, and the imperial guards standing sentinel some distance away.

“Well?” The leader gestures, arms spread open, a mocking invitation. “Shall we go, then? Tell you what,” he says, looking about the others. “You and me. Come with us and take me on, one-on-one, and we’ll forget all this ever happened. But…” Another smile, malice brewing, teeth bared. He doesn’t finish the sentence, letting it linger in the air, grinning. You have a good idea of what he implies.

If you lose…

They wear cocky expressions and hoot and holler, though you can sense unease beneath the surface, evidently not too eager of directly provoking the wrath of the bloodstained girl. The only exception here that one man with the black eye, frantically shaking his head, shooting desperate, pleading glances at you and the guard or anyone around him, whose panic only seems to have intensified at this prospect.

The other thugs seem too focused on the stand-off, enamored— Kanae on one side, the leader at the other, Amana standing just by, animosity practically palpable in the air— that they pay him no mind. You notice him slip out of the group, and start edging away, no doubt to make his escape. He slips away into a back alley, the pattering of his escaping footsteps disappearing into the distance, though the thugs don’t seem to hear it over the jeering and commotion.

The leader grins. “Once we’re through with you, you will know the name Kawazumi-kai.”