Global Moderator
Posts: 118
Gender: Male
Offline
|
Post by yuurei on Sept 12, 2014 18:07:17 GMT
Owari Zekkai was currently in a very displeased mood as he eyed the thug that had a woman pin against the wall, and was glaring back at him. He sighed, asking, far more politely than the man deserved resting his hand on the grip of his sword, “Why don’t you let the young lady go, and we can pretend this didn’t happen?”
The man snorted, slurring back, “Why don’ ya walk away n’ I’ll pretend ya didn’ interupt me.” The woman whimpered.
Zekkai sighed, asking to the air, “Why must people always do things the hard way?” There was the noise of his blade being unsheathed and then resheathed, and a small thump as the man’s hand, separated from the rest of him, fell to the ground.
As the man released the woman completely to fumble at his stump as it bled, Zekkai, reached over, guiding the wide eyes woman away from her assailant and leading her back to the streets of the town, the exact location unimportant except that it resided somewhere in the Land of Waterfalls. “I apologize for the blood on your clothes; fast as I am, you were simply in such a position it was impossible to prevent it from getting on your clothing.”
“That’s... That’s quite alright.” She stated, sounding dazed, “I’m... Going to go home now.” He watched her walk away, the dazed expression on her face still in full force.
He ran a hand through his hair, before sighing again, stating to no one in particular, “People draw together to make these villages and it still does nothing for the amount of evil actions I seem to encounter.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Kawiie on Sept 12, 2014 18:15:43 GMT
“Evil persists, for it is human nature,” a voice said, as a man, clad in white, stepped up besides the swordsman. He had watched the ordeal, having separated from his travelling partner for the time being, while the man looked for new parts for his puppets. “Building villages will not change this fact.”
The man, Tengai Ryuusei, looked on after the woman with an empty look in his eyes, before he turned his body around towards the man, the rings on his shakujou ringing as he moved. Looking at the man from top to toe, he spoke, his voice calm and uncaring of the headless body that lay beside them.
“Your sword strikes quick and true,” he said, a hint of rare intrigue in his voice. “It strikes me as the sword of a man of conviction, a man who has set his sights on a higher goal. Tell me, what is this goal of yours, if I may ask?”
|
|
Global Moderator
Posts: 118
Gender: Male
Offline
|
Post by yuurei on Sept 12, 2014 18:37:06 GMT
Zekkai grimaced at the truth behind the stranger’s words, looking at the... Monk? In front of him. “The goal I seek is to reduce what evil there is, given that the ultimate goal I would seek, is one that is likely un-achievable given the fact people choose to follow that nature. Said goal being to end such behavior and that like it.”
He bowed to the Monk, introducing himself, “Owari Zekkai, at your service, souhei-san. Or perhaps you would prefer another title, if that one is not completely fitting.” He straightened, returning his hand to rest on the hilt of his blade.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kawiie on Sept 12, 2014 18:48:29 GMT
Ryuusei bowed as well, glad to see someone with proper manners. “I have been called worse,” he said simply, as a sort of approval of the title. “We should probably move, before someone come and notice us with a body,” he then said, gesturing for the man to follow him as he turned and walked away, with no apparent rush.
“So you seek to end the evil in the world,” he asked and nodded, not really expecting an answer, as he went on soon after. “A fine goal, yet, as you say, unachievable. At least by normal means.” As they walked, the shakujou rang, making people move out of the way for them, clearing a single path for them to walk.
“But what if I told you,” he then began, “That the means of achieving your goal does truly exist?”
|
|
Global Moderator
Posts: 118
Gender: Male
Offline
|
Post by yuurei on Sept 12, 2014 19:02:06 GMT
Zekkai tilted his head in acknowledgment of the man’s words- given the tattoos on the man, it was entirely plausible that the man had connections to some gang or another. Not that even a large gang of persons unable to use chakra would be much of a threat... Still, the risk remained that whatever organization he belonged to was one of the rare ones with shinobi amongst their ranks.
He walked with the man, paying little attention to the crowd as they parted around them, beyond keeping an eye out for any sudden moves toward them that were hostile.
“But what if I told you, that the means of achieving your goal does truly exist?” The monk stated, tone completely casual.
Despite the casual tone of voice, Zekkai narrowed his eyes at the monk, this not being the first time he had heard such words, but... As he read the man’s body language, he realized that whatever he was about to say was true, or that he believed it to be such. “I would say that it would not be the first time I have heard such a thing, but I would be willing to learn more.” He admitted, watching the man as much as he could without risking overlooking movement from the crowd.
He caught motion in the crowd that went against the movements of the rest of those in the crowd, making note of the tattooed man, and the similarities between this man's tattoos and the one from before.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kawiie on Sept 12, 2014 19:13:19 GMT
The man lead them down a smaller road, headed for a shrine he knew was there. It was old, and never truly visited any more, until now that is. The man had respects to pay, and so, he lead them closer to the shrine, still talking, his voice calm and casual, as it seemingly always were.
“Have you ever heard of Gyousei no Ookami?” he asked. He doubted the man had, being but a swordsman, it would be surprising of him to know the title of an all but forgotten god of ages past. Not really waiting for an answer, the man began explaining regardless. “Many names and titles circulate, but Gyousei no Ookami is the one most … common.”
“He was a God of old, said to be one of the makers of the world,” They were now walking up a long set of old stairs that would lead them to the shrine. Walking with sure steps, the man continued. “But due to his power, he was betrayed by his own, and torn to pieces, his name hidden from all but the most devoted priests.”
Finally they reached the top, an old shrine, ready to crumble, stood before them. Without a word, the man walked over to the shrine, clapped his hands together and said a silent prayer. After that, he lowered his arms and said calmly. “I am sure you are aware that we are being followed?”
|
|
Global Moderator
Posts: 118
Gender: Male
Offline
|
Post by yuurei on Sept 12, 2014 19:25:24 GMT
The title of the god was unfamiliar, although the event the Monk summarized sounded similar to another he had heard, when he lived under his old name. He admitted as much, “That specific title, no. But when I was younger I did hear of a story akin to this one, although the betrayed being was a spirit rather than a God.” He eyed the temple as they neared it, noting the signs of not only age, but also disuse, implying the god it was dedicated to had long since fallen out of favor.
He inclined his head at the inquiry, stating, “I have reason to suspect that the one following us is a member of the local crime group. The man from earlier is not the first that I have maimed and killed for their actions against others in this town.” He leaned against the temple wall, eyeing the entrance to the temple as he added, “Given the similarity between the markings on this pursuer and the man from earlier, it seems that the group has likely grown annoyed with my interruptions of their, ah, business.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Kawiie on Sept 12, 2014 19:35:23 GMT
Ryuusei stood completely still, looking at the empty box used for offerings, as the other man explained who could be tailing them. Turning, the man shook his sleeve, a seal paper falling onto the ground. “Shikifuda: In Bunshin,” he said, forming a set of seals, the seal paper rising into the air, where it settled for a second, before flying into the shadow of the trees that surrounded the shrine. For the time being he needed only half of the technique, and saved the other seal paper for later.
Eventually the seal paper returned and stopped in the air a few feet from them. Ryuusei nodded to himself after a moment of silence, before looking over at the swordsman. “We are surrounded. Four men to the right, at least six to the left, all armed,” he said as if the situation did not faze him in the slightest, as if he knew how it was all going to end, and thus, felt it unnecessary to show any form of emotion.
|
|
Global Moderator
Posts: 118
Gender: Male
Offline
|
Post by yuurei on Sept 12, 2014 19:48:04 GMT
Zekkai hummed at that, before nodding, “Less than I thought they would send.” He chuckled at that, although it was devoid of humor, “Apparently they believed I am a regular swords man.” He noted the air was damp, a combination of being in such a water-rich area, and the rain that was threatening to break.
“Given that I followed you, at this point they are likely to assume you are a companion of some kind.” He loosened his blade in the sheath, just enough to make the movement involved in Iaido just a little bit faster as he asked, “That being said, violence is inevitable. I apologize for the inconvenience, and I can understand if you would prefer to stay uninvolved. If you are willing to assist, I simply would like to know if you have a preference for how to go about resolving this issue."
|
|
|
|
Post by Kawiie on Sept 12, 2014 19:58:46 GMT
“Oh? Disappointed, are we?” the man asked, as he allowed a second seal paper to fall to the ground from his sleeve, as the other continued talking. “Well, this would not be the first time,” the man said and released a humourless chuckle from his lips. Forming seals, the second seal paper rose up, much like the first had done, before a blazing white chakra surrounded it, in the rough shape of Ryuusei himself. “Shikifuda: You Bunshin.”
Lowering his hands, he looked to the swordsman. “I will fight, if only to continue our conversation,” he said, just as the bushes shook, men jumping out left and right, armed to the teeth with all sorts of weaponry...
|
|
Global Moderator
Posts: 263
Gender: Male
Offline
|
Post by reyasaurus on Sept 13, 2014 4:25:45 GMT
Doku had gathered the parts he needed for his new puppet and was heading to an arranged meeting place when he noticed a severed hand just on the inside of an alley. The hand had been cut perfectly. Picking it up he held hands with it almost as if he were shaking hands with a real life person. Smiling to himself he walked towards the temple up a side road from the village. Noticing a bright glowing object at the top Doku's eyebrow raised with Inquisition. Controlling Hanketsu on his way out he turned him self invisible. Doku walked up to the outside of the temple just as men jumped from bushes on either side. Doku noticed his travelling companion Ryuusei with some form of newcomer holding the hilt of his sword facing towards the men who were about to attack. Should Ryuusei look near Doku's position he would notice the puppet casually being made to look as human as possible walking up to the location behind all of the thugs.
|
|
Global Moderator
Posts: 118
Gender: Male
Offline
|
Post by yuurei on Sept 13, 2014 13:36:04 GMT
Zekkai noted the distance between himself, his ally and the men, before opting to jump into the midst of the crowd, using the startled halt of the thugs, and his downward momentum to add to the force behind the blows, unsheathing his blade and striking several times. Limbs fell to the ground, separated from their owners, and blood began to pool on the ground. Five men began all but shrieking, one simply crumpled to the floor, torso separated from his legs, the smell from his organs rather... Unpleasant.
He stepped away from the growing pool of blood, eyeing the thugs in a way that seemed almost sleepy, tilting his head in a vague challenge at those men capable of still holding their weapons.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kawiie on Sept 15, 2014 23:03:27 GMT
Ryuusei noticed the puppet among the shrubbery, but did nothing of it. He instead turned and watched as his new companion sprung into action, delivering strikes so fast it was impossible to see the full movements, cutting up five of the men pretty bad. He then looked at the men in an uncaring fashion, waiting for their move.
“You bastard!” one of the men roared, before jumping at the man, swinging his sword over his head in order to cleave the swordsman, whoever, a single paper moved in front of him and seemingly stopped the blade, which was swung down, but stopped abruptly with a sound of metal against metal, though there was nothing to see, except for the floating paper.
Then, the blazing white chakra went into action, jumping from behind the swordsman, Rasengan in its palm, which it then crashing into the face of the man, sending him flying, with most of his face grinded to pieces. The last of the men, caught in shcok by this, did not notice the real Ryuusei pull out a handful of seal papers, which he threw into the air before forming seals.
“Shikifuda: Jippou Senjukami,” he spoke, as the seals rose into the air, and the space between them visibly distorting, before a series of arms, one for each of the bandits, appeared and took hold of the men's necks, lifting them into the air, while tightening to the point where they dropped their weapons.
“What to do with these fools, I wonder? Zekkai-san, was it?” the man looked over at the swordsman. “They came for you, it is only fair you decide their fate.”
|
|
Global Moderator
Posts: 263
Gender: Male
Offline
|
Post by reyasaurus on Sept 15, 2014 23:51:00 GMT
Doku watched as the simple men were slaughtered before his eyes. Ryuu-san's new friend seems to be quite capable at using that sword of his. The puppet 'walked' up towards the remaining few thugs who were being strangled by Ryuusei's papers. Chattering the way puppets do it waved at Ryuusei before bowing to the new comer. The puppet motioned to the thugs that still remained alive before drawing it's hand across it's neck in a decapitation motion. The puppet stared at the new comer waiting for his decision.
|
|
Global Moderator
Posts: 118
Gender: Male
Offline
|
Post by yuurei on Sept 16, 2014 0:08:47 GMT
Zekkai tilted his head in acknowledgment of the Monk's words, eyeing the person? Next to the thugs, noting the noise they made was similar to the rattling of wooden parts, thinking over possible solutions. Letting the thugs walkaway would be useless, and would simply lead to the thugs starting right back on their habits, either attempting to end him if he stayed, or resuming tormenting the town once he left- which was going to be soon, given how restless he was becoming in this town.
A second option would be to maim the members- those that would survive the injuries they already had, anyway- and make sure they wouldn’t die from said maiming. It would impair their ability to commit crime, and would also mark them out to the rest of the village. However, there was no way to be sure such a punishment would stick and actually serve it’s purpose, especially since in a town such as this, the relatives would likely care for and do the thug’s bidding, essentially making them an economic drain.
He sighed aloud, realizing the best answer was similar to the person’s suggestion, being execution and making an example of the thugs. He glanced over the thugs, before noting one- an older man, hair beginning to bald- with slightly different tattoos. Leader, he determined, having seen such a indication of rank before. He had rope in his pack...
He turned back to the monk, as much as he could while keeping an eye on the stranger, asking “Given the fact that letting them off would lead to more trouble, and the town can’t afford to support them-and knowing small towns, they would try to- making an example of them is the best choice, relatively speaking. Think your technique can hold them long enough to hang them from the torii between the entrance to the street and the temple path? Street should be empty, this time a day, but people come by in the morning on the way to the market. Enough time to make sure they're dead by then.”
|
|
