Riffraff, street rats; skitter, skittering about.

[Tenrousei]

Time was a fickle thing. </SIZE>Time didn't seem to matter in Grand Palais, not with the ever bright light that simulated a constant state of day light. It seemed to never stay on track; it would fly by quickly, or slug along so slow that one might go insane with anticipation. For some, it was agonizing, or fleeting, but to Tenrousei-- Time was never an issue. It didn't exist to her. Today had been a good day. Why? Because her stomach was full and her bottomless pit of a belly was packed and crammed with delicious food. She'd taken advantage of a new food vendor in the area, and the inexperience of the young merchant had given her the easiest of opportunities to swipe as much as she, and Xei, could carry.

A hollow belch burst forth from her gullet and the red-headed girl's eyes snapped open in surprised. Xei's ears perched up from his nap and he, too, opened his eyes as he looked at Tenrousei. She grinned, and laughed. "Whoa, that kind of snuck up on me! Hahaha!" She patted her full belly, calloused hands rubbing against tattered and dirty cloth. She, then, lifted a hand and ran a the back of it under her nose as she sniffed. "That was a really, reallllllly good meal, Xei. Good nose, good nose! We got lucky with that guy! What a stupid idiot!"

The black and tan puppy huffed in agreement, closed his eyes, and adjusted his head so that he could rest his chin upon his paws. The tip of his tail flicked, lazily, back and forth as he leaned closer into Tenrousei's side. The girl smiled in response and trailed her left hand over her companion's ribs. She could feel the bones beneath the coarse fur, but it didn't bother her that she could feel them. They were fine, especially if new vendors kept coming into the slums with such a high level of ignorance.

She fought the urge to let out a yawn, covering her mouth with her right hand. Her eyes squinted shut. It won and it was a large yawn, whicht felt like (to her) that it was the biggest one she had ever had. "Man, eating all that food has made me sleepy, Xei... Maybe we should take a nap, hmm?" Xei didn't respond, already having fallen asleep. Tenrousei let out a chuckle, and opened her eyes to look out of the alley and into the streets beyond. From her hideout in the back of the alley, it seemed like the place was unusually busy. Thankfully, though, she hadn't been bothered by any of the other riffraff, so she didn't have to nurse any wounds. That would have caused some issues.

Frowning, she scrunched her nose and thoughtlessly scratched at the top of her right thigh. It really seemed like things were picking up lately. A lot of the old vendors she'd known had moved out, packed shops and left. That's why there were so many new faces coming in, right? On top of that, there seemed to be a lot more shadier types making an appearance, too. She had to avoid a couple of her favorite spots to play because some men were doing some strange things. She didn't like it. They gave her bad vibes, so she kept her distance, and had chosen to go to elsewhere-- spots she knew to be relatively safe. The reason she'd picked the alley, for the day, was because no one seemed to have an interest in it. At least, for the time being.

The girl glanced at the dog at her side, then returned her gaze towards the mouth of her shelter. "Hmm," she hummed as she adjusted her legs to a more comfortable position. She yawned again, then frowned. Yep, time for a nap. Man, that food had been good. She closed her crimson eyes and let her head fall back against the short stone wall. She relaxed her shoulders, got comfortable, and was all the more ready to sleep. But, sleep didn't envelope her, like she wanted. Instead, her mind continued to race.

She couldn't help but wonder... What was all the commotion about?
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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

FWOOM!

A torso would fly across the girls eye line, should her eyes currently be open as she sat there contemplating the nature of peoples movement in and out of the area. It had no arms or head, though the legs were still attached. Blood spraying on the ground under it, leaving a big red trail from where it was launched to where it landed. If she was lucky, none would get on her or her pup. Following the grotesque display a pair of rough looking men, tattoo clad and with really screwed up teeth, would run toward the corpse, and then over it screaming for their lives, though their screams were more like gargling as they were in pretty bad physical condition, saliva in their mouths almost turning to foam BEFORE this incident even happened. This was the kind of people that lived here permanently, a bunch of no good half-dead scum.

As they ran, a dragging noise could be heard. Steel on dirt, as he rounded the corner dragging his sword behind him on the ground menacingly, a bit of theatre for the punks he was hunting. If she would choose to investigate the direction the torso had been launched from, she would notice a smear on a building down the street across from where he was coming from. He had ricochet'd the body off the wall and down the street in a show of force. He puffed out his chest, as if taking in a deep breath and then as he released it, took off full force at the remaining two. Before she could register what was happening, he was on top of them and their bodies where sliding in half. He would flick the blood from his blade and sheath it, his shoulders suddenly tensing up.

He would turn to the girl in whatever position she may be in after the display with a wide grin on his face, as if to say 'sorry for slaughtering people in front of you'. His sword had informed him they weren't alone, and he had tunnel visioned out the whole area.

"What are you doing here? You should be in doors." he said, sounding as if he cared. He really did, the monstrous slayer was just an act for the cabal after all. He could take time out of looking like a bad ass for them, to help a girl in need. That is, if she didn't scream and run, then he'd have to book it hard in one direction and find a place to hide...or take one.

[MFT: 430 WC]

 

[Tenrousei]

Tenrousei's eyes had flown open when the first body had fallen to the ground. </SIZE>Her eyes widened as she stared, enthralled by the situation before her. Xei, having erupted to all fours even before Tenrousei had acknowledged the body, growled. His snarl filled the alley as Tenrousei sat there against the wall, in full blown shock. It wasn't that she hadn't seen something like this before, no-- just never to the degree of which someone nonchalantly cut people to bits. She wanted to scream, to cry, to run-- but her body wouldn't move. She remained, paralyzed where she at. Her limbs trembled, and her lips parted as she stared in horror as the man stood before her.

What was this man? What had sparked this display of violence? Not like it was overly unusual behavior for the slums, but, generally-- people didn't go cutting people in half. No, definitely not. 'No, no...,' she thought, her voice echoing through her mind like a piercing whistle breaking the silence. 'No, no, no. I will NOT die today.'

Slowly, hesitantly, she closed her mouth and narrowed her gaze and started up at the man before her. She twitched her fingers towards the pocket on her right him, a pocket that housed a small, tiny sharp rock. She glared, baring her teeth. "Get away from me," she said, defiantly. "Don't tell me what to do, either. You don't own me. Go away."

Xei continued to snarl as he stepped in front of Tenrousei, his white teeth bared, hackles quivering. His ears flattened against the back of his neck as he rumbled, daring the murder to make a move.
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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

She was in shock, it was a natural reaction to someone who didn't have the ability to murder blindly crammed into them as a child, as he had been forced into. The dog however, stood firm and growled at him, bearing teeth. He bent down and growled back, loud enough to probably scare both of them. He would laugh slightly as his idiotic display and turn toward the corpses, removing his top and covering the bodies with it, revealing his very scarred frame.

"Terribly sorry you had to see that, I don't wish that sight on anyone." he said nonchalantly. He then slipped his hand around their belts and removed their weapons, bundling them all up with a piece of his top and a string he had on his person. They were small and mostly useless, a couple kunai and two or so daggers. He would then walk back toward them, dropping the bundle at their feet.

"Use these to defend yourself, if you wish to come after me I won't stop you." he said, having resigned to his fate. He had done so much evil to last a life time, if she was to pick up one of those weapons and stab him, he probably wouldn't even stop her. Then he began to walk away back into the darkness of the night, stopping in his tracks once more.

"Oh here, for the pooch." he didn't know if it was even a dog or maybe a wild coyote, so he gave it a general term before he pulled a strip of jerky from his pocket and tossed it to the mutts feet.

 

[Tenrousei]

So, wait. </SIZE>He wasn't going to hurt her? He was just going to walk away? But, why? What? Confusion took over and she started at the man, quizzically. What was his aim? Normally, if she had witnessed something like that, she wouldn't live to tell about it. The riffraff in the slums acted in pretty vile ways, very frequently, but to just murder someone and leave witnesses was something she hadn't heard of before. "I... Don't understand," she said, quietly. However, her attention turned to the weaponry he presented to her. This kind of opportunity wasn't something she could pass up. Without hesitating, the young girl quickly took to sorting through the assortment of equipment. Kunai, daggers; the type of weapon didn't matter. A weapon was a weapon, and iron made better weapons than stone.

While Tenrousei was looking over the weaponry that had been dropped at her feet, Xei was busy leaping forward to take the jerky before it hit the ground. He devoured it in a single gulp and flipped his tail to and fro happily. Food was the key to this hound's heart and the man had just bought it for life. Content, he ceased his growling and padded towards the man, nose quivering with interest. His ears were erect as he neared the man, head tilted in curiosity. Did he have more? Would he share more? Please, food! His tongue rolled out of his mouth and hung out.
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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

As he started gaining distance from the girl, the dog intercepted him yapping and running around his feet. He must have wanted more food, but Homura didn't have any. So instead, he would just bend down and reach out to pet the dog. "Sorry pal, that's all I had!" he smiled at it, hoping it wouldn't bite him. It wouldn't hurt, but it'd make him jump.

"Go on back to her, she's scared and needs you right now! Go puppy fighting!" he whispered that last bit and did a small fist pump. He would then shove his hands in his pockets as he stood up, peeking over his shoulder seeing her quickly rifle through her new weapons for something to stick him with.

"Brave one that is, you should teach her." his sword spoke within his mind, she wouldn't be able to hear it though.

"I don't think I'd make a good teacher...besides she sees me as a monster." he said in a low voice to himself, where she couldn't hear. Though as he reach the part of the road where he had turned before, the splatter on the wall, he did pause. As if he wanted the girl to stop him, to attack him and show she had spirit. A fight he himself once had inside, before it was brutally removed by the tests these cabal where putting the village through.

His mental state wasn't the best with what he had to do to get close to them, being a double agent was the worst thing imaginable. Or perhaps, opportunity had just opened up! This girl could very well be the most important person to him, if he could trust her in the end. The next few moments would decide everything for these two, and the puppy also!

 

[Tenrousei]

Xei whined, almost as if he understood that there wasn't any more food to be hand. </SIZE>
He sniffed towards the man's pockets, then pushed his nose into the man's open hand. He let out a friendly grunt and closed his eyes for a moment. Contented, the hound pulled back and lifted a paw to press the pad against the stranger's knuckles. He was smart, perhaps intelligently so, and the bright look in his eyes gleamed. He glanced over his back at Tenrousei as she lifted a kunai up to look at it closely. He huffed, flicked his tail, and followed the man as he moved towards the opening of the alley. He, too, looked at the splatter, letting his tail fall still. He closed is maw, bringing his tongue back into his mouth. A serious look took over the canine as he stared, almost thoughtfully at the blood, then to the man. His attention deviated, however, when Tenrousei rose to her feet.

The girl locked her eyes on the man's form. There was something peculiar, indeed. He was leaving her alive, and on top of that Xei was seemingly at ease. She tilted her head, parted her lips and called for her companion. The dog didn't move, but turn just enough to look at her better-- to stare, challenge her. Tenrousei made a face, confused. Xei always came when she called him, so why was he holding his ground now? She didn't understand.

"What have you done to him," she asked, flatly. She lifted the kunai knife up and pointed it at the man. "Why won't he come to me. Xei, come here. Please. Come here." He didn't move. Tenrousei's brow furrowed. Frustration took hold and her anger roared in her stomach. "You can't have him! He's my dog. I saved him. Xei! Come here, please!" she demanded, hurriedly. I sense of panic began to sink sharp talons into her heart. Xei, her friend-- her one and only, was refusing to come to her. This unusual sense of dread was intoxicating. She began to tremble again and her anger quickly transformed into despair.

"No, no, no, no. NO! You can't have him, let him go. I don't know what you did but he's mine! LEAVE US ALONE. GO AWAY!"

Xei, distraught by the uncertainty of his companion, whined and lowered his stance so that his belly was closer to the ground. His ears twitched, uncertainly. His tail curled inwards. He glanced up at the main, searching for some answer. There was an aura about the man that called to him, but the vocal words of Tenrousei tugged at his heart and he was torn. But, he stood his ground. Tenrousei would come. Regaining his confidence, Xei rose back to his full height and let out a sharp bark.

Tenrousei froze. "You want me ..." she said, quietly, "To calm down? I... I don't understand..."

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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

He spun around as the dog kept following, the girl standing in the blood, kunai in hand and out as if she was prepared to fight. An anger in her voice he was all to familiar with. The dog at his feet beckoning her to calm down, or whatever it was that was happening that he didn't quite understand. She shouted though, for the dog to come back.

Xei, she had affectionately named it.

"You think they are like us?" his sword spoke into his mind once more. He could talk to his weapon, as if it was it's own entity. For all intents and purposes it was, or his mind was severely fractured.

"Could be, they seem to have the same type of connection." he spoke aloud, almost ignoring her cries as he discussed the goings on in his head with his sword. He would look down at the pup and nod his head toward her as if to say 'go on'. "You two have quite the bond!" he said cheerily, putting his hand behind his head and rubbing his hair/scratching the back of his head. "You'd be a strong pair in battle!" he said with an unsure voice, obviously trying to reach out to her, but unsure how.

"We should take her in, doesn't look like she has anywhere to go. Ask her if she wants to tag along, I doubt it cause of how brutish you are, but if she can calm down maybe she can see why what happened was necissary."

"You uh...like dresses?" he stammered out loud to the girl in front of him.

"That...isn't helping."

"Ah what I'm trying to say is that I have a change of clothes and a bed for you to sleep in if you want, no charge. Consider it reparations for what transpired here. I could give you an explanation, but I doubt you'd get it." he said still rubbing his head, trying to find a way to convince her to calm down. She seemed like a street rat, so perhaps the offer of clean clothes and housing would appeal to her. It certainly seemed to, to the dog.

 

[Tenrousei]

"I don't like dresses... And," she paused.</SIZE> "Don't call me stupid, I'm smarter than you think." If there was one thing she didn't find pleasant, it was when people insulted her intellect because of her lowly street status. To her, it didn't matter if you were smart or not-- all that mattered was that you survived, but all the same; she didn't like being insulted, especially by thugs. She narrowed her eyes and glared, anger flashing within the crimson orbs. "You could explain it and I'd understand."

Xei looked at her, and grunted, almost in a sense of mockery- as if to say 'yeah, right'. The canine looked up at the man, cocked his head to the left, and gave a single swish of his tail, all before he padded back over to Tenrousei.

The girl immediately started to calm down, and relief eased her expression. Her lips began to tug at the corners, the beginning of a wide, toothy smile. "Yay! Xei, you're coming back!" she exclaimed, releasing her hold on the Kunai to run to her dog and throw her arms around it. She buried her face against the coarse fur around Xei's neck, who happily panted into her ear.

After a few moments, Tenrousei looked passed Xei's back and looked at the man. She made a face, somewhat determined to look brave and strong. "I don't need a place to sleep... But if you have more food for Xei... He, he ..." She paused, returning her gaze to her companion. She leaned back, just enough so that she was an arms length away from his face, and stared at the dog. She made a hushed, quiet sound, almost like she was breathing awkwardly. Xei, seemingly, understood the gesture and let out a low bark, lifting a paw up as he did. Tenrousei's brow furrowed as she continued to talk with her dog, moving on to hushed whispers.

Finally, she nodded and rose to her feet after gathering up the Kunai she'd dropped so that she could hug her dog. "Xei is hungry. Feed him. C'mon. Lead the way, mister strange murderer. You're a bad murderer. You leave witnesses. Just don't poison Xei's food. I won't talk if you don't kill him. Or me. If you kill us, I'll tell evvvverryone about you killing those guys. Hey, why did you kill them anyway?"

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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

She stated her disdain for dresses first, which after all that happened, had meant one of two things. She was either calming down, or wasn't comfortable being a girl in such a degree that her need to defend her masculinity overpowered her fear. Either way, she then took him meaning something else as being called stupid. He didn't think she was stupid, as there was no way to accurately gauge ones intelligence by meeting them once. He meant that she might have some real life experience, but nowhere near enough to cover what he was going through. She had a lot of growing up to do if she was going to understand anything.

Finally the dog left his side, heading back over to Ten, to her big delight and bright smile. She looked pretty when she smiled, she should do it more! He wouldn't say that out loud though, he had a tough somewhat off demeanor to uphold! She would speak up, saying she didn't need anything, but Xei did. That meant yes, she wanted his help. So he waved her on and turned around, taking a left and walking down the street, she would either follow him or not. Either way the walk would take a while, and he would whistle a somber tune he had been whistled to as a child going to sleep of a night.

On the other side of the palais stood a building, it looked pretty normal but old. He would step up and slide open the shoji separating the inside from the outside and kick off his sandals, flicking the light on. It was almost entirely made of wood, and there was a lot of dust. On the far back wall where a series of weapons attached to the wall, presumably for show. It had a few rooms all seperated by shoji and a bathroom to the right of the weapons. There were no top or bottom floor that was evident.

"This is a safe house, one of many my clan has strewn about the village. You may use this one as long as you like, but if you break it you buy it. The sleeping mats are in the cupboard by the front entrance, the kitchen is stocked with canned foods and dry goods, there should be something there for both of you. The shower is in the bathroom over there, the water heater is old so take it quick or you'll get a cold surprise." he said gesturing to things as he explained them. The kitchen was stocked with foods that wouldn't go bad over time, some of them were probably old but thats something she'd have to sort through herself. He would head into the kitchen after explaining and put tea on, the aroma quickly filling the stagnant air. He'd get two cups out of the overhead cupboard and fill one with tea.

"It's tea if you want some." he said nonchalantly taking a sip of his own and going into what is the living room/sleeping area, taking a seat on the floor in front of a table and placing his tea. "Once you're settled we'll talk. I'll wait..."

"How kind of you..."

"Shut up..." he thought.

"I heard that!"

He choked lightly on his tea.

 

[Tenrousei]

The pair, girl and canine, followed, swiftly but cautiously.</SIZE> Tenrousei didn't trust the man, and she was street-smart enough to know that following closely would be just as bad as staying behind in the alley. Someone was bound to discover what had transpired there and she wanted no part. So, she lagged a couple of feet behind Homura, keeping her distance. While Xei scanned the crowd and streets for any sign of potential dangers, Tenrousei's crimson gaze never left the stranger's back. She kept a hold of the kunai, that she had selected from the batch that had been gathered off the bodies, in hand and hidden against the folds of her dirty shirt.

When the trio finally arrived at Homura's safe house, they entered into the domain. Xei hesitated, however, and gave one quick look down of the area behind them, before entering. Inside, Tenrousei's eyes lit up as the lights came on. Dazzled, her lips formed an 'O' as she drank in the room before her. It wasn't overly extravagant to someone whom had been raised in a home, but to the young girl it was like a mansion painted in gold. She had never been inside of a building with working lights. She'd looked into many, sure, but she had never been beneath one. Beneath the dusty and lack of constant upkeep, it was a place unlike any other to her and she was excitable.

She moved further inside and grinned as she looked over the weapons, then up at Homura's back when he spoke to her. She nodded, understanding, and clapped her hands together once with glee. But, she had been so overjoyed by the concept of free food that she seemed to forget she was holding a weapon. The sharp edge of the kunai bit into the side of her right palm and she winced, her eyes snapping closed. She bit her lip, not wanting to show any form of weakness to the man, but quickly recovered and balled her fist up tightly, pressing her hand into her side. She dropped the kunai to the floor as Homura disappeared into the kitchen and dropped to one knee to haunch over and look at the palm of her hand.

Xei, seemingly not concerned that Tenrousei had injured herself, gathered up the Kunai into his mouth and wandered around the room, taking in the scents of the place with a wiggling nose.

Tenrousei, on the other hand, stifled a sniffle as she tried to ignore the stinging in her hand. She poked at the slit in her skin with a finger, checking out the wound. She winced, a small snap of sharp pain tracing through her hand. She lifted her head, clenched her fist, and nestled it back up against her side as Homura returned from the kitchen with a cup of tea. She had been so distracted by checking out her hand that she hadn't heard his offer for tea. She did, however, stare into the kitchen where the smell of the tea smelled wonderful. Her mouth salivated as she contemplating going in, but the thought faded from her mind when Homura called her over to talk.


"Why wait?" she said, as she rose up from her crouch. She made her way over to the table and sat on the opposite side from the strange man, sitting with her knees up against her chest. She hid her bleeding hand in between her legs and her chest and stared at Homura, her eyes betraying her with flickers of occasional pain. "What is it that you want to talk about?"

Xei, having searched the room to his heart's content, came over to the pair of humans and laid down next to Tenrousei. He didn't seem concerned at all by the salty smell of his companion's blood. He laid his head down upon his paws and settled in for a nap.
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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

She seemed to be happy with her surroundings, that was good as he was going to get into some serious things. He would doubt himself the whole the way through the explanation, wandering if he really should be laying this all out for her. She wasn't an adult, had no experience in espionage or combat, and most certainly wasn't versed in the intricate nature of deceit. Her attempt to sound smart came off more as a defensive-gesture than anything. So how would she handle the information before her? He was about to find out.

"My name is Homura, Chikara Homura. Hear me out fully before speaking please." he said, sipping his tea lightly.

"I am an enemy of the state. I did many, many bad things to get close to some dangerous people...the cabal. The two men I killed out there, where from the hand of the cabal, a group that sprung up around the disaster that followed. They have no real affiliation, but their a blight on the village. I saw those two when I was meeting with the members of the cabal, and hunted them down later...when you met me." he poured more tea into his cup.

"I have a proposition for you now, one that will only be available until I'm done drinking this.." he said, taking a sip of the tea. "I want you to be a bridge between me and the ninja in sand. Take any information I give you directly to them. I suggest an ANBU, highest rank you can find. In return, this place is yours to keep." he said, removing a key from his kimono and placing it on the table. "I have one condition though. You can't ever see me after this as you, nor can you deliver the information as such. You will disguise yourself with these." He got up, putting his tea on the table and stepping up to one of the closets, opening it and pulling an old chest out. He popped open the latch and showed her the contents, they were garbs and a mask ment to hide identities much like that of an ANBU, though only in concept.

"I won't have your blood on my hands, so nobody finds out who you are...got it?" he said, stepping back and taking a seat, sipping his tea.

"Thoughts, questions? I'm almost done with my tea..."

 

[Tenrousei]

As Homura spoke, Tenrousei listened intensively.</SIZE> She hung on every word he spoke, curiosity sinking its claws into her. When he gave her his name, her lips moved as she repeated his name, wordlessly, mouthing each letter to help better commit it to memory. Chikara Homura. It was an interesting name, but a complicated one-- at least, in her opinion. With a quick, snap decision, she concluded that she would give him a shorter name, one that was much easier to say.

She broke away from the idea of giving him a nickname, and lowered her gaze to the table between them. Enemy of the state? Cabal? None of that made any sense to her, not that it mattered to her, anyway. She was just a nobody from the Palais, with no hint of any amount of significance. So why was he asking her to gather information? She tilted her head as she returned her gaze back to Homura. "I don't know what an ANBU is," she said, under her breath. "Wait..."

Tenrousei was on her feet in no time, glancing from the key to Homura. "You mean that if I'm a 'bridge', I get this place?" Her head whirled around, looking at everything in sight. Awe slipped over her face and her lips parted in fascination. He had her full attention, her wounded palm no longer a minor distraction.

When Homura withdrew the chest and opened it, the red headed girl was immediately diving into the contents, taking each piece out, one at a time. The feel of the fabrics was like woven gold. Every one was so fine, silken, and beautifully hued. Her eyes reflected the innocent delight within, and she grinned. Finally, she reached the mask and lifted the off-white wood piece up to look at it. The mask was fairly simply cut, with an undecorated edge. The left side of the mask was cut so that only a piece would extend from the right side, just enough to frame the eye behind. Orange and lilac hues decorated the mask. The smiling liliac lips reminded Tenrousei of a dancer she had once seen in the Entertainment district of the Slums.

Playfully, Tenrousei lifted the mask to her face, and pressed it against her skin. The mask was cool to the touch and smell faintly like sandlewood, a smell she hadn't experienced before. She grinned, behind the false face. "How does it look?" She said, turning back to face Homura, whom had returned to his seat and was sipping tea. "It's pretty," commented the girl as she lowered the wooden face and picked up a piece of plum colored fabric that was framed at the collar with an plume of black crow feathers. Tenrousei paused, being reminded of the feathers she always seemed to find near the old lady's house, the ones that always seemed to be strategically placed. A thought came into her mind, but she quickly dismissed it and slipped the cloak over her shoulders. She fingered the copper clasp before connecting the cords. She lifted the mask one more time, after pulling up the hood over her head.

"Wh'cha think, Mura?" Tenrousei asked, looking at Homura from behind the mask.

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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

He had sat back down after opening the chest to drink his tea, eyes closed and he took in the flavor, it was a relaxing time. He could hear her shifting around in the chest, pulling stuff out and putting it on. Had she decided a place to stay and a new wardrobe was worth the possibility of losing her life? Or did she not truly understand the gravity of the situation.

"Shouldn't you stress the importance of your mission?"

"No, it'll just scare her. She'll find out on her own."

He spoke to his sword inside his mind, taking another sip of tea as the girl spoke.

"How does it look?"

He opened his eyes to see her with a mask on from the trunk, before calling it pretty and reaching into the chest for more of the materials. He smiled, she seemed to be having fun. He didn't want to ruin it, letting a kid who appeared to never get the chance, be a kid for just a little bit. Playing dress up and feeling good. She would wrap the cloak around her and look for approval as she pulled the hood up over her head.

"Wh'cha think, Mura?"

He would stand up, allowing the shortened name as these weren't times to drill respect into kids, but rather a time to make soldiers. She was a glob of goo, waiting to be poured into a child soldier mold. He tipped the teacup up into his mouth for the last bit, sitting it on the table in front of them and walking around her, eyeing it up. Pulling the hood off her head playfully as he walked around her in a circle.

"You need to cover your mouth, and the rest of you under that. You need hiding spots and pouches for weapons. You also need to create a persona under the mask. You need to be someone else, not you, when that mask comes on." he said doing one more turn, when he got to the back of her he'd kick the inside of her left knee, most certainly bringing her to one knee if not toppling her completely. "You'll need to be tough, and resourceful. You need to not be you, do you get me? There are hidden compartments in the chest, just feel around for them. There are weapons and sewing materials inside, be careful not to cut yourself. You don't want to bleed to death so soon." he said, this was obviously a tough love lesson. If only his father could see him now!

"My tea is gone, what is your answer? Will you keep that on, improve, and be my bridge. Or will you turn it down and walk out the door?"

He said, hand placing on her shoulder should she have chosen to get up.

 

[Tenrousei]

She giggled as he lowered the hood and clung to ever syllable Homura spoke, watching following him with her eyes.</SIZE> When he stepped behind her for the second time, she let out a cry of surprise and fell down to her knees, her hands pressing palm down against the floor. Her cry of surprise quickly molded into a cry of pain as the pressure upon the wound, causing a jolt of lightning to erupt up into her arm. She gasped, and saw stars before her eyes, but all the while, she kept listening to him. 'Be someone else, not you' rang predominately in her mind. But, could she do it? Could she be tough, resourceful? She wasn't sure. She scrunched her face as she stared at the back of her hands, remaining how she had landed. She let out a forced laugh when he said to be careful not to cut herself. The funny thing was that she had already cut herself on something he had given her. Could she be trusted with the needles, she wondered. She laughed, mentally, and rose to her feet, careful not to place any more added pressure to her palm.

When she was back on her feet, Homura placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him in response and couldn't help but pull on a goofy, innocent smile. "Normally, I'd just steal everything from you, but since you're pretty strong and, well, sort of kill people... I won't take my chances." She moved away from his hand and turned to face him. She placed her hands on her hips, beneath the cloak, and stared up at him with stubborn, crimson eyes.

"Mura, you have a deal, but I have questions," she said, sharply, offering her wounded hand without thinking. All the while, her mind was racing. Could she really pull this off? The house was huge, by her standards, and it was clean. It didn't smell of mold, and there was an absence of death in the house that felt comforting. Unlike the dwelling where the old lady lived, it felt welcoming, and warm.

Her conscience screamed at her, and kicked at a mental representation of Tenrousei as a doll, yelling and berating her for being so hasty to accept such an offer. However, Tenrousei dismissed her conscience and mentally shrugged her doubts away. She was smart, smart enough to know that things were getting hairy in Sunagakure, and while she may not know the ins and outs of the entire situation-- the fact that the Grand Palais had gotten particularly violent lately, was not to be debated. She felt, no, knew that it was no place for her to be caught unawares. She needed to find a way to protect and defend herself from any fraction of a chance that she could be fatally wounded. This was a way. The house was in a fairly decent place, and in fairly decent condition. And, if she did as Homura asked of her, she'd be informed enough to make adjustments. Xei could only protect her so much, and she him. Bottom line, this was the best way to protect them both, and she believed that.

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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

"Normally, I'd just steal everything from you, but since you're pretty strong and, well, sort of kill people... I won't take my chances."

She was snarky, quite brave for someone who almost just ate the floorboards. She pulled away from him, rightly so, and took a posture a woman is likely to do when she's about to finger snap and head weave like a strong black woman. She did neither of those things though, and instead looked up into his eyes with a face that said 'I want more', which her words would then convey.

"Mura, you have a deal, but I have questions,"

She held out her injured hand and he looked down at it, seeing the injury he smacked the hand downward. He wasn't about to touch a dirty kids wound filled with mother suna knows illnesses. His sword made a slight gasp noise at that in his mind, something he would rightly ignore. "Good, go shower and eat, dress that wound, there is medicine in the cabinet above the sink in the bathroom, towels and clothes are in the closet I pulled that out of." he reffered to the chest, walking back to his seat and pouring more tea. "I'll answer any questions you have once you stop looking and smelling like you fell in a sewer. Clean the mutt to, or it can stay outside." he said as he took a sip of his tea. "If you're going to work for me, I won't have you presented like dirt with legs."

"Aw, you want her to take care of herself. How fatherly of you!"

"Shut up, I need her and nothing more."

"You know I KNOW YOU right? Want me to tell you how much bull shit you're full of?"

"I said..."

"Yeah yeah, shut up I got it."

 

[Tenrousei]

Tenrousei glared at Homura, whom slapped her hand away. </SIZE>Xei's head lifted from his paws at the sound and he looked at the man, let out a yawn, then settled back in for a longer name. However, he was nudged with by Ten's foot as she prodded him. She shrugged off the comments about her appearance as she made her way into the bathroom. Her companion took some time, however, enjoying taking his take getting to all fours. He stretched, rump in the air with his tail curled high. He let out a whine of a yawn, then trudged along in after Tenrousei.

When Xei entered, Tenrousei shut the door and immediately made a face at it. She scrunched her nose, furrowed her brow, tongue sticking out, her hands waggling on either side of her head. "Jerk," she muttered as she turned to look at Xei, who just grinned in his own way, tongue lulling out to one side. She didn't look at him long, because the interior of the room was fascinating. From the tub, to the toilet, the counter, sink, mirror, and cabinets-- She'd never seen a room so clean. She tilted her head, brushed her hair behind her ears, and wiggled her toes through the fuzzy rug she stood on. It wasn't that fancy, no, but it was clean. Simple, but clean. She looked at the tub, then back to Xei.

Eagerly, Xei seemed to like the idea of a bath and was already climbing into the tub. Tenrousei laughed, pulled the ragged clothing off, and slipped in behind Xei. She stared at the facet, a little confused. She reached for a handle and pulled it and the water instantly came on from above. Surprised, she let out a startled cry, but quickly recovered herself and looked up as the water pelted down at the pair of them. She grinned, wildly. She could get used to this. This place was going to be hers! What an amazing thing. Xei, seemingly, felt the same way. He barked and lifted his front paws off of the bottom and slapped them down, playfully, splashing the small pool of water up, causing Tenrousei to laugh.

After a while, Tenrousei shut the water off and climbed out. She felt amazing. Who knew being clean could be so nice. Xei jumped out and onto the floor. His paws started to slide out from beneath him as he shook his fur, from snout to tail. Tenrousei laughed, shielding her face from the water flying off of the dog. "Xei! Not fair," she exclaimed, delighted.

Xei sat down, rump on the rug and panted, happily, as Tenrousei looked around the bathroom again. She was soaking wet and a puddle was beginning to form beneath her feet.

"Uh, Xei," she began, glancing at the dirty rags she'd worn previously. She frowned, "Could you do me a favor and get me something else to wear... I don't think Mura wants me to put those back on. I kind of forgot to get some clothes out, like he told me."

The dog rolled it's green eyes as he turned to paw at the door. Tenrousei let him out and he was gone with the flick of a wet tail. She kind of grinned to herself, pretty sure that Homura wouldn't like a wet dog dripping all over everything. While Xei got to work at sniffing out something to wear from the closet, Tenrousei sat down on the floor infront of the cabinets, opening one of the doors. She peered inside and sighed. There was so much inside and she had no idea what was what. Was it all medicine? She had no idea.

Xei broke her from her concentration on the contents below the cabinets as he nosed his way back into the room, a set of clothing for her in his mouth, two towels draped over his back. He dropped them in the floor beside Tenrousei and closed the door behind him, using a back foot to push it closed. He picked one of the towels and pulled it towards him with his teeth, and then shook it, tossing it upwards. It landed on his head and he lifted a paw to place it over the towel. He nuzzled his head into it, drying off one of his ears.

Tenrousei laughed, got to her feet, and picked up the second towel. She moved her fingers over the soft fabric with awe. It was so soft, and it smelled nice, too! She lowered the towel from her face and started to dry off. It didn't take her long before she went to help Xei dry off.

It didn't seem like they'd been in the bathroom for a long time, but when Tenrousei opened the door, she felt tired. Exhaustion crept on her, making her stifling a yawn as she stepped out into the room. She walked over to the table and sat down. She brushed her hands over the front of the simple white shirt she wore before toying with the hem of the same white pants she wore. The hem was so even and unfrayed, it was amazing. Everything she had on felt amazing against her freshly cleaned skin. She blew upwards, blowing some of her bangs (Still pretty wet, but not dripping) off of her forehead. Xei wandered out, and over to her and curled up against her side.
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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

"Do you know what you're doing? In all honesty I was praising you for rescuing a young homeless kid, but you're also throwing her into a meat grinder and essentially ending her childhood."

"Nobody knows what they're doing, this whole thing is screwed up. I never should have taken it upon myself to get involved. I ended my whole family for what? So I could live a little longer? Will she succumb to the same fate? Hell if I know, she needs guidance though, what she does with it is up to her."

"Sometimes Homura, I wish I had arms so I could hug you."

"You're a sword, that wouldn't be a bright idea."

His sword laughed at the thought of running him through with a big hug. Around this time, the dog would swing the door open and come fetch clothes. He just sat there and watched, as the dog took stuff in to the bathroom for them. She seemed to be done, so it wouldn't be too long until she would join him. So he got up and went into the kitchen, grabbing a few cans of food and opening them, warming them up. By the time they were done she was out and sitting at the table molesting her clothes as if she'd never been in something that wasn't made out of burlap. It was both a sad sight, and a heartwarming one. He'd sit down a bowl in front of her, and one in front of him. It was beef stew, a very basic canned food of which there were many in the house. This was a place to hide out, and to keep VIPs in an emergency, so it was well stocked.

"You wanted to ask some questions? You can do so as long as you eat while you do." he said, as he also began to eat. Even random alleyway murderers had to eat!

[MFT - WC 320]

 

[Tenrousei]

Tenrousei stared at the stew in wonder. </SIZE>The smell of the immaculate scent caused her mouth to start watering as she reached for the bowl. She tipped the rim after placing it against her lip, opened her mouth, and practically poured the contents down her throat. She drank the whole, steaming bowl of stew and let out an over-exaggerated sigh of satisfaction, followed by a slap of a pat on her stomach.

"Whoa," she groaned, "That was so good... Hot, but good. My mouth is on fire that was so hot. You're a good cook, Mister 'Mura." She sat the bowl down infront of Xei, who happily went about licking up the remaining contents.

She looked at Homura and folded her arms across her chest, pointing up with one finger, towards the ceiling. "First of all," she started. "What's an 'Anbew', and secondly, why did you kill those guys in the alley? Why do you need me to run messenger for you? Can't you do it yourself? Why do I have to hide my face? Is there a reason?" She tilted her head, pondering other questions for a moment.

"Also, why are you willing to give me this house if I do this stuff for you? It almost seems to good to be true. Everything comes with a price and I don't think that running messenger is that ... Valuable, compared to a house."

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Sorry about the delay. The wedding yesterday was a very stressful thing, trying to get everything in order.
Bridezillas are a nightmare to work with ... ​

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[Randamu Kyarakuta]

She ate, scarfed it down like one who does such things without learning manners. He didn't really care about it, it was a bit endearing if anything. She listened though, and as he said, he would answer anything.

"What's an 'Anbew'?"

"An ANBU is a black ops team, only the most discreet and powerful people end up there. Before you ask what black ops are, they are operations or missions that nobody knows the details of but them, they also hunt down traitors and missing ninja. Some think their police here, and while that arguement can be made, the general well being of the people and gates generally fall to all the rest." he said, shifting slightly in his seat.

"Why did you kill those guys in the alley?"

"I explained this already, but I'll go into more detail. When the cabal arrived, and all hell broke loose, which everyone in the village has seen, a band of people called "The Hand of The Cabal" popped up. They are our own people, trying to join our captors and be their soldiers. Just followers, like a sheep in a herd. They were assault a girl when I walked onto the scene, and I killed them for it. There are more like them out there."

"Also, why are you willing to give me this house if I do this stuff for you? It almost seems to good to be true. Everything comes with a price and I don't think that running messenger is that ... Valuable, compared to a house."

"I explained, the get up, the house, the freedom to grow as a person on my dime, it all comes with a dangerous price. Being my messenger is more than just running messages back and forth. It's secrecy, I'm a wanted man by the entire village and that means just knowing who I am makes you a target for anyone who wants at me. That could be some random kid, or the steward himself. You get all this, if you can keep your identity a secret as well as mine. I need you to get this information to the ANBU like we discussed." he said, digging his fingernail into the floor besides him, lifting up the floorboard and revealing a package wrapped in crappy paper and wire you might tie newspaper stacks with. He laid it on the table, and slid it across.

"Fix your disguise, work on your new persona, and get this delivered first thing tomorrow. I'll see you in a few days, if it isn't done I'm kicking you out." he said, standing up and walking to the door. "Oh for your sake, don't read the information inside. They could catch you and skin you alive for information." he said, turning the door knob and walking out. She was on her own now!

[MFT: WC - 473]
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