I am Busting Paranormal Entities [open]

[Takahashi Aki]

Sometimes it was difficult being noble... well, at least a working noble. Takahashi Sousuke the third may have held one of the highest titles in the land, but his family certainly was not that well off. In truth they were more of a middling family. No elaborate household. No grant inheritance. The Steward was a working man. Today's job of course was ... a strange one. Lord Nobu had summoned the Steward to ... exorcise his house apparently. The Akamichi lord believed he was being haunted by some fiendish force. The Steward did not believe in ghosts, granted, he was subject to some very outlandish situations. One of his companions, had in fact a canine that was a proper ghost, not that Sousuke referred to him as a merely as a Phantom Animus. Strangely enough that individual and his ghostly pet had fallen off the face of Sungakure. A most disturbing fact really. One that had oftentimes caused the Steward to glare at the ceiling at powers that were beyond him that dictated the natural life span of people and their activities on this realm.

***

Lord Akamichi Nobu stood outside as he watched from his residence as something was thrown airborn. This thing broke through the roof of his house and landed very hardly on the ground. It was as if it was shot out of a cannon. A small crater formed upon impact. The entity in question seemed to be covered in what seemed to be ... ectoplasm. The entity would then stand up. He was armoured, covered in goo, and was perhaps not happy about being shot out of the house. The Akamichi eyed the armoured man and raised an eyebrow. "Will you believe me now?"

"It's not a ghost. It's a displaced anomaly."<i></i> spoke the armoured figure, who was indeed Takahashi Sousuke, the third. "Did you have a visitor over who had access to ... third realm fifty-second medium capabilities?"<i></i> The Akamichi Lord stared at the Steward having not a clue as to what he was asking. The silence caused the Steward to look at the floor. Lord Nobu was a man who ... wasn't the brightest of the Suna Court of Nobles, but he was morally sane and was very wealthy. His house during the Cabal invasion was devastated, but it was rebuilt... grander than before. "Okay. I'll take that as a maybe."<i></i> Sousuke tried to wipe the slime off of him. He slung it to the ground. What a mess.

 

[Kazumi]

Small dark bags hung lazily under the young girl's eyes as she carried a black suitcase filled with... she wasn't entirely sure. Even after the stressful night at the academy she still had family duties to attend to, and apparently making the long walk across higher noble's estates was one of them. She didn't know much aside from a name, but apparently she was supposed to deliver the case to some Lord who lived on the estate.

A long sigh escaped her as the small ten year old practically dragged her feet across the paved walkway that would lead her towards the home befitting one of the more powerful lords in the city. Belatedly she even realized that she had not yet changed out of her school uniform, although it was more befitting of a school from the far north than it was for Sunagakure. She wasn't within shouting distance yet, but she clearly saw the sight of something rocketing out of... wait what?

She stopped in her steps as she did indeed see something fly out of the noble's roof, only to land in front of it nearby to some other man. She couldn't recognize either of them from that distance, though she doubted she would even if they were face to face. Part of her wanted to just turn back and walk far far away... but then she would have to come back eventually and the hour long walk was not something she relished in her current exhausted state.

Now clutching the black suitcase in both hands she started her drained walk up the last hundred paces towards the house. Just as she had expected, neither individual looked familiar to her... “Hello?” She asked rather loudly, her lack of energy becoming rather apparent in her drained tone. She continued to walk towards the pair, only a dozen or so steps away as she watched the armored man, possibly a bodyguard, slinging something odd looking off himself.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Lord Nobu and Sousuke turned to regard the small child. "Hullo lass." He spoke. The Akamichi patted his stomach, and then rubbed it. The Akamichi looked to Sousuke. Sousuke knew who everyone was. It was kind of needed of him, as he was the Steward-Kazekage. Even at large business meetings, Sousuke was always useful to have. Oftentimes those business meetings had ... drink. Strong and very good drink, that oftentimes led to Nobu forgetting most of the meeting. Fortunately, Sousuke never drank and recalled everything.

"Saluations Yumi of the House Tsukino."<i></i> Sousuke greeted with a nod. Yes! That was it! Good ole Sousuke capable of knowing everyone. Nobu in turn coughed. This was incredibly awkward. Nobu made a motion that Sousuke was making a mess, as he was dripping ectoplasm. "I seem to have been... for a lack of a ... better word ... slimed."<i></i> He continued to drip the goo which was now staining the stonework. Sousuke looked to Nobu, and then to Yumi. "If you're wondering why I'm dripping ... what is best understood as goo. It is because I had engaged a phantom monstrosity. I had underestimated it, and it attempted to ... digest me which is very absurd ... considering it transparent... it is not adhering to the third rule of proper existence as written by Sage Khan in the Fourth Age Tome."<i></i> Sousuke would try to remove more of the goo he had on him person by flapping his arms and throwing more goo to the ground. "Do not worry though... I will best this nemesis of Lord Nobu, and ... ..."<i></i> He paused for a moment. "...best this fiend of the phantom variety."<i></i> Again Sousuke did not use the word ghost.

"I'm certain you will lad." Nobu spoke, as he watched Sousuke going back to the house. "I wonder if he'll ever admit to facing a ghost." Nobu held his hands behind him. After several moments, Sousuke returned. This time he was catapulted through the front door covered in even more amounts of goo. "Well then. This enemy seems to be ... ... quite the phantom doesn't it?"

"Yumi... would you ... be able to assist me in this undertaking of besting this phantom?"<i></i> Sousuke would inquire as he got up. He may be the Steward. He was not above asking for him, as Nobu certainly wouldn't.

 

[Kazumi]

The lass's sleep deprived eyes perked up to alertness as the armored figure used her name. Did she know him? She couldn't exactly remember, but she hadn't slept in quite sometime, so it was possible... Probably a friend of her father's given that he was doing grunt work for Lord...the name seemed to escape her until the man spoke it. Nobu! She looked down towards the case she held as Sousuke departed back into the house.

During his brief departure she gave the Lord a quick message from her father along with the case itself. Just as the case was exchanging hands the man flew from the house with great gusto! She took a few steps back to keep from being dripped upon by... whatever manner of stuff it was that covered Sousuke. “Me?” She asked, her voice having gained a little more energy from the shock and confusion of the situation, even if her body still didn't want to budge anymore than it had to. Even still her voice didn't sound like that of a highly trained shinobi, though perhaps the best often didn't?

“Um... I don't think I could be of any help, sir. I mean, I just started at the Academy last night, so I don't know what I could do.” She looked up and past him, her red irised eyes peering past him towards the large haunted abode. “Especially if it just keeps throwing you out like a doll. That would probably like.... snap my neck or something.” The thought of that gave her a shiver down her spine. She guessed the armor he wore was protecting him from that very same fate, while all she had was a dress shirt, vest and a skirt.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke shook his head. "You'll do just fine. All the better if you just started the academy. This will give you a glimpse into the world we live in, and give you most excellent and valuable experience."<i></i> Sousuke paused for a moment. It was highly likely that this child had no spiritual skill set. "Hrrmmm..."<i></i> Sousuke then sat down and folded his legs. He had to think this one through. How best would she help him? Ah. Yes. "Well. Let's figure this out. First hand lesson in creating plasma-level traps."<i></i> The Steward pulled off his own pack and placed it on the ground. He pulled out a metallic circle with a trigger. He handed the trigger to the child. "When we're in there, and I proceed to ... levitate or lose control of what you deem to be normal actions such as walking ... throw this underneath me. Feed it a little bit of chakra, and then hit the button."<i></i> He did just that and the metallic circle opened up. A large orange sphere flew up and turned bright red. "Once I hit the floor, hit the trigger again. That will mean we have caught it."<i></i>

Children of course needed something to gain. Experience was helpful... but not enough. "Even if we're not successful ... I will create for you a training weapon, doll, ... or teddy bear of your desire size and making."<i></i> Children of the age of ten still enjoyed toys right? He offered the training weapon as ... Sousuke wasn't quite sure if Yumi had some tomboyish qualities. Then again she was an academy student, and the students could always use more tools to hone and focus their skills.

Nobu now with briefcase in hand patted the case. "Thank-you Yumi for delivering this. Give your father my thanks and gratitude." The Akamichi was then attended to by one of his probably many butlers. The case was taken and presumably taken somewhere safe. "Lad. Lass. I have a meeting to attend to. You'll have to excuse me for a while. Sousuke-lad do give me a ring once you've ... bested the ... ghost?" The large lord made his exit.

"Right. Well. I know that this is usually outside of the ... normal dealings of the House Tsukino, but ... ..."<i></i> Sousuke paused. He wasn't exactly sure how best to work what he wanted to say. "... ... a little adventure always proved to be profitable at the very outset of things."<i></i>

 

[Kazumi]

The young girl listened as intently as she could muster. There was still small streams of slime the occasionally dripped out of small crevasses in the man's suit and it was highly distracting! Part of her wanted to touch it and see what it was like, but another urged her to run far far away. Reconciling the two sides she settled for a middle ground, standing and listening. She reached out and took the trigger as he offered it, looking a little surprised that it was not covered in goo as he had been.

As he continued the explanation she absently nodded in understand, though such understanding was only fleeting. As the bright red ball made its appearance her eyes widened once more, its shine reflecting off her eyes with both wonder and confusion. She only half heard Sousuke as he spoke of rewards, only the suddenly different voice of the lord breaking her out of her stupor. The name 'Sousuke' sounded somewhat familiar to her, as if it was something she ought to remember, but her mind failed to correctly reference it before the Lord turned to leave. She turned towards Lord Nobu and gave him a respectful bow as he turned to depart.

“I can give it a try, I guess.” She replied to the armored man after he finished speaking once again. “Is... whatever it is, dangerous? I don't think I could like... get up if I was tossed outside of the house like that, but I will at least try.” The mixture of meekness and confidence made it difficult to tell which of those two feeling she was experiencing more at the moment. Not that a lack of sleep and extremely achy muscles were helping.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

The Steward tapped his fingers together. "Dangerous? Well. No. Not to you."<i></i> He answered at first. "As long as you don't notice it directly. Phantom Nemesis classifed as Displaced Anomalies don't attack unless you directly notice them, that is to say ... I will notice it first. I have tried twice to contain it, and failed. It has already registered myself as higher level threat. You on the other hand are the secret weapon. You will be the unknown elemental, and further more the element of surprise. It won't register you as a threat until it is safely locked away in the trap."<i></i> So. More or less. The answer was no. It was not dangerous to Yumi. It was in fact a greater danger to Sousuke.

The Steward folded up the trap and handed the device to the child. "Remember what I told you... and we will be successful."<i></i> Sousuke motioned for the child to follow him. As he made his journey forward there were puddles of goo left in his wake. He stopped for a moment. He seemed to have been stuck. He tried to trudge forward. His shoulders slunked for a moment. "I forgot that ectoplasm will harden."<i></i> Sousuke grunted as he trudged forward. This time he took a chunk of ground with him. "I refuse to plasma blast this. I refuse."<i></i> He announced. Sousuke was not prideful, not really. Nor was he stubborn. The Steward clumsily made his way up the stairs into the mansion and kicked the door open.

Lord Nobu's house was ... extravagant. Several paintings littered the place along with busts of various members of his family. "It may come through the wall. If it does, I will be engaging it immediately."<i></i> Sousuke looked around. Now while he awaited the phantom to appear ... he attempted to make some sort of idle chat. "Your Father. He reviewed the report I gave him three days ago? It was in the black binder with the sigil of the horse on it. Looks quite ... plain compared to the minute book Lord Nobu was returned by your hands."<i></i>

 

[Kazumi]

The girl continued to listen as he gave instructions, but it was clear that only half of it was actually registering. Hopefully that half would be enough to not get him brutally murdered by ghostly forces. She then accepted the device and began looking it over curiously, turning it over and examining it from all angles. Her attention snapped back towards the man as he cracked a bit of the ground from the estate and carried the souvenir along with him into the house.

Yumi quickly scurried her way up the stairs and into the house after him, stopping just inside as she took in the surroundings. She lived in a relatively modest home herself, a building that was actually attached to the business that her family owned in the Golden Crystal District. Even so it still put her near the bottom end of wealthy and it was leagues lower than what she saw at this grand place. Her eyes scanned around to marvel at the tapestry and expensive works of art that served little purpose than to flaunt the wealthy's wealth to one another.

“Huh?” she asked in a distracted tone as she realized Sousuke was likely looking at her, expectant for a reply to his question. “I don't really know. Dad keeps all his business stuff to himself... well, between him and mom. Says it would just confuse me and he's probably right... so I guess he did? Maybe?” He received a small confused shrug from the girl just as the sound of jingling could be heard from the light fixtures that hung overhead...

 

[Takahashi Aki]

"That's to be expected. Some parents try and align their children with their business at the start of things, and some don't. Sometimes they wait till they're older."<i></i> He looked up at the chandelier and the fixtures. No seismic activity was detected. This was it. A large pumpkin headed entity seemed to poke its head out of the roof. The pumpkin head had a big grin on its visage. Its eyes were glowing. The phantom lowered itself further. The body consisted of a large sphere body, the pumpkin head, and six small arms. The arms flailed about. "Third time is a charm."<i></i> Sousuke announced as he opened fire upon the phantom. He held both of his palms up and blasted plasma shots at it. The plasma blasts stunned the creature momentarily. Sousuke was establishing himself as the primary threat.

Sousuke would then hurl himself at the phantom. The pumpkin head grew in size, and Sousuke went straight into the jaws and down the gullet. Yumi would see Sousuke being digested and now stuck inside the stomach and quite frankly he was going to be subjected to more and more ectoplasm. He waved his arms slightly helplessly. This was of course the signal for Yumi to throw the device, use it, and hopefully trap this phantom. The phantom merely rubbed its belly and floated there. It very slowly began to go back into the ceiling, but then... it couldn't Sousuke was stuck. He was being whacked against the wall. It was almost amusing to see it. The phantom lowered itself once more and patted its stomach once more. The Steward flailed about. He was used to this. The phantom would try this once more, before it would then simply go up the stairs and then Sousuke would have to discharge himself which would allow himself to once again be fired out.

The Steward kept his eyes locked onto Yumi. He really had hoped the child wasn't scared out of her mind. If she was... then this would be a problem seeing as he no longer had the device. She had the device. He pointed to the device. Yes. Please. Throw the device. Hit the trigger. Activate. It didn't matter to the Steward that he would fall, and probably through some floors given his weight in the armour. Yes. Do it. Do it not! It'll be alright! Everything is gonna be all right!

 

[Kazumi]

Yumi's mouth drooped open as the not-ghost revealed itself. Her hand shook slightly and it was all she could do to not simply drop the device and run. She flinched as the sound of the blasts resonated through the room and before she knew what was happening he had hurled himself towards the creature. Her mouth opened wider and she tried to call out to stop, but her voice failed her as the head opened wide and consumed the delicious shinobi snack.

At first she watched in horror as she presumed him to have been killed by the act... but as he began to wave his arms towards her before proceeding to be smacked up against the ceiling the horror slowly receded. Panic set in again as he continued to try to gesture towards her to activate the device, but for the first dozen seconds she couldn't do anything aside from standing and watching.

Thankfully her mind finally came back to its senses and she began to fumble with the device and trigger for a moment before she was able to toss it towards the center of the room. It wasn't perfectly centered but it would have to do. She then began to frantically examine the trigger before finally hitting the red button! She looked up towards the device and... nothing happened. Being foreign born and only a first day at the academy she barely knew what chakra was, much less how to feed it to anything... if she even remembered that was a required step.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke feared for a moment that Yumi was paralyzed by fear. This seemed to be the case. He watched her from inside the belly of the beast. Come on. I believe in you. You can do it.<i></i> He repeated to himself mentally. Did she flinch? Did she ... move? No. The Steward was hoping for something. Luckily this fiend had yet to do anything to warrant any true sense of danger ... aside from bashing him against the wall. Child. I am still alive. I am stuck. Come now. Act. Do what you were meant to do. Do what you were born to do.<i></i> Nope. Nothing yet. After the dozen seconds she threw the device. Once the device landed, Sousuke gave the child the thumbs up. Yes. They were part way there. Now all she had to do what feed it some chakra. Sousuke watched Yumi. She could do this... wait... she did say she had spent one day at the academy. This could be a problem... some teachers taught their students how to use chakra on day one ... sometimes it wasn't day one. He watched patient as the child tried very hard to figure out the next step. The Steward ... figured that Yumi had probably not yet been taught how to mold chakra. Maybe she had the knowledge, she just wasn't sure how to make use of it yet.

It would seem that the child had not he knowledge on how to mould chakra. The Steward looked like he was going to have to do this himself. The Steward waved at the child. His actions were slow, but luckily the fiend had yet to go anywhere with him. The Steward held up his hands and formed a cross motion. He began to focus and glow blue ever so slightly. Focus. Draw upon your chakra, the spiritual force that everyone has, but not everyone was trained to use it. Sousuke then motioned back to the trap device. Just conjure up the spiritual energy, then just throw it at the device. He showcased this motion by making a throwing gesture. Simple right? Hopefully.

The fates would have it that the phantom would attempt to go through the wall once more. Banging commenced as the phantom could now travel through the wall with Sousuke. Hopefully Yumi now had the instructions needed to proceeded with the next phase to trap this enemy.

 

[Kazumi]

Yumi looked back and forth between the 'bodyguard' and the trigger in her hand. She was starting to look a little frantic. Why wasn't it working? Her attention fixated on him once she saw he was making gestures. He crossed his arms and gestured towards the trap. -Don't... use it?- She thought he must have been saying. Merely trying to understand what he meant she forgot part of her gear.

As he began to make a throwing gesture it all clicked. She was supposed to throw it to him! That must be what he meant. She reared her arm back to throw it as she saw the... thing was trying to escape. “U-uuh, HEY!” She suddenly called in an angry voice towards the apparition. Just as it was trying to pull Sousuke through the ceiling it halted for a moment and looked around with an odd confused look.

“Down here.... umm.. you UGLY.. uhhh... FAT PUMPKIN HEAD!” She didn't look too sure of the insult, or if it would work at least, but it did manage to get the phantom's attention. Its mouth opened slightly as it turned its head down towards her, the pumpkin began to put on a hungry expression. It just found the cherry to finish off its meal! Using the opening she reared back and hurled the trigger as hard as she could. Luckily it was enough and the device flew through the air and into the unsuspecting thing's mouth just as it was getting ready to fly down to have its after dinner snack.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

It seemed for a moment that Yumi was going to do it. It really did seem that way. Then again teaching the child to use chakra would have been much easier if he could actually speak. What the Steward thought was clear was probably not. Such was evidenced when she squared off against the phantom with harsh words. Oh. This was going to not end well. Sousuke could feel the phantom move, and by proxy carry him. This was going to... wait ... she threw the switch? The switch was flying into the... yes yes... down the gullet it went Sousuke jumped up with delayed movements and snatched the switch. He gave Yumi a thumbs up once more. Sousuke conjured up his chakra and emitted a small blast through the belly of the phantom.

The chakra powered the device, and like he had shown earlier, the trap opened up. The orb appeared and began to change colour. This time the trap was sucking in the phantom. The Large pumpkin headed phantom tried to grab onto something, anything. It tried grabbing onto the stairs but the stairs of course were intangible. Lucky for our heroes of course. The phantom went up into the air and then was dragged down. Oddly enough Sousuke was felt in the air. The armoured man fell through the floor and left a hole there. He made his way out of course. He dusted himself off. In hand he had the trap which now had contained the phantom. "Well done Yumi."<i></i> He spoke patting her on the shoulder. "I may be the Steward, but I can always use a helping hand in completing my undertakings."<i></i> He nodded his head. "Lord Nobu will be quite pleased that his household is now safe... and I owe you a token of your choosing."<i></i> He motioned for the child to follow him out of the house. He placed the trap device on his back, and he began undoing several clips on his helmet. He pulled the helmet off revealing his spiky violet hair, facial scar, and a less bored looking expression. He seemed mused in fact, "Mmm.. I guess you're not quite there on molding chakra. That'll be fixed with some education and time. You were a big help, and I thank you for your assistance. The original plan didn't work out, but ... we got to the needed conclusion."<i></i>

 

[Kazumi]

Yumi watched in awe and confusion as the light show signaled the end for the dastardly strange thing, and when Sousuke collapsed into the ground she flinched in horror and rushed over to make sure that he was alright. A silent sigh of relief left her as she saw that he wasn't seriously injured, which seemed like a miracle to her, even inside all of that armor. Such things weren't anything she knew about but she wondered how it could protect against a large fall.

She listened and nodded intently as he spoke and then just as he motioned for her to follow after him it finally hit her. THE Steward?! She took a hasty step back and then sank herself forward in a deep bow of respect as he unlatched and removed his helmet. Yumi remained in that position until he finished speaking before she finally spoke herself in a deeply apologetic tone. “I-I'm so sorry, I didn't know who you... I thought you were Lord Nobu's bodyguar-... I'm so sorry!” She raised herself up and gave another identical deep bow which she again respectfully held.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke waved his hands. "Please stop with the bowing."<i></i> He asked. The child seemed to be very frustrated with herself. Once, then twice she bowed. "You really... don't have to do that..."<i></i> Sousuke reached down and placed his hand on her shoulder to prevent her from bowing again. He let out a little chuckle. "The relationship I have with my nobles is very... strange. I do more work for them, then they do for me. If I'm not solving a case of a stolen ring, or necklace, it is an odd job like this. I've worked for Lord Nobu before... and his ex-wife. To be honest she oftentimes forgets who I am... I think she expects the Steward of the Realm to be quite a bit older than her."<i></i> Sousuke explained in a slightly hushed tone. "Even at their board of director meetings, she often asks who is the young man with the short purple hair. He clearly isn't dressed to be here... and then she asks her guards to remove me ... and then they promptly remind her who I am..."<i></i> This had happened on a few occasions. It was a very strange moment to be had, that was for certain. "Maybe your father mentioned it to you and your mother at dinner, or something."<i></i> As the passed by and out of the estate, Sousuke would run into Nobu's butler it would seem. The Steward explained the damage and patted the butler on the shoulder leaving slime on his shoulder. The butler's mustache twitched as a result of this.

Once they were out of the estate and on the street, Sousuke would pause. He folded his arms. What would Yumi like? Children were random. Sometimes difficult to read. "Now... about that token of my appreciation. You still haven't told me what you would like most. Did you want a doll, or a teddy bear? Maybe some training weapons?"<i></i> He would inquire as he tried to change the topic of shame to one of want on the child's mind. Sousuke had hoped that he managed to do just that. While the original plan had not come together, the task was still complete.

 

[Kazumi]

While she attempted to boy again, Sousuke's hand stopped her rather easily. The girl certainly look apologetic and possibly even a little pathetic at how ignorant she had been. From then until they left the estate she kept quiet to herself, but she nodded as he spoke and did her best to be a fully respectful and obedient child to her far superior, despite his request.

Upon mention of the token the girl's eyes looked up from the ground in front of her that she had been staring at. She then fervently shook her head, “I-I couldn't my Lord. Just-...” she paused for a second as if searching for the correct set of lines to recite. “Being in your presence and um... being able to help you is reward enough for... for me.” She softly bit her lips together and her gaze drifted from his back towards the ground to the side of them. It was unfortunately rather clear that she didn't mean it, and that she was only doing her best to try and be as respectful as she could possible manage.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

"You've been trained well to be a lady, but you're still a child."<i></i> He answered her. She called him Lord. How polite. Polite. Forced. Her words didn't really carry the meaning of course. The Steward would stop along their walk. He would take a seat on a bench and place down his bag, which he was carrying earlier, which was handed to him by the butler. Curious the Steward pulled out fabrics, stuffing, a sewing needle and thread. He began to work away at frightening speeds as he was constructing something. When he was done it was a teddy bear. The Steward held the creation and waved it slightly. The bear was of high quality. It would be expensive and probably more of a keepsake. "...This is... Bear. He is a very lonely creature looking for a home. I think he could use a companion like you."<i></i> Sousuke narrated. Poorly. He handed Bear to the child. His purple fur was extra fluffy and his paw pads were bouncy and quite well made.

Next Sousuke began fashioning a pair of twin blades. Sousuke had somehow managed to pull out a small forge and began working away. He happed away at the next gift. Dulled, but detailed. He even prepared sheaths. Where he was getting the supplies from was... from his bag. What his bag truly contained was a mystery. He was a very well prepared man. "These are the training blades Trust and Steady. They will help you to hone your martial skill."<i></i> Sousuke handed these next to the child. He then proceeded to deconstruct his miniature forge and placed it back into his wonder-bag. The Steward began looking into the bag. The doll. That was next on the list. He was looking for the materials. "I seem to be low on supplies to make the doll."<i></i> His brows furrowed. He was disappointed in himself. Usually he was prepared for all occasions, except this one unfortunately. "My apologies... I can certainly fulfill this undertaking... assuming you do want a doll of course?"<i></i> It was entirely possible that the child did not want a doll at all. Okibi... didn't take well to her first doll. Her first plushy was torn up... but then later fixed up.

 

[Kazumi]

Yumi has stopped and stood in front of the bench in mild awe as he skillfully crafted the little purple creature. At first she did not understand what she was going on, in fact she initially had looked away from him with an embarrassed blush at the child comment. When she looked back he already had the creature nearly finished! Once he had completed it she meekly reached out and took it from him, examining the creature hesitantly at first, but it seemed to grow on her in the matter of moments. “I... ern... thank you,” she added as he began to somehow construct a... forge!?

As he worked she had spun the bear around and it now rest between her chest and her arms as its head peeked out from over them. Again he finished their miraculous construction and she took them both, sheathe and all into her right hand as the left now cradled the bear. “I... you really don't know to.” She weakly protested, even as a wide smile had appeared over her face. She had gotten presents from her parents all the time, but those were bought, not made right in front of her!

She began examining the hilts and sheathes of the weapons as he began speaking, but towards the end her head looked up and she shook her head fervently. “No no, I don't really deserve Bear, Trust or Steady but... I really like them! Please don't... don't worry about it.” She looked over to him with a very pleased, almost ecstatic smile. “I didn't really... really even do all that much.” Her expression shifted faintly to mild embarrassment again, but the smile didn't falter.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

"Heh."<i></i> Sousuke watched as Yumi took the bear. She seemed to truly enjoy it. That much was pleasing to the Steward. There was nothing like watching a young child's delight. His own great-ward had brought out this feeling too. It was warm and fuzzy. Yumi seemed to be quite surprised with him as he compacted the forge. She spoke next of how she didn't deserve her rewards. Sousuke shook his head, a small grin appeared. "Oh, I wouldn't say that. You stood firm in the fact of a phantom. Not everyone has the courage to do that, not even Lord Nobu's butler."<i></i> Sousuke held up his hand covering part of his face, and leaned forward. "He screamed and the pitch he carried with him was most unfitting for a man of his age. Trust me, you did what a grown adult could not do. Even the smallest of tasks enables the great of things to happen."<i></i> He spoke encouragingly. The Steward's mind rewinded back to the call he originally had with Nobu. Sousuke had heard the screams over the phone when Nobu was requesting his help. Nobu had not the greatest relationship with his wife, who did not live with him, therefore it was the Butler.

His mind snapped back to the present. "I am glad you liked Bear, Trust and Steady. I have a young ... son."<i></i> That was the best way to describe Aki these days. "I have to keep in touch with what is stylish, which... I usually am not up to speed with. Things, even for me, change very quickly ... and I'm only half of Lord Nobu's age."<i></i> Sousuke rubbed the back of his head. Lady Haku Tomoko often said bow-ties were out of style, and that he should unbutton the bottom of his long coat, because that was apparently stylish. "He's a toddler mind you, so ... he's not quite in tune with popular culture as of yet. He does seem to enjoy the adventures of ... Raccoons and Kaiju who live in trash cans."<i></i> He explained. The concept of pop culture may have gone over Yumi's head, but ... surprises did come on occasion. Children were oftentimes given little to no credit for their incredible thinking strategies. Sometimes they could see or explain things that Sousuke could not. It was oftentimes a delight to be honest. "At least it means I'm not boring. The state of ennui is truly deplorable. It sometimes leads to people doing some ... problematic and not so good things."<i></i>

 

[Kazumi]

Yumi pressed the bear against her as she averted her eyes from the Steward, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks from his compliment which was followed soon after by a stifled laugh which then only lead to further blushing. When he spoke of having a child of his own she finally did perk her eyes up towards him, her cheeks still slightly flushed from moments prior. She looked curious and perhaps even a bit surprised to hear him say that, and she listened intently.

She seemed to share his confusion with the trash can living creatures. Either it was too young for her or perhaps she too was slightly out of touch for one reason or another. “En..nui?” She finally did ask after he stopped speaking. Yumi had a little difficulty saying the word, as if it stuck to her tongue and refused to let go. “Is that a place?” Yuri continued before quickly adding to the end, “-sir.”

((OOC: Sorreh for the delay =x Was sick while trying to get ready to move and so my mind has been quite scatterbrained. ))