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[Steel Samurai]

OOC: Ok, I'mseriously confused about this . . . curse thing and everything else too. I suppose I'll find out soon enough.

Steel cursed under his breath. He had been unable to be where he needed to be last night, and, as a result, had had to stay in this town another day, holed up into his room. He would have to wait till tomorrow night to fulfill his mission. However, before that took place, there was a little problem he needed to take care of. Somewhere around here was a Scimk. Nasty brutes. Steel drew a seal out of his pack, pierced his thumb and let a drop of blood fall onto it. He placed the seal on the wall, where it hung, stuck to the wall with his blood. He had obtained a room between that of Ken and the rest of the party. The seal would absorb the vibrations coming from the room next to him, where the party was ahving its meeting. But, meanwhile, he had a Scimk to hunt. Steel left the inn disguised as a peasant once more. The beast couldn't be mroe than a few hundred yards away. From the power of the spell, it seemed as though it was still a juvenile. Steel halted in the middle of the town square. By Diel he wished he had that half-demon with him now. It's senses would be invaluable. Steel smelled the air. There. Back in the direction of the inn. If the beast had been any farther away the scent would have been unnoticeable. He headed back in the direction of the inn, and went down an alley next to it. Looking around quickly to make sure that no one could see, Steel shimmied up the drain pipe and vaulted over onto the flat surface of the inn roof. In summer it would have been used for sunbathing and to get away from the heat of the streets, but now, during the semi cold of autumn, it was deserted. The Scimk hovered just over the room of the party, still feeding off of the many small packets of energy it had absorbed from them. It turned and saw Steel. He thrust his left hand at the beast, and a deep cut seemed to appear on its shoulder. Steel cursed. His aim was always off with his left. He rushed the juvenile lesser demon, which started it's own rush towards Steel. A cloud started forming around him, but before the Scimk had time to begin to drain energy, Steel plunged his stiffened hand, spearlike, into the creature's weak spot, just below it's heart. He grabbed the pumping organ and ripped it out. It was brutal, and wasted much more energy than Steel would have liked to spend, but it was effective. The Creature fell down in a heap, and Steel, casting it's heart away as he went, returned to his room to clean his hands.

[Gabe Puratekuta]

[Jeez, I'm gone for more than a half a day and a whole nother page goes by!!]

"Well, now that everyone (except for Germanlink) is here, I can get started. About a year ago, I'd say it close to eight months by now, I was in my village....."]/color]


[~FLASHBACK START~]

Gabriel was walking past the shrine that housed the Kami-Dao when he suddenly felt it calling him. He walked inside and was greeted by...........a bucket of cold water from the ceiling.
"<That Mut-su.... I'll get him back for this!!>" she said. But since she could still hear the mystical sword calling her, she continued. Gabriel's eyes grew wide as she entered the chamber that the blade rests. It was the first time she was in the presence of the Kami-Dao and wondered what she should do next.
"{Noble warrior.}"
She was surprised to hear it's voice in her head. "{Wh-Wh-What!?!}"
"{You wish to know why you have been called into this chamber, do you not?}"
"{Y-Yes.}"
{"Then draw the blade you see before you.}"
She did. The sword started to resonate and suddenly Gabriel's body was taken over by its power. Her left arm was sliced open and her blood dripped onto the blade. She regained her senses just berfore the sword flashed, forcing her to drop it. Once the light faded, she didn't see the sword anywhere. Instead, there was the naked body of an emerald-haired teenage girl. She had the same face and proportions as Gabriel, but the aura of both the Kami-Dao and of a pure soul was sensed around her. Gabriel removed her burnoose and wrapped it around the girl.
"{Father.......}" escaped the girl's lips.
Gabriel smiled.

[color="#C0C0C0"]".......and that's pretty much the gist of it."

[Mystic Kitsune]

"Shes...the Kami-Dao?" He paused for a second, thinking of what to say next. "And all this time...I thought..." Kitsune stopped when he smelled lots of blood present...

Keh...now I see...no wonder I felt good around her. She is the kami-dao...all this time I thought...

Kitsune sighed and got up. Looked around for a sec, and left the room to ponder...

In the hall, he smelled a stronger scent of blood.

Still fresh?

He jumped immideatley on all fours, trying to find the direction from where the scent was coming. He found it. He got up and started running, and stopped at the stairway.

Even stronger now...but its coming...from upward?

Kitsune dashed down the stairs and out the door. He was now right outside of the inn, he traced the scent to the alleyway, and paused at the dead end.

This would be the place...how to get up...

He looked around a little, and decided the walls were just close enough to wall jump off of one and the next to make it to the roof.

After a few tries, he found the proper footing in the wall, and made his way to the top of the roof. He finally grabbed ahold of the roof's side, and forced himself up. He landed in something wet...it was a pool of blood.

Damn... He thought as he gazed out to the blood filled roof of the inn.

This scent...hurts my nose

Kitsune covered his nose with his long sleeve, and, still looking at a puddle, spotted a big heart.

I see...it was a Scimk wasnt it? He vaguely recalled when he was chased down by them when he was younger. Remembering this he smacked the heart off the roof and proceeded back down to the hall, covered in the blood from the puddle he fell into. He was getting [img]http://forums.legendsalliance.com/public/ALOT.png[/img] of strange looks from people inside the inn.

He then sensed the same blood...ahead of him. He instantly chased where the scent was coming from...

Edited by Mystic Kitsune, 22 August 2006 - 01:46 PM.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken looked to the unconscious Motoko. His eyes looked over her again as he thought about what this meant.

^She is a sword given human form...^ Ken realized.

The boy had seen and heard of many legendary weapons. The Wolfen he carried was a sword that had its own spirit, but... Ken had never heard of a spirit weapon that became human.

Perhaps as if to again remind him it was there, Ken felt the Wolfen extend its familier spirit into him for a moment.

[Mystic Kitsune]

Kitsune wasnt getting anywhere, his own blood stained clothing kept making him get lost in the scent. He stopped and decide to go back to the room for now.

I sensed the sea in that blood...but this clothing prevents me from following whoever that was...

He just came back and sat down.

Damn this half human body of mine. I keep coming back...

[Billy Goat]

OoC: Yea, sorry I've been gone. School's begun for me.

Germanlink was crawling inside through his room's window. He looked at his bed and undid the pile of sheets and pillows in his bed he had made earlier to form the shape of his body. "I wonder if anyone noticed I was gone", the 'dummy' he had made was very well made, but surely Kitsune would have sensed his scent was gone.

He saw his door was open so somebody must have come in earlier to wake him up. he went through the door and walked outside, he then heard someone running by the staris and went to take a look. "Kitsune! good morning....whoa! Why are you covered in blood? are you alright?" he saw the Kitsune and the rest of the party sitting down by the other end of the hall. He ran up to meet with them. "What in the world happened while I was gone?"

Edited by Billy Goat, 22 August 2006 - 04:24 PM.

[Steel Samurai]

Steel walked into his room and shut the door. As soon as it clicked shut he heard scrabbling, long toenails clicking down the hall towards his room. They halted, turned around a couple times, and then go back the way it came. The half-demon must've caught the scent of the blood. Steel himself had no scent, the result of the genetic coding that came from being born under the Shadow, but certain scents occasionally clung to him. Like that of the sea, a smell which was difficult to get rid of. After washing his hands he pulled the seal off of the wall, and put a swab of the blood into a small vial on his belt. He put a drop of a clear solution into the vial and shook it. The liquid inside turne purple. Steel took a syringe from the same pouch and filled it with the liquid, then injected it into his upper arm. Suddenly, everything went black, and he heard the voice of Gabriel speaking . . .

Steel opened his eyes and pulled the syringe out of his arm. Less than a second had passed since he had injected the syringe into himself, but it seemed as though it had been hours. He heard Germanlink pass his door, and it seemed that the others had moved to the end of the hall. Steel gathered his few things together and threw them into a pack, then took off his bloodstained peasant's attire, and put on the clothes of one of the many beggars who roamed the streets. Smiling to himself, he opened the door of his room and threw the clothes out into the hallway. That should get their attention. Steel vaulted out the window of his room and made his way to the front of the inn, where he sat down, pulling one leg under him in such a way that it seemed as though he had lost it. He placed his felt hat in front of him, and looked pleadingly at all who came near. The only thing left to do was wait.

[Mystic Kitsune]

Kitsune heard the others conversing, but he couldnt concentrate. Hes pretty sure he heard a comment containing "Kitsune" in it as well, but his nose was killing him. The bloodstains, they should have been dried up by now, but it seems that this blood takes longer than that of ordinary human blood.

Dammit...where was the last water hole I saw?...

Remembering that there was one on the outer rim of the town, not to far from here, he decided to go. He took his Blade of Illusion around and went back into the hall.

He stopped when he saw most of the Inn people staring at some sort of pile of...bloodstained clothing?

Kitsune was going to go investigate the clothing, but then the people turned their attention from the clothing to him, and seeing as he was a rather ill-tempered half demon with blood on his clothing, they couldnt think of anything else other than the fact that he had probably murdered someone. The people dissapeared into their rooms for a second, and with his sensative hearing, Kitsune heard the clattering sounds of iron and people scurrying around, gathering things by the sounds of it.

This is bad...all I wanted to do was to go the water hole...now they think I killed someone when Im innocent.

Kitsune slowly walked backwards to the doorway of Gabriel's room, and without turning his head to face inward, he spoke in a half hushed tone:

"Theyre creating an angry mob. Especially after me, Im guessing...but, seeing as youre associated with me, you best run far...Keh, yes they are humans, but I dont think you people think it would be right for me or you to kill them...unfortunatley they dont think that way..."

Kitsune turned to Motoko with a quick glance, and then dashed down the stairs and out the door. Tripping over a...hat?

He stumbled onto the floor but quickly regained his standing position.

"Hoi. Watch yourself! Keh, and Im not falling for that fake leg trick of yours!" Kitsune said motioning his hand to where it was hidden.

"But, Im pretty sure you can trick a silly human with that though, theyre not the brightest creatures...why am I talking to you anyway?!" Kitsune darted off in a hurry toward the edge of the town, seeking the few woods that were around.

Finally, he came across the water.

This damn scent, I dont know where the humans are...once the blood is washed off, my senses will be at full...

He jumped into the water, and stayed underwater just in case anyone followed him...

[Mystic Kitsune]

(OoC: Excuse this double post, but I am, in fact, posting Gabe's post. (He told me to post if for him.) Apparently there is some problem with his computer which isnt allowing him to access this thread, because of some word that he typed, just one word. Weird, isnt it? And sorry Gabe, the colors didnt appear in the "Quoting" ^^')

Gabriel could smell a very bad stench on Kitsune's clothes when he ran in and out fo the room. Blood.....? But it wasn't human. "Scimk!!" She scowled when she said the wretched name. She then stood up, took off her burnoose and put it on Motoko's sleeping body. She then picked up her 'daughter' and ran outside. As soon as she went past the doorway, an angry mob blocked her path.
"Where's that demon!?!"
'Whatever happened, I know he was not a part of it."
"Liar! Everyone here saw him with blood on his hands!"
"He killed no one. That was the blood of a Scimk."
"A Scimk!? Those wretched creatures have been extinct for a millenia!"
"Not true. I've run into many when I was but a lad--lass." Noticing that this was getting nowhere, Gabriel then ran back into the room and jumped out the window. She used her quick erflexes to land perfectly on the ground. "I'm sorry, Kitsune. I've failed to convince them of the truth." She then noticed that the rest of her friends were staring down at her from the window. "I'll go look for Kitsune! You guys find a boat and wait for us at the docks!" Then Gabriel, making sure that Motoko doesn't fall from her arms, sprinted toward the edge of town...

I guess Ill add mine along with it:

He climbed out of the water, now drenched and soaked making his long clothes even longer. He got on the ground and shook himself dry like a dog would do. He sniffed the air, and he could finally detect anyone he recognized from afar.

This...is Gabriel's scent? With Motoko? Kitsune sighed, feeling relieved.

Wait...more people?...Iron...ragged clothing...Dammit! The mob! They must have tracked them somehow...

"Well...what are you waiting for?"

"What?! Youre awake again?"

"Cut them down with your blade. You detest humans anyway, or anything that looks human, or anything that resembles a human..."

"Shut up! Thats not true! Even I-"

"Your heart was stolen by a human? Heh heh...Foolish half demon. What about your desire to-"

Kitsune wasnt paying any attention to the sword, even if he was out of seals, he wasnt possessed for some reason.

...apparently he was to busy preparing to ambush the mob.

Edited by Mystic Kitsune, 23 August 2006 - 10:58 AM.

[Steel Samurai]

. . . curses. Things had gotten out of hand. Although he had no love for the people of this town, a massacre by the half demon would attract unwanted attention towards the party. Attention which would extend this mission even further. As soon as the Gabriel and the rest of the party passed him, Steel leaped up, much to the surprise of some of the onlookers, and ran off towards the docks. He noted the ship the party were intending to take, and then ran off to catch up with the mob. In a moment, he was among them. It was fortunate that he had taken the tiem to apply some makeup to his facing, making him look like he was around 60. He rushed into the middle of the mob and shouted. "LISTEN TO ME IF YE VALUE YOUR LIVES!" Everyone stopped and looked at him. "Fellow townsmen, please, have a care, think about what you're about to do. Whether the demon killed a man or not, avenging one life is not worth the sacrifice of many! I have heard tales of these half-demons which would chill the blood . . . thousands murdered by one of the creatures, at once. Do you really think we few hundred stand a chance?" The crowd started murmuring among themselves, the seeds of fear having taken root.
"I tell ye, if you continue and try and take on the beast, not one of ye will return to your wives and children. Now I say we return to town tonight, bar our doors, lock our windows, and have plenty of the demons weakness on hand . . . watercress! If we hang it over our doors, he can't get in to slaughter us! Who's with me?" The crowd murmured among themselves for a moment, and then someone yelled "If we don't leave now, he may already be coming to get us!" This caused panic. The mob started moving back towards the city, slowly at first, and then more quickly as fear spread in the people's hearts. Steel himself faded into the woods, smiling to himself. Not a whit of what he had told them was true. Two half demons might have, with luck, been able to take on one hundred, if they had been in a defensible position, but never two hundred, let alone thousands. And they were certainly not susceptible to watercress, Steel didn't think that anything was. But, the lies had served their purpose, panic had been spread, and attention had been diverted away from the party now boarding the ship. Which reminded him. Steel wiped the makeup off of his face and discarded the beggar's clothes, then set out at a silent run towards the dockyards.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken ran down the docks, hoping the best of luck for Gabriel and Kitsune. Luckily enough people were away that he could get away with stealing a small ship. Ken raised a hand to his head and prayed.

^Please forgive me for this theft, spirits, but my friends and I need it for the better good.^

Ken had spent enough time amongst and as pirates to know how to get a vessal prepped and seabound. He turned to Ayden and Germanlink as he worked some ropes.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Do something!" he exclaimed.

Edited by Ken the Wandering Soul, 24 August 2006 - 12:01 AM.

[Mystic Kitsune]

(Ill be posting mine and Gabriel's. Its kinda long too.)

Although Steel had un-done most of the mob, there were still about 10-30 extremley wrathful/brave/stupid people left, who had ignored Steel's warning completley. They had continued the pursuit.

Gabriel heard the mob behind her. "Time to take the high road!" she said and leaped to the highest treebranch she could see. From there, she kept jumping forward from branch to branch. She could see a vast lake in the distance. Kitsune's got to be there! As soon as she ran out of treebranches to jump on, she braced both herself and Motoko for a dive into the lake

Kitsune reached the mob, and readied his claws and started growling. The towns people, suprisingly, feeling no fear, charged right at him.

Dammit! This wasnt supposed to happen, they were supposed to run in fear like the humans they are!...I cant kill them either...

Kitsune dodged the first few chargers' pitch forks, and started punching (not slicing) each of the people on the head hoping they would lose consiousness without him killing them.

What the?...the scents of Gabriel and Motoko are gone?! It seems to be...coming from the trees up above? Heading toward the water... But...that means...

In his business of thinking, he was struck a few times by their pitchforks and knives, even some had swords.

"Ack! These bastards!" Kitsune said as he fumbled back clutching a wound that had scraped his heart.

He had no choice...he couldnt kill them, he wanted to, but couldnt. He knew he was going to be in trouble with the rest of his crew if he commits a single crime in this town...the town millitia may be after him if he were to kill these people.

"Dammit!" Kitsune yelled loud enough for the birds to fly away.

Its not like me to run...but it looks like I have no choice...

He dashed through the mob who had surrounded him, being cut on both his legs and left arm along the way to the lake...

Wet and glad to already be in her cursed form, Gabriel pulled Motoko out of the water. Suddenly, she heard Kitsune's screams of pain.
Chikuso!! I have to help him, but I can't leave Motoko here alone.... She then got an idea. She did more hand symbols and at least ten copies of her appeared and rushed to help Kitsune

"Come on people! We almost got him!" yelled one of the outraged village folks, who was soon followed by a cheer.

A little distance away, still in the people's sight range, Kitsune was trying to limp his way toward the water...

Damn it...these people...cant they see Im not trying to kill them?!

The people began running up to him, cheering and getting ready to land the finishing blow...

This is it... Kitsune thought as the people were coming in for the finish...

Suddenly, he felt a surge of power, and urge to kill. He withdrew his corrupt blade (which he hadnt done since the woods) and killed the first few people off.

In suprise, the crowd stopped and just looked at the gruesome scene in front of them.

Now it was his turn, Kitsune chose the offensive without thinking and decapitated another two members in a fury of swipes. Panicking, the other villagers decided to run for it.

Bastards...you wont get away... He said as he threw the sword with pinpoint accuracy, making it slice right through one man's heart from the back. While the others continued, he chased down two and killed them with his claws.

Suddenly, he realized what he had done. Although more than half of them had gone away, there was a disgusting scene left behind.

That blade! It made me withdraw it... Kitsune thought while the former mob were breaking off and running for their life...

Kitsune, realizing he couldnt touch the blade without getting corrupted again, was wondering how he could move it into it's sheath without actually picking the sword up...

He heard the bushes shaking, and readied himself, but it turned out to be...10 Gabriels?

"What the hell?!" Kitsune said as he was staring back at the 10 duplicates Gabriel had created...

THe copies looked around at the scene and only shrugged before sucker punching each other and disappearing in a puff of smoke. One duplicate remained and lifted the corrupting Blade of Illusions and returned it to its sheath before it too poofed away.
A few minutes later, the *real* Gabriel, Motoko on her back, ran into view.
"Holy hell!! Did you haev to do that!?!"

After tying the sheath back around his waist, Kitsune looked up with a straight face.

"Yes...yes I did. It was a desperate manuver..." He said..."to protect you and me. " he mumbled under his breath.

"Keh! Its not like I care though, they had it coming! Anyways, Im going to go hunt down that real murderer or whatever." Kitsune said as he practically stomped away...

"It won't be easy. He could be long gone by now."
Motoko stirred a little, wincing at the smell of fresh blood, with tears streaming down her face. "Nooo.....!!"

"What...why, why are you tearing? Im just going back to destroy whoever it was. Ill take the whole town down just to find him!" He said. Realizing those werent the type of words to stirr up moral, he just kept limping on using his sword as a support stick.

"Keh! You wont have to worry, Ill just destroy the buildings and not the people, okay?"

I keep making this more awkward...

"No. I, not to mention Motoko, want you to head to the docks. Everyone else's probably waiting for us." she said and walked toward him. "But first your wounds need to be tended to."

"Keh! My wounds are self healing. To the docks...fine. Lets go." Kitsune said and started walking, and then stopped. "Whats with the 'I cant believe he agreed so easily look'?, lets go already!"

I need that new blade anyway...this damn illusion blade...I dont even know if all these feelings are real or not...

She only smiled. "You've been around me and Motoko a little too long." Suddenly, her stomach started to growl. "Ehehehe........whoops. I forgot to grab something to eat on my way out...."

"Keh, hungry already? Well i thought so..." Kitsune pulled three fish from his pocket. "These have been stuck in my pocket ever since I climbed out of that water hole. You can have it." he said while tossing the fish at her.

"Dont you say Im going soft, Im just...to lazy to bother with the village folk...and Im not hungry." Kitsune said when he started walking again.

...wait...humans...they dont have the guts to eat something raw. Keh, nice pun...

Gabriel then threw the fist into the air and, with more hand symbols, blew flames at them before catching them in one hand[/color]

[i]Dammit. It would have been entertaining to see a person eat raw fish... Thought Kitsune as he silently chuckled...

"...why did you come for me anyway? " Kitsune said without turning his head toward Gabriel and Motoko...

"Well anyhow, it seems I have self healed enough to walk again, and I can see the docks from here..." said Kitsune as he emerged from the woods.

...

Eventually he reached the docks, and met up with Ken and the others.

"Hey. Sorry to keep you worried, hopefully the people wont stirr up enough courage to come to the docks and have a fight." Said Kitsune as he was scanning the town if anyone was outside...

"Great! You got us a ship. You need help though? What do you want me to do?"

Edited by Mystic Kitsune, 24 August 2006 - 02:55 AM.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

"Kitsune, glad to see your okay!" Ken said with a smile, "This boat doesn't have much in the manner of supplies. Check the crates along the docks for food. More importantly, we need citrus fruit."

Ken turned to Gabriel.

"Gabriel, bring Motoko on board and help prep the sails."

The boy then continued to Ayden and Germanlink, starting to get a captain-y feel.

"I need you guys to help out Kitsune carry supplies onboard. If you can help it, get some rum on this ship. We'll need some if we intend to go to the Forbidden Fortress."

[Mystic Kitsune]

"Keh, you expected otherwise? Anyways, I dont need help in the supplies." Kitsune said as he set off along the dock to get all the supplies he needed.

Seeing as there was no one actually on the docks, Kitsune found various abandoned supplies, food, weapons, and the rum.

This is easier than I thought it would be... Kitsune thought while bringing various boxes on the ship.

"Is this enough?" Kitsune said pointing at the stack of boxes that were piled up around the ship...

Edited by Mystic Kitsune, 24 August 2006 - 02:22 PM.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken was bit surprised at the speed with which Kitsune gathered the supplies, but the boy did remind himself of the other's lineage.

"Yeah, that should do, just bring 'em onboard."

[Mystic Kitsune]

Kitsune just nodded and brang all the supplies on board. Knowing he did his part he sat atop the weapons crate hugging the sheath of his blade and watching the rest of the crew do their preperations...

[Billy Goat]

"Alright, I got the rum and some more supplies." Germanlink sat down as he saw Ayden bring the last crate. "I think that should be enough for our trip!" Germanlink said with a cheery look on his face, the others just looked at him surprised. Germanlink blushed and said "hehe, sorry...I've never been out to sea and this is a very exhiting experience."

Germanlink stood up and pulled the rope for one of the last sails. "Ok! lets set off!...I mean shove off!". Germanlink then climbed to the steering bow and looked at the wheel. "So Ken...you can steer this thing right?"

[Mystic Kitsune]

Hearing Germanlink's comment, Kitsune just sighed and kept his eyes closed. He was not sleeping, but meditating.

Keh. He better know how to steer...

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken gave Germanlink an annoyed stare.

"Yes, I can steer. I've done it before as a duty, as well as out of necessity." he stated.

Ken then turned to the steering wheel.

"Someone cut our ties to the docks. Quickly, before the wind picks up."

Edited by Ken the Wandering Soul, 24 August 2006 - 05:49 PM.

[Mystic Kitsune]

"Keh, no problem" Kitsune said as he sliced the ropes free using his claws.

"So, 'captain', how long do you think this voyage will take?"

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

"Well, let me think... I remember hearing about a current near here that goes to the Fortress. If we sail for it, and ride all the way, we could probably be there in a little under a week"

Ken looked around.

"I'll need a compase of some kind, and maps. I imagine we can find something like that on-board." he went on, "I don't know where the current is exactly, but I know where the general area is."

[Mystic Kitsune]

"...great. Under a week."

To slow...what am I going to do for those days? I hate the sea! And now all the salt is killing my nose!

"For a compass, you could check the materials crates over there" said Kitsune as he pointed in the direction of some more boxes.

"Or, maybe the captain's cabin may have it. You decide. Keh, Im not helping you out though."

Kitsune picked up the sounds of Ken sighing and mumbling 'it would help us move faster...'

Instantly, Kitsune got up and started looking for a compass.

[Paladin Anthony]

The sea air was exhilirating for Ayden. He had been in the forest for ages, and before that just outside it. He had never seen the sea, much less travelled acrossed it.

As they set off, he was quick to climb the ropes up on the main mast. He watched as the dock began to dissappear in the distance and felt the wind blow across his face.

He looked down on the others and his smile faded. Things had progressed to quickly. This group was so flighty and it wore on Ayden. Nevertheless, he had agreed to accompany them and his sense of duty would not allow his depature.

He returned his gaze to the sea, then back to the ship. It really didn't take long to realize how the ship worked. Each sail was positioned so that the combination of sails would always propel the ship in whatever direction necessary. Ayden quickly climbed to another mast and began letting the sail loose. He was easily content to stay high above and in turn away from the rest of the crew for the time. The peace was rejuvenating.

[Steel Samurai]

"A week?" Steel thought to himself as he lay in the hold, just under the foredeck. Bah. Ken was not a bad sailor, but as yet he did not understand the fine complexities of the wind, how the sails could be coaxed and cajoled to get every last knot possible from them. Steel himself rarely took on the management of a ship, but he had watched Dark Juno ply his craft often enough that he could have made the trip in 5. But, with luck, he would be back at the Forsaken Fortress much sooner. With luck, within a few hours. Steel catnapped until dark, the restless ocean soothing his body, the sounds of the crew above deck providing peace to his thoughts. When the moon rose, however, his eyes snapped open. He rose silently and crept on deck. Germanlink was on watch, but on the verge of sleep. Steel snuck past him, his split-toed boots making no noise on the wooden deck. His objective was likely sleeping in the captain's cabin. Steel oiled the hinges with a vial of vegetable oil he carried for the pupose, and opened the door. A snuffe caused him to look up. Curses. The half-demon and Ayden had both decided to sleep on deck. Either of them could've sensed him had they been awake, even if he had been invisible and completely noiseless. The demon seemed about to wake. Steel slipped through the the door and shut it noiselessly behind him. His objective lay sleeping before him. Steel drew his blade and laid it across the slumbering figure's throat. "Wake, Lieutenent Ken. Your master has need of you."

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken's eyes opened when he heard the voice. He blinked a few times as his vision cleared. He felt cold metal pressed to his neck, his eyes immediately darting to the face of the threat. Ken felt a lump develop in the back of his throat. This person...

"Your--your Steel..." the boy spoke softly.

"What new duty do I have for the Forbidden Fortress, sir?" he continued on, the fear shaking his voice.

[Mystic Kitsune]

Something was wrong. Although Kitsune was mediating on the deck, the salt from the water made it almost impossible for him to pick up any scent, but his ears were still working.

He could hear the faint sounds of the ship creeking, but it could be his imagination. This whole thing can be his imagination.

A few drops of water fell to the ship...then more, to a drizzle, and then to a full rainstorm.

Rain...dammit!

Kitsune hates water, so he decided to lean on the captain's door, because there was a slight roof covering him. Since he was now in a dry area, he could smell something funny.

[/I]These hinges...the scent changed...[/I] For a second he pondered, Keh, well maybe Ken wanted the doors to shut silently or something...but wait. Why would that even matter?

Then he heard something out of ordinary, like a sword being drawn. And some silent talking.

Ken...is talking to himself? Keh, he always was a bit strange...but then whats with the...sword?! Could he be going for suicide? But then how am I supposed to get to the Forbidden Fortress?!

He kicked the door open very noisely, and ran in.

"Ken! No dont-" he was cut off by the scene of Ken being held with a sword across his neck.

This smell...of that same blood...is on that warrior's hand.

Although he could take the offensive and try to slice Steel, he would risk Ken's life, seeing as his throat could easily be slit... which out at sea, was to important to lose.

Or, he could try to take a blow from Steel's sword, which would tempoairly set Ken free, enough to get his own blade.

Kitsune was thinking fast, but was wondering how this may go...

"Bastard! What do you want?!" Kitsune said putting taking out the sheath of the sword...

This warrior...he knows his blade well. Dammit! Hes holding it in a way where he could still slice Ken's throat, AND land a blow on me...

Edited by Mystic Kitsune, 25 August 2006 - 08:32 AM.

[Steel Samurai]

OOC: psst . . . Kitsune, i never used my sword on the scimk . . .

"I have no business with you, half-demon. This," he said, motioning to the blade laying on Ken's throat "is but a precaution." He turned to Ken, ignoring Kitsune for the moment. "Dark Juno has called a meeting. All pirates of Lieutenant rank and higher are to attend. You must come with me. Now."

Edited by Steel Samurai, 25 August 2006 - 05:23 AM.

[Mystic Kitsune]

(ooc: Ill fix that ^^')

Kitsune growled when Steel had said, "Half-Demon", but did nothing else about it...

"You may not have buisness with me, but the boy youre holding up does." Kitsune said pointing at Ken.

"He is to take me to the Forsaken, Forbidden, whatever you want to call it, Fortress. "

He lowered his aggresive stance, seeing as Steel's intention wasnt to kill Ken...

Pondering for a moment, Kitsune finally spoke...

"Ill let you have him, if you can arrange a way to at least take me, if not the whole crew, there. I only seek a blade, and my buisness there is done."

Edited by Mystic Kitsune, 25 August 2006 - 08:33 AM.

[Steel Samurai]

"You'll 'let' me have him? Oh, that's droll. Half demon, I'll tell you what. I'm leaving now, whether you like it or not. However, when I return to the fortress, I'll send a small, fast one of our pirate vessels to return here and steer the ship to the Fortress. Our methods of transport cannot, let us say, be used by the likes of you.

[Mystic Kitsune]

Who does this guy think he is? Talking big like that...

"...Ill take your word for it. But remember this, if you dont send that ship, I will hunt you down until I see to it that you are dead with my blade through your heart. I dont care if it requires me swimming across the whole damn sea to get there." Kitsune said in a silent but meancing voice.

He was turning around, and stopped briefly when he saw the look of betrayal and sorrow in Ken's eyes.

Im sorry Ken...everything will be fine once I get that blade...I promise.

With that, Kitsune walked out, not saying another word.