The Caravan Inn }Open{

[Abyssal Majesty]

"Don't mention it sweetheart. If you need anything else, just ask. "

Gathering up all the items he didn't take, Asherah put them in their respective places. Climbing up the ladder, she slid the drawers in place, then stepped down with a gentle puff of air. Ash reached up and wiped sweat off her brow. She was getting pretty tired from staying up all night, it was taking it's toll on her.

"How long are you gunna stay for Tenkai?"

With a warm smile, she stepped out from behind the counter and stood by him in the cramped store. Looking up a bit to him she moved her hand towards the door gracefully. After all, the place was small.

"Two days? Three?"

[Pandumb]

Tenkai rubbed his chin for a moment as he thought.

"Hmmm...well, I guess it'd be wrong to leave an inn without making use of it's services," said Tenkai.

Sleeping on the road was often something travelers had to do, but it was also something to avoid whenever possible. It was only something done out of necessity since camping out on an open road wasn't the safest possible thing you could do. Thus, taking the time needed to rest up at an inn made it a lot easier to travel, reducing the need to set up camp.

"I guess I could spend a night," he continued. "Any more than that would probably be pushing it. I have some things to take care of."

[Native Alter EJ-Kun]

Having traveled the lands around for quite some time, and finally finding himself in the Northern areas where he had rarely been, the soft footsteps of straw sandals gently shifting through the sands could be heard approaching the doorway of the nearby buildings. Along with the sounds of the waves, the cool ocean breeze, and the squawking of the gulls, the soft melody of his whistling could be heard as well, being carried on the breeze. The man approached the inn slowly, weary from his travels, and many hard fought battles over the last few months. It had been weeks since he had even laid eyes on a building, almost as if he were walking along in a daze. Indeed, his travels had taken quite the toll on him. As he stepped up onto the doorstep, and stopped at the entrance, the man already knew that there were other people around. He stopped for a moment, taking in the sounds of his new surroundings, then gently lifted his face up, and tipped his straw hat back a little to look around.

"Hmmm, finally, looks like a place I might be able to get a meal, and maybe a hot shower..."

[Abyssal Majesty]

Heading out of the shop, Asherah clapped her hands together gently and giggled.

"One night is just splendid~ You can have have Bungalow.. number.." Pausing she mentally tallied off the remaining rooms. Which was a lot, but she still liked to keep track. "Five. You'll have neighbors on the one side. But they're lovely ladies, so you don't have to worry about noise."

Making her way through the dining room and out the side door, Asherah walked at an easy pace for Tenkai to follow. Reaching to her hip, she pulled off the giant key ring, fiddled with the mass of keys and pulled off the correct one. It wouldn't take them terribly long to reach the room, but when they did, she unlocked and opened the door for them.

"Here's where you'll be staying! There's a semi-enclosed shower just out the little back door there. Don't worry, no one will see you~ I'll bring in a bunch of extra pillows for your buddy here." She paused to pat the panda very kindly. "Otherwise, if you're hungry, or need anything. There's a little bell on the nightstand. One of the girls or I will hear it and come to service! Food is prepared in our kitchen, don't be afraid to ask for special things!"

Asherah was interrupted by a small tap on her shoulder. It was Chloe. With some.. news...

"Miss, there's a new customer here. I can take care of this one."

"Oh, alright. Tenkai, this is Chloe. She's a waitress here, I need to be off and see who is all coming."

Bowing out, Asherah headed back to the inn's foyer. She was being quick about it, she didn't want to leave anyone waiting. Finally getting there, she puffed a bit and put on a smile. And just as she turned the corner.

"Hello hello! How can I..." She stopped dead in her tracks. It felt as if she had been broadsided by an ax to the heart. Standing straight, she curled her fists at her sides, an anger began to build.


"What do you want."

[Native Alter EJ-Kun]

Finally hearing someone approaching, the man stood a little bit more upright, not wanting to look too disheveled and worn down. Although, even the most incapable of people with half a functioning eye could see that he was weary, tired, and loked like he had been hit with a 100 ton boulder over and over until he was up to his neck in the dirt. He still tried to maintain a calm and approachable air about him however, as he smiled softly at the woman. It was a little hard for him to see at the moment, and he could just barely make out her form. In an earlier battle, his left eye had been badly injured, and a large, crescent shaped scar now adorned his left eye.

As he heard the woman's voice, he couldn't help but think that it sounded vaguely familiar, but he dismissed it for now in his tired state. Instead, he simply smiled a little, tipped his hat to her, and spoke softly.

"Oh, hello there miss. I've been traveling for quite some time, and am in need of some rest, and a bit of a meal. Are there any rooms available for the night?"

It was in the instant that he stopped speaking, that yet another thing struck him as familiar. He wasn't 100% sure, but... something about the woman's scent, even from as far away as she was from him, seemed to stir a bit of energy within him. He couldn't quite put his finger on it though...

[Abyssal Majesty]

"Yeah EJ."

She said flatly. Her lips formed a thin line. Asherah, the woman with endless patience and benevolence finally met her match. Clenching her fists tighter still, her lip curled. She knew exactly who he was. And she didn't want anything to do with him. It was a chance meeting this, but as big as Gaia was Ash never expected to see him again. Fighting to keep what calm she had, she sneered.

"Don't tell me that after twenty [********] years you don't recognize me."

[Native Alter EJ-Kun]

Actually hearing that name, HIS name, something that nobody had called him in a LONG time, EJ was actually a little puzzled for a few seconds. It was as if his mind had blocked out a part of his past, or as if he were suffering from a fit of amnesia. However, when her words finally reached him completely, the feeling that came over him hit him nearly as hard, as he was suddenly sure SHE wanted to hit him. EJ took a small step back, nearly having his legs fall out from under him as he suddenly realized, just who it was that stood before him....

"No way.... No way it can be you...."

EJ's left eye opened slightly, as best as he could muster for the moment, the once purpleish/orangeish hue of the eye, a now solid grey, as if the very color had been stripped from it. He could strangely see something much clearer in his eye now, something that only he would recognize from her. With his eye injured the way it was, he could now see as clear as day, the energy she gave off, only SHE could give off, and it was telling him, that she was not happy to see him here. Even though it was by total coincidence that this meeting was taking place, EJ knew it might not turn out well for him. He swallowed down the lump in his throat, and spoke again...

"It's been far too long, Asherah....."

[Abyssal Majesty]

"..."

Keeping silent, Asherah didn't take her eyes off of him for a second. She didn't know what to say. The rage that she thought she had discarded long ago came back, full force, and with a vengeance. Easing her breath, she began to shake a little. His assumption was incorrect. She didn't want to hit him. She wanted to pummel the b*****d from and inch of his life. Sadly, it looked like someone got to him before she did.

"Your daughter is alive." She said bitterly. "Not that you would care."

One foot after the other, she took a few ginger steps towards him before reaching a hand out and shoving him away abruptly. Asherah was about to snap.

"You know, seeing as how you left us and all--"

Quickly balling up her fist once again, she reeled it back, crow hopped forward, and put a font of energy with all her weight behind it before--

CRACK

She let him have it right in the kisser. God damn it felt good.

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND."

Asherah couldn't help but yell at this shell of a man. He held no respect in her eyes now. Her voice echoed through the inn, the forest behind her seemed to creak.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scoured.

[Native Alter EJ-Kun]

Watching her as Asherah approached him, and knowing full well what she was about to do, EJ stood there, somewhat mentally preparing himself for what was sure to be, a VERY hard hit, and maybe a lot more. He knew very well that he could take the damage, but even he didn't expect the blunt force that came from her strike. As bad as that stung though, it was nothing compared to what her simple words did to his very soul, not even to mention his heart. EJ couldn't very well fathom the amount of pain he had caused her, and his daughter when he left, but he had damn good reasons to do so, and maybe in time, those reasons would be known to those that needed to know them. for now, even though his face now stung like hell, EJ actually felt a little relieved in the fact that Asherah had hit him. It meant that in the very least, there was still some sort of feeling there for him, even if it was rage and disgust. He deserved that from her, and he sure as hell deserved a thorough a** kicking from her, if she wished to do so.

As the hit connected to EJ's face, it caused him to stumble back a step,, and a good line of blood began to trickle from his mouth from the corner. he reached up, and lightly brushed it off, as his right eye began to glow slightly, his wound closing on his lip quickly. at least his ability to heal quickly was still relatively unaffected by his many battles and travels. His head hung a little low, his hat now upon the ground as Asherah's hit had knocked it clean off from the wind of her swing alone. He could only look at her now, his eyes never leaving her face as he stood there, awaiting the next blow...

"I guess i deserved that one, and I know I deserve a hell of a lot more from you Asherah. I'm glad to hear our daughter is alive, and in spite of what you might think, I care a great deal. more than you might ever truly know. I'm glad to see that you appear well also."

EJ waited for exactly what else was coming his way, and now out of sheer reflex, readied himself for another hit, or even a flurry of them from her.

[Abyssal Majesty]

Native Alter EJ-Kun

"I guess i deserved that one, and I know I deserve a hell of a lot more from you Asherah. I'm glad to hear our daughter is alive, and in spite of what you might think, I care a great dea--"

"--NO."

Grabbing roughly at his wrist, Asherah pulled him toward her whilst springing another punch. Only this time it would be much more heavy hitting, and to his solar plexus. Grunting a bit as she did so. She then snuck her leg betwixt them and kicked him away, hopefully to the ground.

"You think I want to hear what you have to say?"

Swiping her hand in the air, a thick mass of sand shot at the man, whipping him with the stuff.

"You think you have the right to even speak to me?"

Swining back her arm, she readied herself to deliver another blast.

"YOU think I ever wished to see you again?"

Snapping her hand forward, she hurled another wall of sand at him. Taking steps forward, she flung her finger out at him, leaned down and poked at his throat.

"I don't know who or what brought you here. But you have to leave."

Teeth bared, and yellow eyes angry, Asherah was not asking him.

[Native Alter EJ-Kun]

私には一緒にあなたとしたい...

Asherah's rage and explosive power towards EJ didn't surprise him in the least, and as she struck him hard in his gut, and then in his nether regions, he let out a low groan, and winced a little at the force behind the blows. As her first wave of sand struck him in the face, he turned his head a little, as he fell back, his right hand hitting the ground, keeping him from falling completely as his weight shifted from the blows. since this point, he had been ready to accept any beating that might have come his way at her hands, but it was apparent now, that if she had his way, Asherah very well might kill him. without even realizing it, EJ's body, as well as his inner beings, his Alters, were already beginning to stir within him. his hair, now ragged and shoulder length, began to rise a little with energy, and his left eye began to glow brightly. A mere split second before the 2nd wall of sand hit him, A swirl of intense energy rose up from EJ's entire form, surrounding him, and blowing the wall back, as well as sending waves of intense air currents out from him in every direction, as if he were controlling the very wind itself. this caused Asherah's sand to be blasted against every wall in the room, as EJ stood slowly to his feet once again.

ENOUGH ASH!... I get it already. I'm not welcome here. That's fine by me, it was by accident that I came across this place anyway. I never expected to see you ever again. I never deserved to anyway...."

EJ's teeth were now clinched, as well as his hands balled up into fists, his knuckles nearly bleached white as he clenched them so tight, his nails dug into his own palms. He tried to breathe slowly, but now, his emotions had began to get the best of him, and he was trying hard to not let his Alters take control, and destroy everything within a 100 foot radius. EJ turned his back to Asherah slowly, and took a single step towards the door as he spoke once again...[.color]

"You can believe what you want about me, and I don't blame you for hating me, but don't EVER think for a second, that I EVER stopped caring for you, and our daughter. You two were the ONLY good I have ever done with my life, and I couldn't let my past destroy you too..."

With his final words, EJ walked out the door of the inn, and walked out to the beach, huffing to himself as the very sand swirled under his steps from his enegry swirling from him, still very high, as he now couldn't settle down.

常に....あなたを守る

[Master Nemesis]

The closed blinds in the door of Bungalow 2 were prodded open a crack, and a red-rimmed eye peeked out of the dark room within. Apparently, the occupant had heard the shouting.


Sabrina looked outside, and all she could see was clouds of sand being kicked up by what was either an industrial-grade sandblaster, or magic, somewhere near the front entrance of the Inn. "Oh Jesus Christ," she muttered to herself, and quickly wiped away the moisture on her cheeks with the back of her hand, then quickly yanked the door open. Her other hand gripped the hilt of Midgard Fang tightly, as she ran out into the sunlight to investigate the commotion. "Last thing I need right now."


Moments later, she came upon the scene of Miss Asherah have a furious shouting match with some beaten looking dude covered in a lot of sand. She stopped several feet away, and . . . didn't know what to do. She hadn't really thought out how she would react once she encountered trouble, beyond the vague idea of punching someone in the face and throwing them out. On top of that . . . well, Ash kind of seemed like she had things handled, and Sabrina was a little reluctant to step anywhere in the middle of all that rage. And so, she stood idly by, looking a little lost and anxiously brandishing a sword she had little idea of how to use.

[Abyssal Majesty]

"Oh. I'm sorry. Because you were around so ******** much right?" Asherah spat just as he stopped speaking. "Past? HAH. Get out of my sight."

And so he did. While her blood was boiling, and her head wasn't quite clear, she fumbled for the keyring at her waist. In a fit of frustration, she ripped off a key and chucked it at him. Making sure it smacked him in the back of the head, hard. She might have been furious, but she wasn't cruel.

"You can stay in the last bungalow." She said as she tried to control herself. "I don't care how long you stay. Just don't annoy my guests, and don't get in my way. I'll have one of my girls bring you food."

Perking up her ear at the faint sound of wanting metal, Asherah looked towards Sabrina with an expression of shock. She realized just how loud she was being, how she herself disturbed her own guests. She only hoped she didn't scare them. In a conniption, Ash put the keys back on her hip and sighed.

It seemed it was going to be a very long day.

[Native Alter EJ-Kun]

As the key struck EJ in the back of the head, he simply stopped for a moment, then turned around and slowly kneeled down to pick it up. He paused for a moment, as his left eye was alive with the very energy still on the key from Asherah's mere presence near it. It nearly vibrated with her anger towards him. EJ snatched up the key quickly, and also leaned a bit forward and picked up his hat, which was abut a foot away. He placed the hat back on his head, then looked at the key for a moment, before tossing it on a nearby table as he turned to walk out the door once again.

"I appreciate the token of being a good hostess, but no thanks. I don't want to impose on you, or your workers, especially since you don't want me here Asherah. I'll simply do as I have for so long. I'll find a tree and sleep in it, and hunt my food as usual..."

Before EJ stepped out of the inn, he paused for a moment, then reached into his yukata, pulling out a small pouch from inside. Without looking, he tossed it gently onto the table next to the key. He took a deep, calming breath, then spoke softly as he walked away towards the nearby forest.

"I'm sorry to have caused a scene in your fine establishment. If you happen to see our daughter, please give her half of what is in the pouch, the other half is yours. It's something I kept with me always. Goodbye, Asherah...."

Inside the tiny pouch, unknown to asherah for the moment, was the Jewel that she had given him, which used to reside on his forehead, as a symbol of his bond, the promise he made to her. the other thing, was a piece of Asherah's skin, from the very first time she ever transformed in front of him, and nearly destroyed him in the process....

[Master Nemesis]

Sabrina watched the man go, listening to comments he and Asherah exchanged until he left. She got the general gist of what was going on from that - with added interest after he had mentioned a daughter - and once he was on his way, Sabrina walked a little closer to her employer (but not before shooting a dirty look at the traveler's back). "Everything okay?" The young woman's eyes were still red and puffy, and bits of her face still glistened. Her voice was also a little quiet, and just like her body language, it betrayed that she was sapped of energy at the moment. Despite all that, Sabrina still seemed genuinely concerned for her boss, and had fixed a concerned expression on her face.