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 Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 5:00 pm
Riku slid off his horse, looking around the area. He tied the horse to a tree and started to take in the area. He'd never been this far out of the palace before, usually his sojourns only went as far as the marketplaces of Eiyoh. The pretty man smiled, quite happy to be away.
Suddenly, 4 men jumped out of the bushes. He blinked and looked at them, but the surrounded him quickly. "Hey there, what's a cute girl like you doing alone on the road?"
"Girl?" he blinked and realized that they thought HE was a woman! "I don't have to tell you bandits anything." They chuckled and moved in closer, and he drew his sword. "Oh isn't she cute, thinking she can use her sword. Hey pretty, either we get a go with you, or all your money, it's your choice."
"I'm afraid that you would be quite disappointed once you got me undressed, and I'm afraid I won't give my money to you. So I guess that means a fight?" He raised and eyebrow and readied himself, a bright red light came from his neck and a mark appeared. "I was called here for some reason, and I'm not going to let you stop me."
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 5:32 pm
As Sun Li followed Mika and the Priestess around the place, on the tour, they went outside to see some of the area around the compound and Tamahome blinked. "Hey, do you guys hear that?" It was the faint sound of a fight, near the road, he thought anyway. "I wonder what's going on?"
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TionneDawnstar Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 1:17 am
As she led them around, Mika pointed out the main points of the compound. Strangely enough, the Mount Reikaku base was rather large. One wing of the base was devoted strictly to housing the many bandits. It had grown considerably since the time of the priestesses, housing as many as fifty to sixty bandits minimum. Currently staying at the camp was approximately seventy five, mostly males but there were atleast a dozen females since Mika had been made second in command. However, most of them prefered cooking and basic tidying to actual banditry. It was kept strictly divided by sex, unless the pair was wed. Mika and Miki's rooms were the largest, but each room was still fairly good sized and housed two to four bandits.
The other wing was the mess hall, kitchen, training grounds and bathing pond. Amazingly, they had found an underground spring that was fed by the tip of the mountain. They used that for their water needs. It wasn't uncommon for them, on the bi monthly visits, to use the spring water as payment.
In the center of the camp was the main hall, for meetings and the shrines behind. While it would be more practical to have them all speak in over meals, however there were times when meals could be rather noisy. In there, it was damn near forbidden to speak unless spoken to by the siblings.
She had taken them out to see the ponds when she heard the noise as well. Mika closed her eyes, trying to focus on the voices. It wasn't a power, but she had gotten used to the sounds certain warriors made when fighting. If she could hear a single grunt or wheeze from battle, she could tell who it was. After a moment, her eyes popped open, as she grumbled. "Damnit... it's those asses again." She looked over at Tamahome and the Priestess, bowing. "I'll take care of it. You two can get some food in the kitchen. If anyone gives you any trouble, drop my name and they'll stop."
With that, Mika headed towards the door, going towards the sounds of the battle. She touched the fan on her back, preparing herself mentally. While she knew the words for the fan, since her brother had taught them to her, she wasn't one hundred percent sure just how it would work.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 9:58 am
Riku smiled a bit to the advancing thugs, when the first one attacked, he parried the blow easily. It was obvious he knew how to use a sword, and his foot work was both fast, and clean. He completely outclassed the thieves. The fight went on, and he Prince managed to disable one with a perfect cut to the leg, taking him out of the fight but not wounding him too much to not be able to fully recover.
He took another one out in a similar way, not a few moments later, he fell to the ground as well. He looked to the other two and said, "If you two don't want to fall to the ground, bloodied, I'd run back into the mountains." This is served to make the other two more savage, and one managed a cut to the crowned prince's shoulder. The fine red silk started to stain immediately. But even with his sword arm injured, he still managed to disable the other bandit. Finally it was just him and the thug who'd scored the hit.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 4:13 pm
Ayame felt quite lost when the two spoke of Eiyoh and Emperors and warriors and some special room. She supposed she'd get used to it all with time, though she wasn't sure if that was a good thing, and she took the clothes Mika offered her and carried them as she showed them around the major areas of the rather large bandit compound. She felt a little uneasy, and couldn't help wondering if all the bandits were like the ones who attacked her. She felt safe enough with Sun Li and Mika, though, and figured if they were there, there couldn't have been much bad bandits like the ones from before.
After a while, they came to a stop outside, and she blinked as she heard the disturbance as well. Watching as Mika went to deal with it, Ayame looked up at Sun Li, wondering if he was going to leave for the fight as well. She looked down at the clothes still held in her hand, though she soon clasped her stomach as the mention of food made her realize that she hadn't eaten since lunch at school that day. School... She wondered how her friends were, and if anyone noticed they were missing. A lot of time had passed, didn't it? "...You guys have some great food here, right?" Ayame asked Sun Li with a smile plastered on her face, her eyes closed to keep back the tears she could feel gathering behind her eyelids.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 4:40 pm
Tamahome smiled at her, "Yes, the food is quite good. I'm sure Mika has everything under control, let's go get you something to eat." He offered her his arm and escorted her to the dining area. A few of the bandits looked her over, but at stern looks from Sun Li, the looked away and didn't make any further advances. "Let's see what we've got that you might like." He ran over the choices and grabbed two plates. He smiled down at the girl, who seemed to scattered that she might fall over any minute. It made him want to protect her even more. "Here, tell me what you want and I'll bring it to you. You can sit down and relax. Don't worry, no one will hurt you, or if they try, I'll kill them first." He smiled and helped her over to a chair.
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TionneDawnstar Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 5:12 pm
A loose stone clattered down the heights. Her hand on the stone tightened slightly as she peered over the ledge. That could have been me. Pushing the thought aside, she looked up, wiping her forehead. She and Chiriko had arrived about three days ago, and they'd been mercifully safe throughout their accent.
The sound of fighting met her ears. A male's voice, calm yet challenging, sounded.
"If you two don't want to fall to the ground, bloodied, I'd run back into the mountains."
There was more fighting, the sound of metal piercing flesh. Moments later a thud sounded. Abandoning all caution she raced up the slope, working the cinks in her fingers and wrists. It had been some time since she had used her fingers for that sort of work.
~~~~~~~~~
Lian stopped when she saw the fighters. Three bandits lay on the floor, another was facing off with a woman. Lian frowned and looked closer. No, it was a man. She felt colour rise to her face. The man was extremely good-looking, despite her rantings to remain single.
The man was hurt, on the shoulder. She examined it. It wasn't deep, but if he was to keep fighting, he could permanently ruin that arm. She crept up behind the bandit, and got ready to strike. She didn't have to wait long; the bandit was focusing on the man. A small smirk flashed over her features, and she pounced, her fingers jabbing into the nape of his neck and the muscles in the shoulder blade of his sword arm. Flipping in mid-air she landed gracefully beside the wounded man.
"Hello," she greeted. "I'm assuming they bugged you first?"
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 5:24 pm
The dashing man smiled a bit at the woman that had appeared next to him. "Naturally, although I feel bad about actually killing anyone, no matter how nefarious they may be. Nice work there." He motioned to the downed bandit. He wiped his sword off on the unconsious man then sheathed it, though grimacing in pain. "I'll give him credit though. He's the first man who's ever drawn blood on me." He flicked a stray chestnut lock out of his face and smiled. When he turned like that, she could see some sort of red mark on his neck.
Chiriko came running up to the scene, out of breath. "Hey Nuriko, didn't you here me calling for you? You just took off..." he hunched over and caught his breath, then looked up at the man. Hatori, who was well aware of the heirarchy in Eiyoh, knew exactly who was standing there before them. Be covered his surprise, and knew that the Prince wouldn't know him.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 5:37 pm
Lian blushed at the compliement.
"It was nothing," she remarked. "Though that one won't be using that arm for about another week or so." She looked worriedly at the man's shoulder. "Don't move," she said.
Cupping her hand over his wound, the light from her mark peeked through her clothes as red light washed over his shoulder from her hand. When it faded he was completely healed. Satisfied with her work she leaned against the rock face and used a hand to push her bangs from her magenta eyes, exhaustion finally kicking in.
"Well, that should do it," she commented. "Though I wouldn't use that arm vigourously for the next few days. You could tear the muscle and ultimately ruin your arm." Suddenly remembering her manners she bowed to the man. "Oh, how rude of me. I'm Xiao-Lian." She noticed the mark on his neck and smiled slightly. "Or you can call me Nuriko."
After a moment, she registered Chiriko's voice, and looked at him. He'd froze on the spot, staring at the man. Concern welled up inside her.
"Chiriko? What's wrong?"
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 5:51 pm
Taking his arm, Ayame allowed herself to be led to the dining area. As they walked along, she could feel several eyes on her as they went, and she clutched at Sun Li tighter. She wished she changed first before they went on the tour. Thankfully, no one did anything more. She felt a little worried when Sun Li said he was going to leave and get them food, but she felt relieved when he said that he'd protect her. Sitting down, she did relax, and began thinking about what to eat. Ayame did have chinese food before, but she figured the food here, if authentic, was much different from the food she had back home.
"Ano...They all sound so good. Can you actually choose for me? I trust your decision." Ayame smiled gently before raising a hand to her head, which seemed to hurt slightly as if pulsing on its own. She definitely couldn't do something as simple as picking food with her head in that condition.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 6:54 pm
"I'm Riku, just a traveller. It's nice to meet you Nuriko." He smiled and moved his hand over the mark on his neck. "I'll try not to use it too much, I wouldn't want to ruin my shoulder." He looked over to the other man, you was staring at him. Riku was afraid that he'd recognize him. He seemed a bit familar to the Prince as well. "Don't worry, I know I look as pretty as a girl, but I'm all man. No need to stare."
Chiriko blinked at him. "But you are the crown prince aren't you? And you have a mark." He pointed to his own neck, were the mark of Chiriko was starting to disappear. It just so happened the two men had their marks in the same place.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 7:08 pm
Sun Li nodded, concerned for the Priestess. He picked a varity of food, since he had been raised by the wise woman in his village, he knew the best foods to give her to help her regain her strength. He took the same foods, knowing he needed to be in top form.
He sat the plates down, one in front of her. "Are you feeling alright Ayame? You're worring me a bit. Are you not feeling well?" He poured her some warm tea, "Here, drink this, you need to keep yourself hydrated."
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TionneDawnstar Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 9:02 pm
Mika had made it down the mountain by the time the fight was over. She was expecting to see four dead men, but instead found them quite alive, something she was dreading. She walked down out of the brush, running her fingers through her head. "Damnit..." She walked over the the leader of that particular band of goons, kicking him hard in the side. "If you would have followed my orders earlier, I wouldn't be forced to do this. You brought it on yourself." The girl looked over at those now standing around, bowing slightly. "I apologize for these idiots. Don't worry, they won't bother you or anyone else again." They had been a hassle for years now, but she had never would have expected them to be so damn stupid. And now... they would pay the ultimate price. Anyone who disgraced the honor of the Mount Reikaku bandits, particularly as many times as these four had, were to be dispatched.
She looked back at the four, memorizing their faces, before looking at the others once again. "Please, go along the path. Plug your ears, and your noses. You'll not want to be here for this." Mika had warned them. The four bandits knew the penalty. There was a single tear slipping down Mika's face as she looked at the condemned one last time. "Idiots... the trip was tomorrow... but you... but you screwed up..." The fan that was attached to her back slipped off, as she shut her eyes. Tucked into her belt were a few vials, to be used later. Taking a deep breath, she looked at them, two words slipping out of her lips. "Rekka Shi-nen." All four of the fallen men caught flame, their yells echoing in her ears.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 9:16 pm
The Prince hadn't left, watching the fire go over them. He clenched his fists and ran up, puching the girl you of the way. "What in the hell are you doing! Stop it flame! I spared these men, you are killing my citizens, even though they may be evil, you can't just to this!" The flame caught in his brown eyes, making him look intense. "Nuriko! You can heal right!"
Chiriko raised an eyebrow and knew the idealistic Prince wasn't going to let this go. The girl seemed a really nice person, and he didn't want the deaths on her conscious either. He closed his eyes and raised his hand, a heavy downpour started over the whole area, extinguishing the fires. He didn't know if the men were still alive, but between the sad girl and the angry Prince, he didn't quite know what to to. The clouds spread to make sure the area was doused and no fires would start.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 9:34 pm
Mika glared at the man before her, who had caused her to stop. "You dont' understand. They know the rules, and they tried to rape the Priestess of Suzaku not moments earlier! They were told to return to the base, and they did not. The punishment for not following orders, particularly as many times as they have is death!" The tears were still visible in her eyes. She didn't much like doing this job, but she had to. As second in command, and current boss of the Mount Reikaku Bandits, she had to. The mark on her ankle began to glow as she turned back to the men. "They knew the laws, and still they disobeyed. And now, you have granted them a more painful death. I hope you are happy."
She walked over to the first bandit, pulling the sword from his charred hand. "May Suzaku hold you in his hand for all of eternity," she whispered, as she plunged the blade into his neck. It killed him instantly.
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