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Let's get this show on the road. Little refresher on the rules.

1) Don't be a dick. (Don't be rude or mean.) 2) No autohits, ghosting, or godmodding (unless it is involved in a plot and have permission to do so. Even then, don't go overboard.) 3) No plot hijacking. (Basically, don't try to take control of other peoples plots and such.) 4) Play fairly. 5) Stick to the established rules of the universe of the setting when world building.

With that done, here we go.

---

Sonome Village

Sonome Village. A quiet settlement located deep in the heart of the Jinbei Mountains. Because of its natural protection, Sonome has mostly managed to stay out of the skirmishes springing up from the lingering aftereffects of war plaguing the lands all across the island, much to the relief of the inhabitants.

Another reason that some people believe Sonome has been spared from the conflicts surging up everywhere else is because of spirits. One of the village's most notable features is the shrine kept there, which travelers and inhabitants alike often report feeling has a strong connection to the spirits and spirit world in general. Whether this is true or not, however, is a whole other matter altogether...though one that's likely to soon be determined once and for all...

...

It was around the early afternoon, and Sonome was about a busy as it normally was. Villagers in the markets looking to get good deals on various goods, children laughing and playing in the streets, and the elderly and religious making their way to the shrine to pay respects or otherwise. A man stood at the gate as he always had, ever watchful for trouble that would dare to rear its head in his direction, though likely wasn't to come. Adjusting his stance a bit, he leans back against the gate, looking up as the wind changes direction.

"The wind...it's different today. What will it bring with it, I wonder..."

edited 16th Mar '16 6:13:47 AM by BaronGreen

Old habits die hard, especially when no one else lets them die either.

Sonome - Mountain Village

An impish looking red-haired stranger lounges by the man and the gate, taking small bites of an apple, he hadn't been there a few moments ago, "Must be spirits about."

---

Chikiyumi - Sea Village

A short figure in a long robe sits on a barrel full of clams in the market, nonchalantly sneaking one every once in a while.

edited 16th Mar '16 7:31:12 AM by GhostElm

"I'm as free as the dust in the solar wind."

Sonome Village - Gate

"WHOA!" The man, caught of guard somehow, shouts uncharacteristically and in his surprise ends up landing flat on his rear end. Grumbling, he quickly rights himself and grabs the hilt of the sword at his side. "Who...how did you...when did you get there? Sneaking up on me is..difficult for most people to do."

edited 16th Mar '16 7:54:35 AM by BaronGreen

Old habits die hard, especially when no one else lets them die either.

Jinbei Mountains - on-route to Sonome Village

Riding on the back of a fine white horse, a young set of blond haired and emerald-eyed twins, dressed in lavish linen and silk clothes; really not that suited to travel. Yet despite this both the bloomed corset and dress of the girl and the boy's ruffled shirt and black, gold lined cloak seem immaculate clean of dirt, marks or tears.

"Ren, we've been traveling for hours! How much further is it?" The girl asks impatiently at the front of the horse, holding the reigns as it dashes at rather high speed through the rocky terrain.

The boy, Ren sitting on the back of the horse his arms around his sister to hold on tightly. "Not much furth- Watch out!" Ren calls out in panic at them charging towards a steep drop.

The girl looking forward, blinking a little and pulling the reigns to the side. The horse quickly swerving away from the path. "Chill out, I know what i'm doing. So much much further is it?" She asks again.

The boy frowns deeply, questioning why he let his sister Mana guide the horse. "It should just be past this next straight, so can you please slow down a bit..?" He asks slightly pleading at the dangerous speed they were moving in such rocky terrain.

edited 16th Mar '16 10:44:40 AM by darkdestinysoul

"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I will return to where I began."

Sonome Marketplace

   Lovely Place    Akihiro thought

   My target isn't going anywhere, and my contract does not have a time limit, so I might as well goof off a bit   

The 'Merchant' leaned, cross-armed, against a wall. At the moment, he would watch. And he was damn good at watching. He had quite the eye for detail - a requirement for a Shinobi. He was mixing some water with the juice from a Yuzu fruit. Mead was for fools. It dilutes your senses and makes you stupid. And it tasted terrible. Why does everyone like it?

He didn't really know what he was going to do. His contact did not give him much information about his target. He might as well wait.

Sonome, Tavern

Two people, a blonde teenage boy (seemingly a server or worker) and a black haired twenty something of indeterminate gender are debating something over the counter.

Indeterminate 20-something: ".. I need to get across that mountain.. Please, just give me some supplies.. I can pay well."

Teenage boy: "You really shouldn't! It's especially dangerous right now. Can't you wait a few weeks or something?"

"No.. They're not going to be staying for that long.. I can't."

"..."

A third person rounds the corner, a somewhat older blonde woman.

"Mira, this person's...."

Mira: " I heard. Well, can't do much other than give them the stuff and let 'em go."

"W-what?

BH Po IG's face lights up. "Thank you!"

".. Don't thank me just yet. Nanaka's right, that mountain's dangerous. I would know. But it doesn't seem we can stop you, and without supplies you'd definitely die..."

off the shits

Road to Sonome

A man walks quietly along the beaten path. The only sound is the soft moan of the wind as it changes course and the creaking of a nearby sign which points the direction he is walking. The sign reads "Sonome Village."

The man takes calm, measure steps, his shaggy black hair blowing over his shoulders and into his face. He doesn't seem perturbed by this, and he doesn't even blink his light green eyes as he stares straight ahead. He does not wear a shirt, revealing a tanned and surprisingly hairless torso with nothing so much as a single scar, which seems somewhat odd considering the blade he carries at his side. His cloth pants are tattered around his ankles, and flap weakly in the wind.

"Yamada! I asked you to wait!" comes a small female voice from behind the man, and he turns slowly, looking back at the small, approaching figure.

She looks to be about ten years old, with short hair that sits on her head in a way that can only be described as "wild," and has striations of blonde and orange throughout. She looks to be wearing nothing more than a cloth shirt too big for her, but Yamada knows is, at least, dressed more decently than that, with a pair of shorts hidden underneath. Her eyes are slit like a cat's and amber in color, almost the same color as the coin on a leather strip around her neck.

"I will not wait for you every time the odd creature catches your attention, Koneko. Otherwise we would never make it where we need to go," he replies, his tone neutral with just the slightest hints of both amusement and annoyance.

"But...it was a pretty butterfly..." she says dejectedly, but perks back up almost as quickly as she'd fallen. Yamada smirks for a moment before turning back to walking, and Koneko catches up to him.

...

...

Not long after, the two of them finally come into view of the gate to Sonome Village.

Road to Sonome

Breaking off from the mountain pass, the horse still bolting as it joins into the main road. The boy still clinging onto his either well skilled or just reckless sibling. As the hill peaks and the town becomes visible up ahead the pair do slow down significantly.

"I can see it, I can see it!" The girl exclaims.

"I told you it was just ahead, so can you please slow down now before you throw us both off." The boy says with mild hope and annoyance.

"Fine but only because its you asking little brother." She says with a teasing tone.

The boy seems unperturbed by the comment as they begin to now at a slow trot make their way down towards the villages gate. The boy getting himself upright and now just holding on not clinging around the waist of his sibling, even if she seems a little disappointed.

The two likely only a short bit behind the shaggy man and his wild girl of a companion.

edited 16th Mar '16 12:36:48 PM by darkdestinysoul

"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I will return to where I began."

Sonome Travern

Mugen's bed creaked as he rose from it, yawning and stretching. His bed had been a bit short for him, but he'd slept just fine with his feet hanging from the edge. He pulled himself out, putting on a pair of pants and hefting the huge mace he carried everywhere behind him. It was iron, and about as big as a full-grown adult. Mugen had no problem carrying it, but it was a problem getting it through doors. A loud thump could be heard from the bar below as he accidentally put a dent in the doorframe, cursing quietly.

"Morn." Mugen said to the bartender. "Give me three bowls of sake." He said, passing him some coins. It was a little early in the morning for most people to drink, but Mugen was an oni. The sake wouldn't even get him buzzed, but he needed to have a little alcohol in his system every day to survive. He did always keep some on his person, but that stuff was expensive and he mostly saved it for emergencies.

As Mugen sipped from his bowl, he pondered his situation. The money from his last job was running out faster than the liquor he was drinking, and he was down to half his third bowl. He'd have to find work soon, but he doubted he'd have much luck in this backwater t- Heeeeey. Mugen turned his head to the merchant. It sounded like he needed help, and that blond he was talking to was pretty cute.

"Need some protection?" Mugen asked.◊ "I couldn't help but hear your problem. Here, try punching me." Mugen was pointing to his stomach. Just looking at his abs would be enough to make most people think twice. The black-haired man would probably hurt his fist more than he hurt Mugen.

"Don't tell anyone, but I'm an Oni." He said, in a hushed tone. He lowered his sunglasses, revealing his crimson eyes, and his wide grin showed his fangs. There was some stigma surrounding Onis. Their culture was kind of violent. It didn't matter for Oni much, seeing as they were a lot more durable than humans. But a lot of mortals were afraid of them. Bad if you wanted to make friends, but if you wanted to sell yourself as a bodyguard, sometimes it helped.

A young, tall, blonde-haired girl, dressed in samurai armor, ran up to the man guarding the gate. "Master Tarou!" She panted. "I finished... My laps! Now what would you like of me?"

Sonome Village - Gate

The red haired man just smiles, lifting his arms showing the apple, "Just a talent of mine, don't go skewering me just yet. Master Tarou, is it? Short for Rentarou, perhaps?"

---

Chikiyumi Village - Market

The short person...eats more shellfish! They slip the shells in their robe.

"I'm as free as the dust in the solar wind."

Road to Sonome

The sky began to darken and rain started to pour lightly, the clouds crept up on the village of Sonome. In the center of it all stood a girl in her early 20's, looking up to the sky from under her umbrella. She sighed and muttered something under her breath. A bit wet from the light rain, she trudged on towards the gate of the village.

There seemed to be much activity at the gate but she paid them no attention. She might have to wait for a while, though, to get in and she sighed again. The rain was starting to pour but not too heavily. The young woman waited impatiently at the gate, casting a few glances at the strangers there, especially at the red-haired man.

edited 16th Mar '16 4:33:02 PM by DemKimochis

Actually, call me Dem or Dem Kimos I hope they add a name change soon...

Road to Sonome

Yamada notes the sound of horses but doesn't turn, instead settling with continuing onward toward the village. He notes the people at the gate and silently wonders if he has to pay some sort of toll. Not the oddest thing to happen after all, but he doesn't have any coin.

Koneko, meanwhile, is distracted by those on the horse and immediately turns tail to face them.

Ohhh hi!"

Road to Sonome

Seeing the young girl call out, Mana makes the horse slow down besides her. Looking her over curiously with the same kind of look most people give the twins for their "exotic" appearance.

"Well hello there!" Mana says enthusiastically, running a hand through her hair. Despite riding so quickly it has perfectly held its appearance and curls, even the bow perfectly in place.

"Good morning." Ren says politely, from the back of the horse, bowing his head slightly though him being on a horse made him bounds higher than the girl. He himself having a similar immaculate appearance.

Of which the horse did not share, its legs certainly covered in mud, though the rain was washing that away. Oddly not really bothering two individuals.

edited 16th Mar '16 6:14:45 PM by darkdestinysoul

"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I will return to where I began."

Sonome Village - Gate

The man, Rentarou, adjusts his stance a bit, still holding the hilt, but looking less aggressive. He still eyes the stranger sharply though. "...Perhaps." he answers simply.

As he turns his attention to the young blonde samurai approaching, his expression lightens and he smiles. "Ah, Aiko, there you are. You finished faster than I anticipated. Good." he says with a nod, looking pleased. "Take a moment to rest first."

Hearing the sound of people approaching, Tarou glances his gaze down the road and sees the variety of individuals approaching the village. Huh...well, this is quite the number of visitors at once. Hope they aren;t here to cause trouble...

As the rain seems to pick up suddenly, he simply glances upward. "Well, at least it only seems to be a drizzle..." he says to himself, his robes already starting to soak through a little.

---

Sonome Village - Kujou Estate

"Minami! Could you come here, please?"

"Yes, mother! Coming!"

Setting down the cloth she was previously working with and pushing a few strands of violet hair out of her face, Minami stands and heads out of the sewing room to seek out her mother.

Down the hall and through the "main" family room, she found her mother, busy at work in the kitchen preparing the evening's meal. It was often a task Minami's father had insisted one of the housekeepers do, but she insisted on doing it herself most times. Dressed similarly to her daughter in a pink and purple kimono of her own, she looks at her daughter before smiling gently.

"Your father had to go out on some business down in Eto, dear. He wanted me to ask you to go see if our order from the local textiler is ready and to pick it up." She asks, her hands steady as she works on dicing up what looks like a carrot.

"Of course, mother. I do not mind." Minami answers. This isn't the first time she'd gone to pick up deliveries and it likely wouldn't be the last either. It was going to be one of daily tasks once she was finally old enough to take over. Though, that wasn't something she exactly felt like thinking about right now. "I will go now. I was about to go for a walk soon, anyway."

"Of course, dear, take your time. Just make sure you're back in time for dinner."

Smiling, Minami gives a quick bow to her mother before turning to leave. "Thank you, mother. I will be back later." She calls before slipping on her sandals, grabbing her umbrella and heading outside. Sighing in relief at being outside, in the mild, yet rainy weather, she headed off towards the markets.

edited 16th Mar '16 7:20:50 PM by BaronGreen

Old habits die hard, especially when no one else lets them die either.

Sonome - Gate

"Aww, you have yourself an apprentice. The two of you are quite adorable together."

The red haired man smirks toward the stranger paying extra close attention to him, "Yeeees? Can I help you with something?"

He seems utterly unperturbed by the rain.

edited 16th Mar '16 6:06:11 PM by GhostElm

"I'm as free as the dust in the solar wind."

"Yes, sir!" Aiko, the young girl, says, and sits down in a meditative position, calmly humming a tune to herself.

Sonome Village - Gate

Tarou smiles for a moment he wordlessly turns back to the red-haired man, raising an eyebrow. "Adorable...? Never been called that in my 29 years...I am not sure how I feel about it." he answers, folding his arms.

Old habits die hard, especially when no one else lets them die either.

Sonome Tavern

Oh, uh note; the person is neither a merchant nor a man. Sorry >_>

"Unless you can protect him from the weather, I don't know how much help you'd be. Also, do you have the rent money?" Mira's tone was half joking.

The person looks at him, their eyes not particularly judging in one way or another. "No, I should be fine. Thank you, though." they hesitate a moment, and add, "...I don't know that I'd want to punch you... I am a swordsman, mostly, and I don't like to hurt the undeserving in the first place.."

Their eyes widen a bit at the reveal, but it doesn't seem to be in fear or hatred.

off the shits

Sonome Gate

The man shrugs, "Well... I've been around more than you have, the way I see it, the world could use more cute things." he stretches, and tosses the apple core over the gate, "I'm parched, is the tavern where it always was?"

---

Chikiyumi Shore

The person goes over to the shore and starts casually walking on the water.

"I'm as free as the dust in the solar wind."

Sonome Gate

Tarou's gaze seems less wary, also noted by him finally returning to his neutral stance. "Hmm...interesting philosophy..." At the mention of the tavern, he seems to perk up, even if only slightly. "It is over near the edge of the marketplace, as it has always been." he says with a nod before pointing in the direction of the building. "Also...you have not told me your name."

Old habits die hard, especially when no one else lets them die either.

Sonome Gate

The man smirks again, "It's Sasuke Hikari, haven't been in these parts for a while, so I don't know if you would have heard of me or not." he stats walking toward the tavern, "You both can join me if you like. I'm buying~."

edited 16th Mar '16 9:40:23 PM by GhostElm

"I'm as free as the dust in the solar wind."

Sonome Gate

"I am afraid Aiko here is a bit too younger for that. Though, if she wants something non-alcoholic, that is fine." he says before turning to the girl in question. "I believe we can conclude lessons for today. You are free to go if you like, Aiko. If you wish to accompany me, well, I will meet you at the tavern."

He looks back to the approaching individuals, who after another analysis seem harmless enough. "I suppose they are nothing to worry about..." he mutters before looking back to and up at the taller Sasuke. "Hmm...the name does not ring an immediate bell, but...I do not disbelieve you. Anyway, if you're ready." he says before calmly starting to walk towards the tavern.

Old habits die hard, especially when no one else lets them die either.

Sonome Village - Gate

The woman shied away when the red-haired man took notice of her. She disliked him already from both his attitude and something else she can't really put her finger on.

The mention of the tavern, however, caught her attention and she tried to listen in on the conversation but she could not hear much of it. If only I could get my wolf ears out without catching anyone's attention... well, it can't be helped...

She took a step towards the guard (of sorts) and the red-haired man who calls himself Sasuke Hikari. "I'll be tagging along," she said awkwardly as if she was not sure but at the same time sounding a bit matter-of-factly to the samurai-like dressed man.

edited 16th Mar '16 11:34:17 PM by DemKimochis

Actually, call me Dem or Dem Kimos I hope they add a name change soon...

Road to Sonome

At the start of the rain Koneko seems to freeze, her hair seeming to stand on end even more than it already was before she forces herself to become calm (though it doesn't seem to work very well and she is visibly upset.)

My name is Koneko," she says, a little less enthusiastic this time around, How about you guys? You sure look fancy. Are you nobles?"

Yamada, meanwhile, has gotten to the gate proper, and upon hearing of it makes his way directly to the mentioned tavern. He can tell that two of the gathered are spirits like himself, but he doesn't make any mention of it. In fact, he stays rather silent as he makes his way.