The Holy Dragon Empire

M

Melon Kid

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Original poster
"There have been dark times in the world of Laoa. Millennia of war waged, nation against nation, species against species - brother against brother. But for every era of despair and violence these blood-soaked lands have seen, there was always a light at the end of every tunnel. The ones we call heroes and legends, who accepted the call to action and freed the people from a life of misery, if only for a while. But now, things are different."

The man kicked up his boots on the desk and lounged casually back into his chair, puffing on his cigarette. Short, messy black hair covered one eye, and the other narrowed. It gleamed beneath the sunset's orange rays, peeking through the window slats. The room went silent a while, and only smoke was between the man and the one who stood before him.

"There's no light at the end of this tunnel." He drew the cigarette back to his lips and paused. "You know what, though? We make our own fire. And our own light." Lowering his feet back to the ground, he leaned forward and put his hand out for a shake. "So let's trail blaze that tunnel and show that mad emperor bastard what for, huh?"

Qinlan, City of Naara - Year 5 of the New Dynasty

Evening fell, and Spring breathed life into the city's natural landscape once again. Soft, pink petals fluttered gently from the heavens, shining like little stars under the lantern lights. Waves of color painted the mountains this night, as the trees in full bloom perched atop the cliffside and all manner of loud, foreign merchants walked to and fro along the busy bridges for the week long market fair peddling their goods. While the mood was unmistakably festive, there has been a noticeable drop-off in both excitement and traffic in the recent years. Tensions have been high not only with Tiansheng, but between the six nations as well and no amount of poorly written public ballads could hide that.

Speaking of which, a certain young man occupied a small corner of the plaza. A small stage with a sketchy backdrop and cheap props were all he needed to entertain - and 'educate' - the audience of impressionable children before him, he knew. Breathlessly, he rushed from end to end, playing every single character in this little visual tale. The slapping of his shoes against the wooden boards was almost without pause, and by now the children were almost without patience.

"Back! Back, you foul dragon!" Shichiro yelled boldly at the empty air, swinging his sword wildly. "Know you not who I am?"

He sheathed his weapon and hurried a few feet ahead, adopting a completely different posture and voice. "Hmph. A mere human presumes to challenge me? A snort from my nostril could turn your mortal flesh into dust."

He ran back to his original spot and spun around, drawing his weapon again. "A mere human? I am Ia! Slayer of the six generals! Champion of Laoa! An overgrown beast knows nothing of true battle! TASTE MY STEEL! GUOAAAAAAAAA--" A small rock smashed against the side of Shichiro's head.

"Ouch! What the goddamn--" The young man turned and instinctively shielded his face with his arms as more stones came flying his way, pelting his ribs and elbows.

"This play sucks!" one said, rising from the crowd and throwing an apple core. "Why are you making the mad emperor sound like a hero? He's the bad guy! You're stupid!" The children booed, drowning out his whines as they began chanting 'Off the stage! Off the stage! Off the stage!' as they encircled him. One of them climbed up and pantsed him, leaving him in his briefs as the girl ran off with his sash.

"H-Hey give that back!" he panicked, stepping his way down while trying to hold his pants up. "You little shits! Get back here!"

"Ewwww! Run away, the pantsless creep is coming after us!" The children laughed and scattered in all directions, leaving the hapless young man exhausted and alone in front of the now empty play stage. With a deep sigh, he slid down against the wooden frame onto his rear, looking solemnly off to the side.

Well. I hope everyone else is enjoying their day. Because this was not worth the pay.

Using the stage as support, Shichiro stood up and grabbed the cord that had fallen at his feet along the way to tie around his waist. He grabbed his swords and with a mighty huff, left the scene to find the event manager and let her have an absolute EARFUL about this travesty.

***

The mayor waited nervously, distracting himself with the festivities outside his window. Occasionally, he glanced to the guards just to make sure they were still there. He had heard all kinds of horror stories about this hunter - some were of their feats, but most were of their brutality - to meet such a fearsome being in person. . . shivers ran through his trembling arms. When footsteps began to echo in the rooms beyond, he froze in place and held his breath. Louder, and louder. Louder, and louder. The footsteps became deafeningly close - they were almost to his office, just one room away. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Silence.

The door slooowly creaked open and the first thing he saw was a large, bony hand on the handle. The mayor swallowed nervously. The door was halfway open now, and the figure's body was masked in shadow. After what seemed like an eternity, it spoke. Its voice was surprisingly soft and pleasant. For a second, he almost lowered his guard.

"I heard you had a fox problem," said the voice.

"Y-yes, that we do. Please, come in. . . master hunter," the mayor said, eyes widening at the colossal human ducking under the door frame to step into the room. A heavy belt of severed kitsune tails was strapped to the hunter's waist. It must've numbered up to fifteen - no, sixteen tails, of various shapes, sizes, and colors. And he was certain that was not all of them.

"There is. . . business to discuss. . ."
 
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Haruto Moriyama
A festival of sorts was going on in the nation of Qinlan, a nation of grassy rolling hills and lively people. Lanterns lit the starry night sky with even more stars and streamers flew everywhere. The building's lights illuminated the stone streets as cheers came from every crevice of the city. Old men, and women, drunkenly laughed together while speaking their gibberish tongue. Kids ran and played in the streets while their laughter echoed. Recently a specific group of kids had stolen a poor man's belt and ran off with it. Their leader came up with a brilliant, not really, idea.

"Hey! Let's go give this as an offering to the Spring god!" He spoke to his other friends while lifted the belt toward the sky. All of them yelled in excitement while the other half looked hesitant.

"Are you sure? I heard from my parents you have to bring at least two offerings..." A smaller meek looking kid called back. Nods of agreement followed.

"Who cares? It's not like he's real! That's what my parents said!" The kid's brown hair spoke cockily while putting his small hands on his hips. The other kids seemed to gain confidence while also forgetting the rules most of their parents had made them memorize. "It's just some stupid shrine the mayor had build so we wouldn't cause to much trouble." The group of kids immediately ran off toward the forest with their laughter following silently behind.

They arrived at the start of the forest to see the familiar stone steps, arches, and shrine that contained a beautiful brass bell. In front of the bell was a statue of a rather large fox that held it's paw in the air. Lanterns decorated the place but had not been lit as it completely slipped people's minds today. The kids excitedly and mockingly lit the lanterns while running up the steps.

"See! Nothing! There's no such thing as the Spring God!" The leader of the group yelled while taking the guy's belt they stole and leaving it where the other offering was laid. The shadows flickered a bit ever so slightly as the leader stood next to the statue... Silence... Nothing... Quiet...

RING

RING

RING

The bell's toll rang from behind the statue as all the kids froze in shock. Even their cocky leader. No one was anywhere near that bell. No one touched it. Absolutely no one. Then the single and final rule came to their minds, the rule that would hopefully save them all. Luckily for them, that bell could generally be heard in the town.

Rule Number 11 - If anything moves on its own accord, Run.

They all ran off in a panic to tell anyone who would listen, except the leader had no chance of getting away as a shadow seemed to grab him and silence his screaming. Only one kid witnessed this and he ran toward the mayor. The statue was gone and the only thing that drifted in the wind was pattering feet of children and a certain whisper.

"Thank you for the meal..."

Bao Zhao
Bao was walking home in the dead of night with a large blue moon overhead. Her kimono perfectly straight and the colors of it melded together like an ocean to sand. Her feet hit the dirt ground of Kaiesen while wind tangled her beautifully designed black hair. Today had been an average day for her. She went to work, gave her customers what they wanted, and moved on. It never bothered her that she was a geisha, it made good money for her mother and herself as they practically lived in nothing but a shack. Once she reached a certain alleyway her small body slipped between the houses and looked around before slipping a piece of wood away to reveal the small room she and her sick mother lived in. Coughing came from within as Bao's brown eyes caught sight of her mother, a woman who looked just like her but far older.

"I really don't understand why you keep me around... You should be out adventuring with your skill set." Her mother joked which caused a serious expression to settle on her face.

"The years of effort I've put into finding a cure for you would be nothing but a waste." She said sternly while stripped her garments and grabbing a wet rag to wash herself off. From there she put on some comfortable nightwear.

"I'm simply saying that I'm not worth the effort... I'm not going to get better, Bao." Instead of answering, Bao climbed into her bed and laid on her side before answering softly. Her eyes stared into the carved handle of her treasured katana.

"You're the only person I have left."
 
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"Qiunlan's festival is really something, isn't it?" Jia said. "For a place that's trying not to go to war, anyway. How long do you think that emperor is gonna keep power?"

Jia kicked her tanned feet as she sat casually on a vendor's stand. Her orange hair would have attracted attention alone, were it not for the fact that she was also complete strangers with the vendor whose stand she was currently sitting upon. Jia reached for an apple, and Eiju's eyes flicked briefly to the movement.

To any person, this would have looked like identical twins on the street, once carrying a large pack with goods and the other being impetuous and harassing opposing sellers. However, Jia's fingers went through the apple she'd been eyeing. Disappointed at her lack of corporeality, Jia leapt off the vendor's stand and waved a hand in front of the elderly man's face. She poked fingers into it, trying to see how much she could get away with.

"Knock it off," Eiju hissed quietly.

"You're no fun, Eiju. All you wanna do is sit in some dull corner and hope no one buys anything." Jia stuck her tongue out at her companion. "Just go out and have fun, for once."

Eiju was not amused at the prospect.

Passing a play done by one man, Eiju admired his courage for even trying to pull that off at all. Jia lingered for longer, watching him stomp off in a huff. When she turned, Eiju was halfway across the street, eyeing it as a possible spot to set up, then reconsidered.

"Should have gotten here way earlier..." Eiju muttered to herself.

"You could always help out that guy from earlier. Seems like he's struggling." Jia offered. "And nobody is set up across the stage... if they were they moved."

"I'm not helping him. I will, however, take over that spot. Nothing better to do anyway." Eiju said.

Laying out her mat with haphazard care, Eiju threw a few items onto it with worse organization. Eiju laid down behind the mat as though she had been there a while and began to sleep. She exaggerated her snoring to annoy Jia. Jia rolled her eyes and watched the crowd carefully. If someone came by, she'd kick Eiju with her foot. However, since the play had no props, supported a fairly disappointing emperor, and generally just had one guy doing all the parts, no one came by. Eiju happily slept next to her wares.

"You picked this place on purpose, didn't you," Jia said.

Eiju snored even louder. One could say that it was loud enough to distract anyone passing by, drawing attention.
 
Kogasa Kurosawa - Qinlan, City of Naara


Gazing from her perch in a large tree overlooking over the festivities taking place below a winged woman with black hair sits cross-legged with a small lantern at her side, a piece of lead in her right hand and a scroll on her lap.

"Hmm...A fool." She says quietly, drawing a rough sketch of a man below her who had been harking on about the self proclaimed Emperor in a play that was not only wrong, but had resulted in the man's pants being dropped and a group of children running off after they hit him with rocks. Truth be told he should count his blessings to the Kami that it was not adults who heard him, least dropped blood would be among his worries. As the man found a rope to pull his pants up however, the Tengu wasn't about to offer her assistance. He had done this to himself and he had came out of it with only bruised pride.

Rolling her scroll back up and putting it into her robes, the woman stands to her feet, weapons on her back or in her belt and lantern in her left as she jumps from her perch, wings spread wide as she does a lazy loop and fly by of the fairgrounds. Truth be told little here interested her, if not for her work she would not have came at all. This city was so alien to the countryside, crowded, noisy and always on the verge of one sort of trouble or another.

At least not much interested her... Sliding her mask over her face quickly as the smell of fried sweets hit her nose, Kogasa dives down quickly finding a stall of some sort selling some form of sweet rolls. Bartering with the man she buys a small bag of them, whatever expression was under her frightening Tengu mask would be left a mystery as she walked off in an attempt to find some place quiet to eat.


Holding one of the fried goods up to a partly uplifted mask she begins to mutter several curses as a child runs off like a bandit that had lost a battle for the mayors office. True enough to form with her earlier thoughts on the city a brief scream lets out across the district she was in as other children can be heard elsewhere, barely above the noise of ignorant festival goers. "That damn fox, time and time again.." While she hadn't had much to do with the creature she was aware of it, in her mind he was no God but a being far worse than any Tengu, a Yokai that needed to be exterminated. She had warned pilgrims if they paid a visit to his shrine to obey his stupid rules and leave a large amount of fruit or meat, baring that to bring an exorcist to keep it at bay.

Either way the Kitsune had spoiled her appetite and caused yet another incident, she wondered when the Mayor would have just about enough of this... Taking her sweets in hand, the Tengu would at least patrol to discourage further sacrifices, or maybe find the blind shrine girl to help calm the situation before it had a chance to spread to the rest of the festival, she wasn't being paid enough to subdue a riot. Either way she would see where her feet would take her to the shrine or not as she grumbles beneath the mask.

"Duty never ends..."
 
Nobu​


Naara.

If felt like it had been quite some time since Nobu had last visited this city, even if it wasn’t true. The people, the architecture, the layout and the buildings themselves seemed to change like the seasons, and there was always something new to see in a city which prided itself on the liveliness of its populace. Nobu wandered through the streets, his eyes gazing upon the odd merchant stall and admiring some of the merchandise on display. A soft smile played its tune on his lip, a default look of ‘peace’ adorning his face and softening his expression to almost priestly levels. He didn’t necessarily mean to do this or give off this impression, just that he felt most at ease when he was wandering and exploring places, even those he had been to before.

A few kids ran by, a number of other people pushed past on their way to wherever they felt the need to be, and more than a few stares were aimed at his wings. Some were confused, others knew exactly what he was and both parties shared a curious apprehension. He had noticed that a couple of guards, undoubtedly aware of his race, had been following him at a safe distance to keep an eye on him. They weren’t being aggressive about it, and honestly, with the reputation that Tengu had he couldn’t blame them. If he truly wished, he could hide the wings and blend in with the humans around the town, but he preferred the open honesty mixed with the comfortable familiarity that came with creating a human face.

Nobu was about to continue walking down the street when there was a slight tug on his back, followed by another sharp tug on his wings that forced him to stop and stumble slightly as he looked back. Behind him was an old woman who had grabbed one of his wings. “This Seo! This fabric! This would be perfect for the house! We must grab one.” The eyesight on this one was definitely lacking. Before Nobu could even respond, a younger girl came up and grabbed the woman by the shoulders with a panicked look in her eye.

“Mama! Mama, that isn’t a rug! Those are feat-that’s a wing! You’re grabbing a Tengu’s wings.”

“Oh, well they should make a rug out of those, feels like fur.” Nobu cocked an eyebrow as the young girl moved her grandmother by the looks of it away from him.

“My apologies, please, she didn’t mean anything by it.” Nobu simply smiled and nodded.

“Of course, a simple mistake, nothing more.” Nobu gave a slight bow, watching as they moved away. He looked up to see the guards who had been ‘casually’ following him had all but stopped moving as they stared at him, their intent made very clear. Nobu had dodged a bullet...technically. He wasn’t going to skewer someone over ruffling his feathers, literally or metaphorically. He shrugged in their direction, before turning back to continuing down the street. It was at this point he came to an area where a slight play was being held...or to put it more aptly, a single public delusion of grandeur. The man was attempting to portray every character in the play by himself, and while Nobu would never claim that it was a piece of literary genius, there was entertainment to be had in his effort to the piece.

That is, until the kids had apparently had enough of the play and made off with his satchel and his pride. Many might have laughed about that, but Nobu found no humor in humiliating others, at least not when the intent was to cause undue embarrassment. There was a clear difference between good natured ribbing and bullying. With that in mind, Nobu set about to track the kids and retrieve the pouch. It wasn’t too overly hard, considering he saw the kid who had taken the belt and pouch. Smaller footprints, heavier gait and favoring his right side due to the extra weight. While he could have taken off at a decent speed and caught them in short time, he didn’t want to alarm anyone by having a Tengu sprinting through the streets. It wouldn’t take much for the guards to go from passive observation to full blown harassment.

He tracked them through the streets at a brisk walk, but he was noticeably trailing behind them slightly as their footprints seemed to take them out of the perimeter of the town and into a nearby forest. Nobu was lost in thought as he stared at the footprints that he didn’t notice the kids screaming past him until one of them nearly tackled him. Looking up, he noticed these were the same kids that had stolen from the performer. They were all crying, terrified and looking like they had stared death in the eyes. Nobu managed to grab one of them as they were running by, kneeling down and holding him in place as the kid squirmed and screamed to be released. Nobu had to shake the kid slightly to get him into some kind of semblance of mind before he would even stop wailing like a banshee. “Hush child.” Nobu stated, staring deep into the kids eyes and seeing legitimate and terrifying fear. “What happened?”

“Sp-Sp-sp-spring….Spring God.” Nobu cocked his head slightly.

“Spring God? What about him?” Nobu had heard about the Spring god before, when he had been to this city previously, but for the most part he had waved it off as a superstition to keep the populace in line. The kid launched into sobbing fits again, and Nobu could only get certain words between them. ‘Xao’, ‘Dead’, ‘Spring God’, and ‘Angered’. Everything else was a mess as Nobu put his hand on the kid’s head. He wanted to get the satchel back, and it seems like they had taken it to the shrine and something had happened. “Go find a guard or someone of authority, tell them what happened. I’ll go look into it.”

“The statue moves! The shadows move!” The kid yelled after him, before sprinting back further into the city. Good to know. Nobu thought as he moved forward after this ‘Spring God’.



Finding the shrine wasn’t difficult, as it had a fairly prominent following in town. Maintenance on it today seemed to be down a bit, maybe that was why this ‘God’ was angered. Nobu wandered closer, noticing that only some of the lamps were lit, and with an obvious lack of care. The kids might have done this. The stairs leading up to the shrine itself were fairly well maintained at least, and Nobu began his ascent towards the bell. Not even halfway up the stairs, the hair on the back of his neck stood up as his nose twitched. The primal part of him, the one that relished war and death in all its forms spoke to him on an instinctual level.

Blood was spilled, recently.

The kid may not have been lying. Granted, Nobu didn’t think he had been but he had assumed it was something other than a potentially angry God doing this. Regardless, he reached the top of the stairs and there stood a large fox statue, one paw raised, parading as the warden of the shrine. Nobu’s hand desperately wanted to trace towards his nodachi on his back, but he stayed his hands as he looked at the offerings in front of him. Sure enough the belt of the entertainer was among them. Nobu reached down, grabbing it and slinging it over his shoulder and pausing for a moment. His nose never betrayed him when it came to death, and here it reeked. He walked over to an edge of the shrine and looked at the ground, where the stench was coming from. Well, stench was a relative term, since he doubted normal humans would be picking up this scent like he was, not to mention everything inside him screaming that he should be prepared for battle.

He always did his best to suppress his more base nature, but not when it came to survival. Sure enough, his eyes rested on a disturbed patch of ground, with some of the dirt appearing to be wet. Nobu couldn’t confirm it was blood without a physical inspection, but he was fairly certain. He turned back towards the statue and the bell, neither had moved, not that he particularly expected them to. Still, he had to make sure. His hand rested on the hilt of his nodachi located on his right hip as he walked up to the statue, the fox large enough that it was at eye level with him standing. He looked it over, part of him expecting it to go ‘boo’ and the other part of him expecting someone to start laughing from the forest about how gullible he was. There was evidence, but you should also never disregard mankind’s ability for poor jokes and pranks.

“So tell me, Spring God.” Nobu stated, staring at the statue. “Are you the one who bleeds?”
 
Haruto Moriyama
Immediately after the rest of the kids left Haruto revealed his kitsune form and devoured the poor kid whole. Nothing but the bones were leftover as blood dripped from his sharp teeth and jaws. Immediately his paws began digging a hole next to the shrine as he usually did when he ate. It only took him a couple of minutes before he resumed hiding in plain sight, as the statue so many people saw. The only blood he left behind was mixed in with the dirt like two colors of paint that would never mix to make something pretty. Haruto hadn't expected anyone to come back as soon as they did especially someone non-human. A tengu for that matter. He had a very wise aura to him but it failed to intimidate the playful kitsune. He watched as the tengu took the satchel and belt then flung them over his shoulder. Personally, the kitsune had no attachments to any of the offerings he was given and for all he cared the tengu could take them all.

He watched closely as the black winged creature examined his freshly dug hole then walked back to him and stood there. A sword lay at his hip while he now grasped cautiously while looking at the statue. Haru wouldn't reveal himself so easily so... he played. Suddenly from within the woods, a boy with white hair and a purple kimono revealed himself. He had a cocky look on his face while approaching Nobu from behind.

"Talking to a stupid statue are we, old man?" The kid had a nasty smirk on his face and... three fluffy tails behind him. His eyes were a bright blue while two ears sprouted from his head. "That statue isn't going to say anything in return... What are you doing with my offerings anyway?"
 
Hitomi Tachibana - Qinlan

Qinlan's festivals were always something Hitomi cared for. The sounds, the smells, it had all become a welcoming experience, and ever since acquiring her "sight", she could swear she could feel it, even if it grew smaller as tensions rose. Still, the city seemed to refuse to give up that welcoming aura it was known for. Even if there were many who didn't feel like celebrating, those who were present enjoyed it. While Hitomi enjoyed aiding people who needed it, it was nice for people to visit the shrine for more menial reasons.

Smiling softly, the caretaker of one of Qinlan's shrines stood calmly sweeping her premises. Her wardrobe consisted of a very minimalist drab. Black cloth wrapped around her torso, keeping her bust in place as well as draped from her waist down to her feet, leaving her midriff and most of her torso bare save for the ceremonial jewels and metals many priestesses, caretakers and guardians wore. She was content with this, simply sweeping, conversing with visitors and accepting the occasional offering or donation. Unfortunately, there always seemed to be something or someone stirring up trouble.

Halting the movement of the broom, the woman with closed eyes lifted her head up somewhat.

An aura approached hastily. She did not pause as it was a threat, much the opposite. Small and frail, human. It was a child. Furthermore, its chi was-disturbed somehow.

Continuing her work, it wasn't long before a small girl climbed the steps to the shrine, obviously fearful and teary-eyed.

"Child? What's wrong?" She inquired as the girl latched around her waist.

Though she tried to sooth her, all of what Hitomi could make out was something 'Xao'. He was one of the other children in the city, if she recalled correctly; a little troublemaker. Going by his tearful friend, obviously Xao had gotten into bigger trouble than usual.

Thankfully, an explanation from the girl wasn't necessary as Hitomi sensed another presence approaching. It was larger, stronger and somewhat dark with a hint of anger. A Tengu, but most felt more intense. A half-breed? Ah, it must be her.

"I assume you have an explanation for this?" Hitomi inquired before Kogasa even reached the top of the steps. Patting the young girl on the head, she appeared to gaze at nowhere in particular. "Too coincidental. Besides, I don't feel the presence of any travelers like usual... What has Xao gotten into this time?"

Though the caretaker held a smile and whimsical tone, Hitomi knew that whatever had happened wasn't like the children's usual shenanigans.
 
Onibi Haru

He had made it. Be it late. "This place is amazing" he squealed, arms spread wide as he took in the view from the entrance. Why would those old men want him to spend his entire life cooped up in their tribe? A dull, quiet, empty place, bland and lifeless yet here, here there might be too much. The festival was bright, almost blinding with those strange orange and red lamps tied on stalls, hanging from lines that zigzagged between buildings. He walked into the festival as he was immersed by the crowd of small, young, old, male, female people and yet they were unaware. In comparison to them he was some sort of monster. He didn’t mind, it didn’t matter because in the end everyone was the same on the inside. His mind drifted to darker thoughts before being yanked back to reality by the smell of food. He was only here because his father had always told him that this festival had great food however, he had never explained how he knew… “Shrewd old man, secretive till the end.” Onibi chuckled as he walked over to a stall selling skewered meat and buying six of them. The conquest had now begun as he attempted to buy all assortments of delicacies as he scoffed them, and then restocked his arms with as much food as he could carry.

He wasn’t used to the amount of stimulus in the area. He couldn’t tell where noises came from and whether they were of joy or fear, some were easier to understand than others though. Such as people arguing over prices and kids stealing caramel apples. Onibi noticed a stall owner bickering with a customer he had caught steal food and saw an opportunity as he stepped in, “You really shouldn’t steal,” putting his hand on the customer. It was clear he was drunk and a hooligan.

G-Get your filthy hands off me” he snarled as he threw a punch cracking Onibi in the jaw causing him to fall. A smile spread across Onibis face as he looked at the ground hiding it. A woman called for the guards as the stall owner helped him up. The drunk had run away.

Thanks for trying to help kid,” he passed a caramel apple “you took a hit that I was gonna get, so this ones on the house

Thanks old man, it was nothing really, im stronger than I look” he charmed before waving good by and walking away. Did you see that Dad! Just as you taught me, I am an acting GOD! He skipped happily before noticing a sleeping girl with bits and pieces of what he presumed she was selling scattered about. Why was she asleep though? He walked towards her direction as he took a bite of his apple as he arrived in front of her and squatted down. “Hello?" he paused "Are you really asleep” he teased as he smelt the air. Something was off he thought as he went to poke her…

@Karyra
 
Saitou Ayumu - Qinlan, City of Naara

It was a beautiful night for a festival... and some mischief. Ayumu smiled softly as the sounds of children playing, merchants peddling, and the breeze rustling through decorations flooded the streets. But he noticed that the fair was far less crowded than it had been in the years past, and the thought that there were fewer people around to play with drew the corners of his lips down ever so slightly. He walked unhurriedly, his ears and tails consciously masked by illusion, his eyes dark in the dim light, looking like a nearly ordinary brown. There was no hiding the red tattoos that unfurled over his cheeks, however, and he couldn't resist flashing a smile at a human child gawking up at him, revealing his pointed canines. The child blanched, clutching his mother, and Ayumu continued on his way.

The sounds of shouts and feet on floorboards drew his attention to the corner of the plaza, and he assessed the makeshift stage where a single human seemed to be performing. A decent sized crowd of bored-looking human children surrounded the performance, and Ayumu couldn't resist a grin at the opportunity. Making his way discreetly to the fringes of the crowd, he crouched down to the children's height, identifying one in particular that looked like his patience was at an end. "Isn't this the most boring performance you've ever seen?" he murmured, just loud enough to draw the attention of the few children around him. "Perhaps someone will make it a little more interesting." He gently tossed a fist-sized stone he'd taken from the ground to the child he'd picked earlier, who caught it with a wicked glint in his eye.

Chuckling softly to himself, Ayumu drew back, keeping to the shadows as he watched the chaos unfold. One of the little girls had seized the actor's sash, and the man was struggling to hold his pants up. Marking the fabric, length, and colour of the sash before the girl vanished into city, the kitsune fixed it in his mind as he pulled a spare strip of fabric from his sleeve. His illusion swept over the fabric, taking on the appearance of the man's stolen sash, and Ayumu carefully folded it into a small rectangle before stowing it once again.

He approached the stage, where the harassed actor was furiously tying his pants up with his cord. As he began to storm away, Ayumu called after him. "Sir, are you alright?" He gestured to the bleeding wound on the side of the human's head where the rock had hit him. "Children can be quite a tough crowd." He infused his words and his expression with sympathetic softness, and without flourish pulled out the sash. "And I believe this is yours."
 
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Eiju Jia Song

Eiju's hand shot up, suddenly and without warning. Well, she had a little warning in the form of Jia, but this poor fool didn't know that. She lazily opened her eyes, displeased about her sudden disturbance. When her gaze finally fell upon her would be customer, she yawned.

"I was, but I had a sense that someone was coming,"
Eiju said briefly flicking her eyes to where Jia was standing. She sat up, but didn't release his hand. "You know all this is magic, right? And I don't sell to fools."

Jia chimed in, "he seems really powerful, Eiju. Plus, maybe you could trade for a skewer? Pretty please?"

"Okay, boy. I will trade you one item here for some food you're carrying; what you pick sets the price so choose wisely. Money comes and goes, but I figure that I should at least eat something from here since its a celebration."
Eiju let go of the boy's hand finally. She seemed to have come to a conclusion about him.

She waved her hands over the stack of items. Most were innocuous, but there was one item that was powerful. A small gold colored flute sat out in the open. Surely anyone who could use chi would sense it had some sort of power. That flute could be heard by those selected by the user and only by the user. A crowded market would hear nothing, but even across the city the chosen people could hear it as loudly as though it was right next to their ear. The rest was an assortment of masks, buttons, and other general festival fare.

Eiju liked that bauble that she'd come across, and wished that Jia could be bothered by the annoying flute. Jia, as if sensing that thought stuck her tongue out at Eiju.

Eiju slid her hand over her own mask, carefully making sure it remained by her side. Hopefully, this fool wouldn't ask if it was for sale, because there had been a fair few that had seemed too 'clever' for their own good. Scaring them off had been great fun, but this guy seemed... different. For starters, he decided to poke her. He wasn't clever, he was just stupid, apparently. Still, she wasn't going to waste too much of her time. She wanted to go back to sleep.

"Don't get smart, either. I'm too tired to play games with people who like to wake complete strangers."


@Gen_
 
Onibi Haru

She moved suddenly as she grabbed Onibis hand. It wasn’t anything spectacular but, a normal person shouldn’t be able to catch him off guard like that. Even without using Chi and in human form he was quicker than most. Well he wasn’t trying so its fine he thought as she held his hand and called him a ‘fool.’ “Course I knew...” he grumbled as she finally came to her own conclusion to trade for some of his food.

He pouted slightly as she waved her hand over her goods. Fool? I mean he couldn’t read or write very well but, that’s only because everyone in his tribe was a muscle head. He really needed a teacher. So, these objects were magical? He had no talent for the stuff but she seemed interesting and food for knowledge is more than fair. He channeled some Chi into his eyes, it had always been a weird sensation which he preferred to avoid. As his eyes became sharper and saw more than just objects but, could perceive potential Chi or Magic that was stored within the items, it was obvious that some were better than others. In particular a golden flute however, its not like he knew what its properties were or even how to use it.

Mmmmm,” looking up to ask about the object he realized she wasn’t so simple either. She had a strange aura, much larger than it should be. Adding to this peculiarity the strange mask she was clutching was a lot more powerful than the flute, it made the flute look like nothing but from her body language it was better to not poke that subject. There also seemed to be something or someone standing close by, maybe if he channeled more Chi into his eyes, he turned suddenly. Something had changed here; the atmosphere wasn’t as cheerful and multiple powerful beings were around. He turned slowly back to face her forgetting the figure he thought he saw. “Okay, okay I get it. No ‘games.’” He smiled at her “I was worried that’s all, and interested in what you are selling” he pointed to the flute “If its alright ill take that one. So how much would you like in return? And maybe a mask, which do you think id look best in?” he teased not being able to help himself.

@Karyra
 
An older man joined the market fair, humming to himself with his hands hidden in his robes. Grayish white hair was bound in a thick ponytail, falling around his shoulders, and a soft beard framed his hard but wizened features. He had a kindly face, perhaps reminiscent of one's world-wary grandfather or reliable uncle.

Though his eyes perused the fair's activities, his footsteps instead followed a strong scent - a scent that was familiar to him, and was unmistakable even among the teeming masses of the city streets. It seems they were feeling emboldened lately, and he didn't quite like that. And certainly, neither did the others. The heart was a hard thing to sway, and one does not easily forget words of warning when the warnings appear so ever present.

The scent grew stronger, until it became an odor, and then a stench. A girl ran past him in a hurry, shouldering into him along the way - his hand shot out and snagged her by the crook of the elbow, and her own momentum nearly toppled her over. She wrenched herself from the man and spun around, incredulously.

"Hey, what's your problem!?" the girl snapped with her hands on her hips, her fox ears flaring up and her two tails waving impatiently behind her. "Sorry for bumping into you, alright? But I'm in a hurr--" She was cut short as the man swiped her neck in a blur of speed and suddenly she was on the ground, paralyzed.

. . . What?

The kitsune girl, frozen, could only move her eyes, staring up at the tall old man who smiled gently down at her. He grabbed her by the ankle and began dragging her across the paved stone, whistling a tune to himself as onlookers made a path for him with hushed gasps and whispers. She could feel the rough stone scraping her face - it felt like claws against her skin, and she could feel the warmth of her blood leaving a trail from the torn flesh. She wanted to cry for help, but she couldn't move a damn muscle. Her eyes swept wildly around her. What's going on? Why is this happening? Isn't anyone going to help me?

A couple pulled one another closer, speaking quietly but loud enough for her to hear.

"Oh, god. . . that's awful. . . shouldn't we call the guards?" The woman asked.

"The guards?" the man scoffed. "These damn foxes have been nothin' but trouble. Didn't you hear? Old lady Liu who lives across from us lost her son to one of 'em just the other week. Hasn't said a single word since, won't bathe, won't eat. Good riddance, I say."

No way. You can't do this. Please. . . Tears welled silently in her eyes, and the terrible old man was deaf to her suffering, still whistling calmly as he towed the helpless kitsune behind him.

There were more scents to follow.

***

"Why, yes. That is mine." Shichiro plucked the sash nonchalantly with two fingers and a small pout before getting to work tying it around himself. He peeked up with one eye as he did, getting a good gander at this fellow. Well, well, well, what's this pretty-boy want with me, eh? Come to make fun of me no doubt. Okay, yeah, maybe that was a piss-poor display but you know what? Not my fault!

"Oh, the kids? Nah, don't sweat it," he fake-laughed, slicking back his hair. "I love children, just uh. . . fun little balls of energy, huh? Hahaha! But that damn orphanage crone? Oh yeah, I am having a word with her." Adjusting his collar, he casually a put an arm around Ayumu and began his spiel. "Listen, I was just looking for a bit of work - blew my last few coppers on a drink for a nice young lady at the tavern. Who can blame me, am I right? So of course, I'm out on the street, and I realize, I've got no money. I can't sleep outside, the guards'll kick me out of the city! I poke around looking for work and I find this woman who runs the local orphanage she says, 'Why yes, I've got the perfect thing for you! I've been meaning to put on a play for the children this upcoming fair but not enough people to join in!' Sounds good enough to me - and why wouldn't it be? Just do some stupid routine for some stupid kids, how bad could it be?

So the day comes, and last minute the lady says, 'Oh, sorry, but something's come up recently, you'll be performing a different play,' and by the gods she wanted me to re-enact the mad emperor's story!? What! But hey, I need the money, I already signed up for the job so I just said screw it, I'll play ball. I show up, and the two other guys who were supposed to do the play with me just poofed - probably because they didn't want to associate themselves with this goddamn play anymore so it's just me on this stage doing this awful act in front of bored children. . ."

Shichiro let out a deep breath and hung his head for a solid ten seconds before lifting himself up.

"So. To put it shortly. No, I'm not alright. But how's your day been, man? You seem like a nice fellow. Name's Shichiro." He pulled himself away and put his hand out for a shake, grinning from ear-to-ear.

"I'm the strongest swordsman in the world."

@fish-writer
 
Kogasa Kurosawa - Qinlan, City of Naara
Glaring behind the mask as she went up the steps, Kogasa thought of retracting her wings but decides against it, never finding it all that comfortable nor ashamed of how she looked. Not that it mattered much, the people at the shrines and temple knew her for the most. Case and point, the one she had sought out had found her..

Or rather they had found one another, with one of the children running from there, a small surprise but not unexpected.

"I'm not after her." She says quickly, slightly irked the woman would imply she had a hand in this, her feathers bristling briefly at her irritation. Retracting her wings partially, the Tengu removes her mask attempting to put on something of a kinder face, no doubt still scaring the child as she grunted;

"Go, continue home, we'll take care of this." Turning her gaze back to the other woman, her dull colorless eyes stared off into nothingness, Kogasa always found it a little unsettling. Though what did she look like to this woman? Duty? Rage? Valor? Either way it didn't matter.

A bit belatedly and with a look of annoyance on her face, Kogasa throws the child one of her sweets before she turns to run off from under the priestess hand, unsure of what to make of the Tengu's gift, but wishing to go home, or at least maybe to hide within the temple. "I'm afraid we have a bit of a situation and I rather not inform the actual priest."

While it would be good to hear it from the child's actual lips, she had already heard enough and at mention of the name had put two and two together. Waiting for the girl to run off, she speaks.

"There are no travelers. Or rather there are at the festival grounds. As to this Xao, he is most assuredly dead." Sighing a bit dryly as she picked up a bun, she found she no longer had an appetite, setting it back down into the bag, Kogasa continues.

"The children of this group went to his grounds after picking on a fool of a performer, I've only heard mutterings, the cries and seen the terror in the eyes of those to escape. They had ignored the rules and went to see our Dear Spring God. One did not return from their number."

With the edge placed on two of those words it would almost sound like a curse than any sort of praise.

"He's killed before and I warned people to bring lots of fruit and meat, or to avoided his damnable grounds all together.. I never expected one so old to be so foolish as to kill a child during a festival."

Continuing on the half-breed makes the purpose of her visit clear, it was not to just tell her about some random child likely being eaten alive. "I suspect if word of this gets out the public fury against the Kitsune will get out of hand. Simply put Priestess, I intend to patrol the roads within the City and if possible to get the Fox to take a bit of a nap till someone else can deal with it."

Holding out the bag of pastries with a frown to her face, Kogasa offers one to the blind woman, waiting for the scent to hit her. "I am not Hungry any longer. Would you like one? Have some place I can set them? What do you wish done about this ill tiding?"


@EmperorsChosen
 
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Nobu


“Talking to a stupid statue are we old man?”

The voice rang out behind Nobu, as he turned to view the source. A young boy appearing from the woods seemingly mocked him, when the tails appeared behind him. Three, indicating an age that defied his physical appearance. Nobu narrowed his eyes slightly as he stepped forward to confront the boy. “That statue isn’t going to say anything in return...what are you doing with my offerings anyway?” Nobu stopped quite a few feet from the boy, as his instincts still told him something was wrong and off. Naturally, when dealing with Kitsune, it was rare to ever be confronted so directly. Especially since his race was everything theirs wasn’t; direct and brutal, craving the very act of ripping people apart and relishing the blood dripping from their corpses.

Nobu took a breath, the potential of an engagement straining against his normally effortlessly calm exterior. “This is your shrine?” Nobu asked, looking at the Kitsune for any kind of information that could be gleaned about him. If he could sneak up on Nobu like that, he had to have some level of skill...unless…

Nobu looked down, and was greeted with a confirmation, or at least as close to one as he could get. A small smile played itself on his face as his hand never drifted from the comfortable hilt of his blade. “I find that hard to believe that it’s your shrine.” Nobu started, stepping backwards towards the statue once more. “A quiet individual, a young kitsune calling me old when you most likely dwarf me in age, a potentially dead child laying in an unmarked grave…” Nobu stated, looking back over at the patch of disturbed ground. “This has all the makings of a poem, maybe some kind of hymn…” Nobu’s other hand drifted through the air, tracing an invisible medley that only he could seem to hear. “Yes, it could be fairly pleasant...it could even remark about how illusions fail to leave impressions on the real world...like leaving footprints.”

Below the child-like Kitsune, there were no impressions in the dirt signifying he had walked here or otherwise even landed from a tree. The ground was utterly undisturbed, and unless the child truly didn’t weight a single ounce, it would have been impossible to bypass mother nature so effortlessly. The fact that this child appeared when he questioned the statue, mixed with the ominous warning of ‘the statue moves, the shadows move’, gave Nobu all the information he needed to try a new avenue of approach. Illusion or not, apparition or not, the statue was a focal point. Walking forward, the intent obvious in his approach, Nobu reared his hand back and summoned his chi into his fist. Tengu strength was already impressive, mixed with control of Chi was more than enough to smash a normal statue made of marble or stone. “After all, what does a figment of imagination have for material things?”

The stone statue didn’t move as his fist started toward it… or at least it didn’t until the last second. Suddenly, it changed from a statue to a man with short dirt brown hair and glowing green eyes. A blue and silver kimono adorned his body, which complimented his fair skin, and his height reached an even 5’7. His skill set was shown through the way he avoided that punch last second and it was obvious this wasn’t someone to be underestimated. As soon as his feet hit the shrine ground he took a few steps back… One thing that Nobu noticed was the fact that no tails swayed behind him so the age and power level of this being was still unknown.

“You’re a lot smarter than the usual…” His voice was sly and filled with a cockiness that was backed up. Mischief glowed in his eyes ever so slightly too. Nobu looked from the being that had appeared in place of the statue to where the illusion had been, noticing its absence.

“So..the statue does move.” Nobu murmured to himself. The man carried himself with a confidence that seemed to encapsulate his being, but it was impossible to tell if it was a false confidence born of years exposed to mediocrity, or true skill and terror. Despite there being no tails, he guessed that his soon to be opponent had to be Kitsune, based on the apparition earlier. Preferring to get straight to the point, Nobu stared at the man with all the calm aggression of a seasoned warrior. “Did you kill a kid here? The one who brought this belt?” Nobu tapped the belt that still lay across his left shoulder.

“That’s a good question… You tell me? Did I or did I not? There are lots of scary things in this world, am I one of them?” The kitsune’s love for games shown through in his riddling speech. A laugh practically bounced off the trees as he finished speaking.


Riddling fox, wordplay meant to confuse and irritate. Aggression, slice him and be done, walk away knowing you rid the world of an annoyance. Nobu closed his eyes for a moment, taking a breath as he forced his more aggressive tendencies back into his core, to be used only in emergencies. “You did then.” Nobu stated, pulling his sword from its sheath and holding it in front of him. A nodachi, a weapon that was nearly as tall as the person using it, with the hilt of the blade being a good portion and allowing for the wielder to use the weapon almost like a polearm. While he didn’t agree with his instincts shouting to murder and rage without cause, he couldn’t deny that this creature was anything but pleasant. The blood smell he had noticed earlier hadn’t faded, and at this point there were other smells starting to seep through. Most noticeably, the undeniably sweet smell, in his opinion, of decomposition.

“I came here looking for a lost belt.” Nobu stated, staring over at the would be Spring God. “But I can’t allow a child murdering charlatan to roam free. Prepare yourself.” Nobu said, a mere moment before his wings flared and he dashed across the open space between them.
 
Haru Moriyama
Collaboration: @ Quakernuts

Haruto hasn’t expected to be nearly hit by such a powerful punch. At first, he had no intention of dodging it and letting the tengu hit him but once he felt the power rolling off of it he immediately revealed himself while jumping a ways away. His brown hair tousled slightly as the forest breeze calmed his excited nerves. It wasn’t often he met such an opponent that was this powerful. The tengu’s white hair followed behind him as he left toward Haru who didn’t do anything. All of a sudden a kid, specifically Xao came running in between them.


“Stop!” He yelled at the angry tengu while shoving his arms out. His eyes were closed while his head was bent down to avoid any harm that may come to him. Haru looked genuinely shocked at the sight of him. This appeared to slow the Tengu or to more aptly put it, stall him into a dead stop. The Tengu did everything in his power to stop his rush, including flaring his wings powerfully enough to send out a gust of wind towards the two of them. His blade never left the ready state, but now he looked genuinely confused as he stared between the kid and Haru, although it wasn’t hard to figure out why. He was desperately attempting to discern if the child was yet another illusion conjured by the fox. For but a brief moment, he was frozen as he seemed to run through the scenarios in his mind.


“I told you to stay hidden did I not?” Haru’s look of shock disappeared into one of hurt. “He could have hurt you…” The kid seemed to nod in apology while keeping his arms wide open.


“Please don’t hurt him, mister!” Xao’s voice was sweet but also fearful of the Tengu. He was scared. Far more scared of Nobu than he was of Haru that was for sure. The Tengu’s gaze seemed to wander from confused apprehension to stoic determination as he considered his options. At the moment though, it seemed he made his mind up as he pushed forward and grabbed the kid by the shoulder with his free hand, his other still holding the Nodachi in a firm grip. It was then that his hand went through the child, the image of Xao fading like dust in the wind. For a mere moment, the Tengu’s face seemed to scrunch into anger as he realized he had opened himself up, as his nodachi started to rise once more. A smirk adorned Haru’s face as he jumped on top of the bell not yet intending to reveal his power status to the angered tengu.


“Not once but twice did you fall for such a child’s trick… I wonder if my dinner would have enjoyed it?” His green eyes glanced at the bloody hole he dug just moments before. All the tricks he’d used so far were that of a young kitsune, nothing powerful. The Tengu’s anger that had bubbled to the surface for a split second was gone in an instant, replaced by a breath and regaining his stance. If anything, it looked as if he had become calmer at that moment as their eyes connected. Instead of rage, there was a very pointed matter of fact statement written into them. His every intention was to kill the Fox, and for a split second, it appeared as if that was all the Tengu was going to do, stand there and stare.


Instead, one moment he was there, the next he was next to the fox, his blade raised and already swinging. A shiver ran up Haru’s spine as he felt the killer intent coming off of the tengu. What did it matter that he killed a child? It’s not like this tengu knew the thing personally. Haru didn’t have much of a choice so he shifted into what most people would immediately recognize as a kitsune. He has silver fur with nine tails tipped purple. There was a certain shimmer to his coat as he bounded off the bell and toward the steps. He was much faster this way and his green eyes still pierced Nobu’s. Although his foxy jaws did not move Nobu heard him clearly.


“What’s it to you? It’s not like you knew him…” Haru was interrupted by the bell clanging to the ground with a smash, cracking the foundation of the shrine as the Tengu landed beside it. His hand traced the length of the blade in an almost ritualistic fashion as if he was wiping invisible blood from it.


“From what little I knew of him, he was a brat and a thief.” The Tengu responded, walking forward filled with the killer’s intent. “But he was also a child, and those behaviors are learned, just as they can be erased and replaced with the right attitudes. You took that away from him, and I need no knowledge of his existence to know that’s a tragedy.” If the Tengu noticed the tails and new form of the Kitsune, he didn’t appear to care as he strode confidently forward. His blade raised and poised to strike again, his feet dug into the concrete and his use of chi was very clear as it shattered beneath his step, practically flying forward once more. Haru knew there was no way he’d win a close-up fight with a tengu as that was what they were good at just as he was good at magic. The lanterns around them immediately lit themselves to illuminate the area then disappeared leaving the two in complete darkness. Haru’s green eyes could see Nobu perfectly as he ran forward. It didn’t take long for him to realize this tengu was serious about fighting him so he disappeared into thin air and reappeared quietly behind the bell. His voice sounded like it came from everywhere as he spoke.


“Then perhaps you believe I can be changed if behaviors are learned? If not that makes you nothing short of a hypocrite… To kill a killer. How idiotic.” The Tengu seemed to stop, gauging his surroundings and searching for the point where the voice was originating from. His movements were slow, but not in the sense that he lacked speed, more like they were calculated to maximize his guard and efficiency. He strode around, checking the corners of the pillars and moving through the darkness, his eyes moving rapidly enough to confirm that the darkness held no secrets to him either.


“I never said it was my duty to change such behaviors.” The Tengu stated with such authority that it almost seemed like he was compensating for something. “And of course I’m a hypocrite, my entire existence is hypocrisy.” The Tengu stated and for a brief moment, a smile appeared on his face as if he had made some kind of joke. His blade swayed through the air with a practiced measure, his fingers coiling around the hilt of his chosen weapon as he strode slowly towards the bell. Haru scoffed a bit to himself in annoyance.


“Someone who gets mad at situations but does nothing to change them, how heroic of you. Why get mad if you wish not to have change?” Haru watched from a space in the bell as Nobu approached the bell and slowly snuck past him while leaving an rather strong illusion of his fox from behind. Haru honestly wasn’t in the mood to fight at the moment, normally he would be which was strange. “Is there any way I can stop this outbreak? I’m sure there’s something you may want that we can bargain for? Maybe an object or you want me to do something?”


There was a quick ‘whoosh’ as a blade was swung and met with nothing. It appeared that illusions might work as a split second distraction but he wasn’t bothering to check anymore, the moment he saw a target he was going for the kill shot. “You have nothing I want.” The Tengu stated for a moment, before stopping in his tracks. He appeared to be thinking of something, looking at the shrine around him, for what that was uncertain. “And I refuse to play your game...I prefer mine.” The Tengu lowered his weapon and moved to one of the supporting pillars to the shrine. He placed his palm against it and was still for a moment. It seemed like wisps of air swirled around him as he stared at the concrete construction before him before a quick movement of his hand saw half the column shatter into shards. It buckled but did not fall as the Tengu readied himself for another swing, one that would see it completely collapse.


Haru’s illusion immediately went in with claws and teeth ready. It pounced effortlessly and right before it would have cut his face or shoulders it just passed through him while disappearing into a wisp.

“I offered to do whatever you wanted me to do with the promise of ending this fight but you decline? Surely the tengu are not this bloodthirsty..?” His voice spoke while he shifted back to his human form and stood on top of one of the arches. The Tengu had flinched at the illusion, but when it passed through him, he continued with actions. Had he taken a chance that the illusion was just that? An Illusion? It seemed that way as a breath seemed to escape him. The Tengu smashed another fist into the supporting column, and it was followed by it collapsing into a pile of rocks and dirt, with dust kicking up and obscuring everything. The Tengu either didn’t notice or care as he went to the next one, his palm placed against the column as he continued this act, smashing his fist into the columns. Regardless of knowing the Tengu had heard him, the creature was obviously not intent on replying.


Haru saw no reason to stick around if the tengu was just going to have at it with his shrine. It held no sentimental value for him whatsoever. It only helped him have fun but he could still have fun, just not in Qinlan. Haru’s body moved fluidly as he starts casually walking into the woods, leaving a trail of imprints behind him.


“Tengu are so weird…” His voice whispered into the wind a bit.
 
Saitou Ayumu - Qinlan, City of Naara

Ayumu suppressed a wicked grin as the man took the illusioned sash, tying it around himself, and assumed a bland smile, hands tucked peacefully into his sleeves, as the actor peered up at him. Admittedly, it took him by surprise as the human slung an arm around him, and he reflexively clutched the fox mask he'd hidden, his grip on his illusions flickering for the briefest of split seconds, the sash looking almost beige and the shadow of his tails twitching on the ground. Exhaling quietly but purposefully, he drained the sudden tension from his shoulders and put on his attentive listener face for the woebegone man, reining in his focus. Public opinion of his kind fluctuated with the seasons, and he found it easiest to try to blend in.

Doubt prickled at the kitsune as the man told his story, but he didn't let go of his focus nor his bland smile as he processed the words for any hints of interesting news. Nothing piqued his notice, but he filed the details away for later, just in case. He watched curiously as the man sighed, hanging his head in the abrupt silence that stretched on just long enough that Ayumu began to feel slightly uncomfortable. He opened his mouth to ask uncertainly if the human was truly alright, or perhaps if he needed an exorcism, but his head snapped up again and he resumed speaking.

Humans, Ayumu thought, slightly exasperated, though he let sympathy slip onto his expression.

"So. To put it shortly. No, I'm not alright. But how's your day been, man? You seem like a nice fellow. Name's Shichiro." Ayumu looked down at the man's extended hand, then back up at his wide grin. Smiling back, Ayumu took his hand and shook it. "I'm the strongest swordsman in the world."

The statement was spoken with such self-assurance that Ayumu didn't know whether he should laugh, attempt to look impressed, or perhaps argue. He had met many a skilled swordsman in his travels, though none until now had claimed to be the strongest, and he settled for simply showing his genuine surprise, eyebrows raised, head tilted slightly to the side.

"Nice to meet you," he said pleasantly, letting go of Shichiro's hand. "My name is Ayumu. I'm a traveling priest. It's an honour to meet a swordsman of your caliber." He dipped his head briefly in a respectful bow, though his lips quirked slightly in what could almost be called a smirk. "I've had a long day of travel, but it's been worth it. I try to attend this fair every year." He stepped back and looked up at the sky. "I was considering paying a visit to the shrine of the Spring God to make an offering," he said, "but I'm sensing spiritual unrest. Perhaps you could accompany me, before returning to the mistress of the orphanage?" He touched the ritual katana at his hip. "My sword is merely ornamental, and I can pay you for your service."

The smell of blood is in the air, he added inwardly, the faint coppery tang drifting in with the breeze.

@Melon Kid
 
"Yes, the tengu certainly are strange creatures, aren't they?" An older man suddenly appeared from within the nearby woods, walking adjacent to Haru's path and humming as he combed down a bushy fox tail. It almost seemed to twitch, like it was severed from something that was recently alive. Dark stains matted the fur, and its metallic tang hung in the air. "The kitsune on the other hand, now those are a simple folk. All they want to do is have fun. That's all anyone really wants, isn't it? It's no wonder why us humans get along with them so well." He hung the tail at his waist, giving it a few good seconds to fasten it on tight. It was the only one visible on his person at the moment - there was scarcely any room left on his last belt, after all. The man looked up.

"You know, I was rather excited when I saw that you had nine-tails. Those are my favorite, you see." He casually cracked his joints as he walked forward, a smile on his face and his eyes seemingly closed. "Because they always think they can win. But you. . ." His smile disappeared. "You're a runner, from the looks of it. Disappointing, but I'm just an old man. I'd rather not give chase." A bony hand reached into his robes and he produced a fine black pipe to smoke with. "So how about it? Would you like to die now? Or later, after I've collected a few more tails from your kin? There's quite the gathering in the city today, you might be able to get away if you get a running start right now."

***

"Accompany you? Nah, that'd--" Shichiro cut himself off, registering the man's last few words. "Pay me? You'll pay me? Buddy. Pal. You've come to the right place, Ayumu my guy," he beamed confidently, jerking his thumb to his chest. "And a priest, huh? That's a welcome sight in my book - maybe not here, but on the outskirts there's all kindsa nasty voodoo goin' on out there from what I hear. Not that I'm worried about that! But that's more your guys' thing than my thing, you feel? Right, let's go hit that shrine and see what's up!"

The strongest swordsman in the world beckoned him over with a curt wave of his hand, marching out toward the gates feeling a little more chipper than usual. He had a good feeling about today. There was something in the air tonight, he could taste it on his tongue - taste it on his tongue? He smacked his lips a few times, trying to figure out what he feeling in his mouth. There really was something actually in the air, though he couldn't tell what. Nothing important, probably - certainly not as important as getting paid again!

@Kyatto @fish-writer
 
Hitomi Tachibana - Qinlan

Speaking with the Tengu, Hitomi could feel a slight uptick in animosity. However the priestess did not appear to take it to heart, merely softly giggling in response to the woman's retort.

Patting the child on the head once more, Hitomi nodded in affirmation. "Do as she says."

As the frightened child scurried off, Hitomi gripped the broom with both hands and continued idly sweeping the grounds while the two conversed.

"Why would you think I implied that?"
She inquired with a smirk. "I simply meant that you likely knew what the child was fleeing from."

In many ways, Hitomi resembled the notorious foxes found around Qinlan, mainly for her playful personality with others. She wasn't much of a trickster, but to tease and jest were things she enjoyed, though as many could attest, she did a much better job of turning off that persona when she needed to than the local furry deities. For some, however, it was so easy to get their goose that she could do so without intending to. Kogasa was one such person.

Truthfully, Hitomi wasn't one of those that used much to prejudge others. While formerly she most certainly possessed her own discriminatory views, she has since moved away from that. For Tengu, while many feared or distrusted them, for understandable reason, the caretaker was confident in her ability to analyze people upon meeting. For Kogasa, she certainly had the blood and rage of a Tengu, but it was rather blatant to her that she was no less in control of her emotions than a Human, though, that could be said for purebloods as well; Humans had a very diverse track record of consisting of some of the most benevolent as well as cruel.

As the two began to speak, Hitomi frowned at the mention of the deceased. The boy truly was a brat, but that wasn't deserving of a sentence of death in her eyes.

Kitsune were often playful, annoying, little things. It was for that reason, however, that there were still quite a few people that didn't take them seriously. True, more often than not they simply enjoyed to prank and annoy, perhaps thieve—however they were still powerful creatures, especially with age. They could also be predatory. Surely the children likely didn't know the Spring God's identity, but they must've been warned. What were they thinking?

"Old? My dear, the saying 'With age comes wisdom' is typically exclusive to humans... As we grow old, our bodies become frail and rely upon the mind. For Kitsune and others, it is often the opposite." Kitsune grew more powerful with age, not to mention with how they typically passed the time, age often turned to arrogance and apathy towards others.

It was an issue however. The precedent set by a few arrogant killers could result in hostility towards those unaffiliated.

With a sigh, Hitomi took the bag of pastries from the Tengu and disappeared within the shrine, emerging a few moments later with a bronze-colored sheath holding a ken blade within it.

"I am unoptimistic in that we can pursue and appropriately punish or detain our dear deity. However, I can extend aid to those he will undoubtedly bring trouble to." Hitomi smiled softly and looked with closed eyes toward the Tengu, this time actually at her. While originally a sore subject, the priestess was no stranger to using her condition to mess with others, or simply letting some of her old humor leak out with certain people. "Shall we? We might get lucky... how do you think the children would enjoy some nice scarves."
 
Haruto Moriyama
Haruto stopped pretty quickly as a man that seemed to love decorating himself with kitsune tails of all shapes and colors. Haruto’a glowing green eyes seemed to focus on him as he took a few steps back to avoid contact with the smoke. He wasn’t an idiot and he sure as hell didn’t run but he knew when he was outmatched. That tengu was loud which meant more were coming so he left, or he had plans to until this hunter came along.

“You have quite the collection... Would you like to see mine?” Haruto’s delicate hand was originally held behind his back but it revealed it self gripping a skull, a child’s skull. On the temple a name was carved into it... Xao. “I can run but I can fight just like up is down and left is right...” That definitely wasn’t just some sentence Haru said. It had meaning, potentially power to it. A smirk settled on his soft pink lips while walking a wide circle around the hunter until he was behind him, the he bolted. Who knew what affect his words had.
 
"Good, good, you do an old man proud!" the hunter laughed, puffing into his pipe. A thick, impenetrable miasma of smoke suddenly blossomed outward. It was a white fog, and a dense one at that - couldn't even see an inch past it. Its volume was unnatural, and its reach smothered a great deal of the trodden road and its surrounding areas. He vanished from sight, silently tracking the fox's movements through the earth.

As he made to follow Haru, something strange happened. Rather than walk forward, his arms swung out instead, like his motor signals were being sent to the wrong parts of his body. Experimentally, he moved a few of his limbs around and suppressed the urge to laugh again. Ah, that's a fun little trick, it'll certainly buy you time. Slowly and deliberately, he concentrated on retrieving a talisman from his robes and stuck one on himself. Now, he moved his arm freely, curling his fingers in and out without the disorientation he had experienced earlier.

But not much.

@Kyatto
 
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