Market Square
"See you." Kusumo waved goodbye as Hibiki skittered away. After he was out of sight, she turned around and wondered what she would do next. She was already fully awake now, going back to sleep probably wasn't an option.. She could work on making stuff for the festival, but she didn't feel like doing that.
Hm. What to do.
In the end, Kusumo decided to go wander around town. There was always something interesting going in Onimori, after all.
we will survive.Market Square
A rather interesting-looking woman
soon made her way into the square, with a shamisen hanging from her back. With dual-colored hair, emerald green eyes, and a kimono that wasn't being worn even close to the right way, clearly she looked like she could make a scene if she wanted to. She strode through the streets with a grin on her face, seemingly looking around for someone in particular. Who it was though was anyone's guess.
The conversation on the merits of whether Tokadokuro should buy pants was interrupted by the conflict brewing between Heide and Ryo. Yoshitsune had watched the proceedings, ready to strike if things got hairy. He was good at situations where someone needed an ass whoopin'. But he knew that Risuka was far better at talking to people than he was. He felt bad for Ryo. The dude was covered in wounds, and here this lady was hassling him. Fortunately, Risuka stopped a battle from occurring in the streets.
"I think I'm getting cold feet." He said to Risuka. "I'm 19, I should probably wait a while before I tie myself down." He continued. Heide had walked off, and he realized that the man she had been threatening was covered in bandages. "Are you okay, guy?" He asked. Now that he thought of it, if this guy was a human, he looked like he'd gone through a meat grinder. On the other hand, if he was a youkai, odds are he was fine.
edited 16th Dec '16 11:36:57 AM by Izshta
All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world."I'll be fine," Ryo said to the interrupter, before turning his attention to Risuka. "I wouldn't oppose helping out. I'm actually here for more... personal, reasons, but knowing my luck it'll be a while before that's done—"
He stopped talking as he caught scent of a familiar smell, not too far off in the crowds. Cobwebs, blood, freshly eaten meat... He had to stop himself from instinctively grabbing the hilt of his taichi. How the hell? Did she follow me here?
"...Perhaps we could talk about this elsewhere?" he asked Risuka.
Southern Gate
"Thanks," Nodoka answered, picking up his satchel.
He described his situation as he walked by, awkwardly staring at his feet. "The Fujiwara family led me here. Hopefully you know them. They're farmers. I protected their daughter from an assassin dispatched by the Aoki family." He turned around and waved. "Nice meeting you."
Then he turned back and kept trudging onward, through the rice paddies.
Those who have no right to wish are quick to cause destruction.Rice Paddies
Nodoka stopped in his tracks. He looked around and found a red-headed woman a few meters down the path. Something about her was familiar...
No way...
"Um... Is there something I can do for you?" he nervously asked, reaching for the Gathering Clouds of Yomi.
Those who have no right to wish are quick to cause destruction.RICE PADDIES
Heide turned, looking at the ugly cripple...She nodded, handing him her supplies. "Hold these while I tie my hair please."
Besides, even if he tried to run? She could easily catch him. She didn't want him to. "Thank you." She said, tying it into a flowing ponytail before taking her supplies.
Good to be backRice Paddies
Nodoka immediately obliged. "Of course," he replied, carrying the lady's belongings in an iron grip.
Against my better judgment... I swear she was that red-haired serial killer who passed through the village while I was still looking for work.
"Sorry for asking, but you aren't the red-haired butcher, are you? There were rumors of you being some kind of demon in Kizugawa."
Those who have no right to wish are quick to cause destruction.RICE PADDIES
Heide's hand lowered as she looked up at him, a dark shadow passing over her face. "What did you say?" She demanded.
Kizugawa was the site of one of her episodes. C Ould this cripple have been there? Her eyes lowered to spot the samurai swords. This man was going to try to be a hero?
edited 17th Dec '16 12:22:07 AM by TroyandHawk
Good to be backRice Paddies
Nodoka immediately responded, "Just curious. Assuming you were."
"I was taught to always be on-guard, in case anyone tried to ruin or take advantage of me," he added, trying to sound confident. He knew he could just drop her bag of... whatever it was and cut her up in a fraction of a second. Or beat her with his stone-filled satchel. Not that he wanted the situation to turn violent, but he was ready for that. And didn't want any amoral, bloodlusted killer to think otherwise.
Those who have no right to wish are quick to cause destruction.RICE PADDIES
"What if I was?" She asked. "You're clearly adamant in your predictions if you're telling me this." She lowered his hand, grabbing her katana in a reverse grip-her knuckles turning white.
"Would you try to kill me?" She growled, making another attempt to pull away the food she had bought.
edited 17th Dec '16 12:36:08 AM by TroyandHawk
Good to be backRice Paddies
Nodoka held the bag up with his left hand, reaching for his tsurugi with his right, replying, "Of course not. You're not trying to murder anyone. Not now, at least."
What the hell is wrong with her?
"It's just best to be wary."
edited 17th Dec '16 12:50:14 AM by DeceptivelyHonest
Those who have no right to wish are quick to cause destruction.RICE PADDIES
Heide looked at him, dropping her satchel. "Draw. Your. Sword." She snarled. He'd dug too deep and the ronin was already having a rough day.
Her aura was overwhelming as she drew her katana, clutching it tightly as she faced the crippled ronin. Kegare had long since lost a hilt, instead? It had nails attatching the blade to a piece of wood wrapped in cloth.
Good to be backRice Paddies
Nodoka parried her swing in what little time he had. It didn't feel too forceful. But he didn't have much time to react.
He readied himself for her next attack, trying to find a way to disarm her and help her get over her convulsive madness... or at least wait it out.
Those who have no right to wish are quick to cause destruction.

Market Square
Shuzo wiped his brow.
"That's resolved," he said. "No need for you to show yourself, Oinaga."
The invisible presence that seemed to have stalked Ryo and Heide all the way from the gate went away. A sparrow perched on the awning of a building took off to somewhere on the west side of the village.
Togashi, the man whose noodle stand was the most popular in town, seemed at least somewhat offended by Yoshitsune's blatant ignorance.
"Well, actually," Togashi said, "Udon is sliced up dough—it's a very storied tradition here in Wa, actually—"
Togashi registered Eiko's order in his head while in the middle of placing the last of Kazan's bowls on the table. There was now very little room on the table, even though not all the chairs were occupied.
"Coming right up!" Togashi said.
A young, fairly pretty woman with a serene smile and wearing a bandanna to hold back her hair stepped out from the building behind the stand and grabbed an empty bowl from under the table.
"Busy day, dad?" she said.
"Oh, Shinobu, you're a godsend..." Togashi turned. "And you, Hideaki, are a useless apprentice—"
Yaya shook her head.
"Yaya—I had 20 mon, but—" Yaya paused, then bowed. "Thank you, but that's okay, I'll just ask master Shuzo to help me. Yaya can't ask you for money."
Shuzo came up from behind with a handful of coins ready to drop them right into Yaya's hands.
"Oh, Setsuko," he said. "Getting ready for the festival?"