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“X” Mitsu repeated. It was an odd name and her expression showed her thought processes on just that. About to reply to the question on her cotton candy, Mitsu was cut off as X started to ask her something else but trailed off. Looking at him for a moment she couldn’t help but feel there was something else on his mind other than if she was having fun or not. “Y…yes.” Again conversation wasn’t her strong point, asking questions wasn’t something she did or really knew how to go about doing. An awkward moment of silenced passed before Mitsu threw her now empty cone away and whipped the remains of the cotton candy from her face and licked it from her fingers.

Once finished with general grooming, Mitsu looked off down the long street where the festival continued. She could still hear the music and wanted to see what was going. As if in a hypnotic trance, Mitsu made her way forward, swaying with the soft melody of the music.

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A sadistic grin crossed Neko’s lips. All right Yuki lets dance. “Why don’t you try now? Give her one of your best moves. I think you can win her over.” In truth he knew Yuki’s best moves and honestly he was sure he wouldn’t win over a goat, but it was so cute to see him try.

It did seem to take some time for riyo to try everything on. but eventualy she emerged again looking pretty good for a person who had been taken not long ago

"It looks great!" poke said. She personaly wondered how much an outfit like that would cost and continued to wait, trying not to yawn in the process. Clothes shopping wasn't the most invigorating of expereiences

Hitsu followed Riyo out of the dressing room, smiling to Poke as they returned to the counter. "She figured most everything out without my help, she did a very good job." She praised, as though complimenting a child who had learned something new. Of course, in this case, it seemed not very far from the truth. Hitsu watched as Riyo went about putting on the boots that the clerk had gotten them, and once she'd seemed to figure out which foot was which Hitsu addressed the man. "Thank you for your help, how much do we owe you?"

As she spoke, she'd went about retrieving all of the coins that Yuki had given her. Every last one was gathered up, and piled onto the counter. Most likely far more than the value of the clothing, but Hitsu was clueless on the fact. She assumed the clerk would only take what was needed to pay for the clothing, and the fact he'd take more than that didn't seem a concern. After all, the people of her village were honest, even though most of those she did business with were people she'd known for many years.

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At Neko's suggestion, Yuki glanced around a moment and grabbed a napkin. Another moment of searching, and he plucked up something to write with that had been absently laid on the bar top by one of the tenders not far from where they sat. He seemed focused on his work for a few moments, and once he'd finished scribbling out a message he handed it to Neko proudly. "How 'bout something like this?"

Mitsu continued on completely taken by the music. Everything else in her mind was a blur as she maneuvered through the crowd toward the enticing sound. She seemed to feel more comfortable now, whether the strange man had set that into motion or not Mitsu wasn’t sure, but the people here seemed different. No one looked at her funny or wanted to hurt her, they were all off just having a good time enjoying the festival.

Once in the middle of town, Mitsu found the source of the music. There was a band playing and people were dancing away on a wooden floor that had been set up for the occasion. Lanterns adorned the entire area bringing an assortment of colors that only seemed to flow with the mood. Eyes wide she tried to take the scene in all at once and turned back to point out the lanterns to X, but she suddenly realized he wasn’t there. Her excitement faded a little as she realized she was alone again and with a sad smile she moved through the crowd again. Maybe it was best this way.

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Taking the note from Yuki, Neko scanned it over thoughtfully. Once he had reached the end he gave small glances to Yuki in a ‘Are you serious?’ manner. “Looks good.” Neko said patting his friend on the shoulder with one hand while crumpling up the note and throwing it off to the side with the other. “I’ll just add one little detail to it. A place to meet.” Taking Yuki’s writing utensil Neko looked around a moment for something to write on. A napkin seemed a little cliché, ah! Reaching over the counter a bit, Neko took up a random bar tab that was currently in use. Looking over the drink list a moment he only shrugged and turned it over to write on the back.

Just about to put ink to paper an idea stuck Neko, a sinister idea as they often were. Glancing up at the longhaired blonde man, Neko gave a small grin as he got to work on his note. All he needed was to get the swordsman out of the way and his job would be easy from there. Signaling to a barmaid he quietly requested a room upstairs for the night and upon asking was quickly given two sets of keys with room numbers attached to them. When asked for payment for the room, Neko flipped the tab he held over and told her to make a new tab with the same name and he would pay in the morning. Nodding she wrote down the information and was off leaving Neko to weave his plan together. Looking up occasionally to make sure Yuki wasn’t watching he scribbled out a love note to the man:



Neko made sure to keep his handwriting curvy and ended the note with a little heart for added effect. Once written, Neko took the note and folded it up with the key inside and signaled yet another barmaid over. Shyly she came over and he handed her the note pointing to the young swordsman. Nodding that she understood she was off and came up to the table holding out the note for Skye to take. “For you, Sir.”

“Hey, Yuki,” Neko called his attention so he wouldn’t see what was going on. It was also an opportunity to ease his mind back into reality, slowly giving him back his will. Holding up the key he smiled. “I sent your note over with a room key. I have no doubts that with that note, you’ll have a lovely young lady joining you shortly.” He dangled the keys in front of Yuki for him to take. By this time he would be almost back to his normal frame of mind, but still in Neko’s control enough to think this would be a good idea.

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The moon now high in the sky there was not a cloud in sight. The only obstruction to this perfectly painted picture was a large bird whose silver feathers gleamed against the moonlight. Circling over the dark forest this particular bird was on a mission. His master had sent him out with specific instructions and a package that needed to be delivered. He knew not of what his master intended but he knew who he needed to seek out. Swooping lower, the large Gry Falcon skimmed over the treetops looking for his target as if he were searching intently for prey. His wing span made it nearly impossible for him to fly below the canopy of closely knitted trees. From tip to tip they nearly reached ten feet in length, which would make weaving through trees quite a chore.

Making due the best he could he took to the sky again and soared onward at a faster rate keeping an eye on the ground below. Small things caught his attention but none were of any importance. A deer, a rabbit here and there, but what he was looking for was a man not an animal. A man with a dark complexion and a permanent smile affixed to his face.

Then he saw it! A humanoid figure in the darkness caught his attention. Descending in a near vertical manner, the falcon plummeted toward the ground. Breaking through the thick forest canopy the Gry Falcon spread its large wings to slow its fall. Once balanced from the descent, the large bird moved on and took roost in a nearby tree gazing out in the direction he had seen the figure. Catching sight of the man again he confirmed it was indeed the person he was looking for. Letting out a high pitch screech, the falcon made an attempt to get the man’s attention. In this forest a large almost white bird wouldn’t be hard to spot, but just encase.

Mitsu kept walking and seemed to be enticed by something, as she walked farther into the crowd. There was something special about that girl, but it would be dangerous to stay too close to her, "she may not look it, but if her lifes put in danger she will be more than capable of handeling herself.The demon in her will make sure of that." He thought to himself. He hated just leaving her though, she seemed so lonely and unwanted, she reminded him of himself as a boy. He had to do something. X searched the crowd looking for a person to fit several specific traits, and stopped upon noticing a small boy.

Walking up to the boy and X said knelt down and said to the boy "Excuse me young man, would like to make some money?" The boy looked up at him with eyes burning with excitement."Boy would I!" "Good" X smiled as he placed his hand on the boys head tussled his hair vigourusly. He then reached in his pocket pulled out a small bag with several gold coins in it. Not showing the boy what was in it he handed it to the boy, and said "Do you see that girl there?" He pointed toward Mitsu"The boy said" the girl with the tail?" "Yep shes the one. You take this to her, tell her its from X, and after you do that run over to that booth right there." He pointed to a booth with several small trinkets hanging and clanging in the breeze. "When you come back I'll have some money for you, but there are some rules OK?" "OK!." the boy answered with great vigor.

Lifting his index finger he said "Number one, you cannot look in the bag." The boy nodded. Raising his middle finger as well "Number two, You tell her what I told you and nothing more." Once again the boy nodded. Lifting his ringer now he stated "Number three, do not tell her or show her where I am. Can you do that?" The boy nodded his head with great anticipation. "And if you complete this mission you will recieve this." Reaching up be hind the boys ear, he pulled back a gold coin. He had learned this trick from a merchant in his former life. The boys eyes grew huge with excitement. "And if you can do it quickly and abide by all the rules." X closed his hand around the coin. "You'll receive this" Spreading his fingers out as he had done before he now had a gold coin between all his fingers totaling 4. "One coin for each rule followed, and one for a job well done." The boy was mystified and shaking uncontrolably. "BUT!" X closed his fist again. "If you choose to break these rules you get this." Opening his hand again the coins where gone. "Do you understand?" The boy staring in astonishment shook his head and gave a futile attempt at a salute "Yes sir!" "Good boy. Now, fall out." He used the term to help the boy with his military based fantasy, but evidentily he was not that fluent in military. The boy stood there head cocked with a strange bewildered look. X leaned in whispered to the boy "That means go." The boy then smiled and saluted him again. he saluted the boy back, and child took off. X then pulled his hood over his head, and made his way to the booth. Closely watching the boy, while being sure to stay concealed in the crowd. He watched as the boy ran, and then looked to Mitsu as the boy closed in, as she danced in place to herself. A heartfelt smile crossed his face again, but was quickly replaced by somber, emotionless frown. As he walked he spoke under his breath as if trying to convince himself. "Sorry kid its better this way."

Skye watched as the shy barmaid came back to his table with his drink. His brow furrowed just a bit, she seemed to be clutching something to her chest, a note? Must've been by the way she was trying to keep it hidden. A coy smile played across his face, 'You sly dog, you got one already...' He thought calmly to himself. The other women were busy crooning amongst themselves and didn't notice the barmaid slip into the area, handing Skye his drink, with the note tucked under the mug. Before the barmaid could leave, Skye took hold of her hand, and kissed it lightly with a slight wink in his eye; from that, the barmaid blushed even more than she had the whole night, and ran off to do some other chores, bumping into a few people here and there.

Hanse had idly watched the barmaid make her rounds, and noticed the two men that had given her the note. His brow crooked at this action, and remained so until she gave the note to Skye; at that moment, a fiendish grin appeared on his face, and he moved in closer to Skye to read it over his shoulder. He hoped, secretly, that it was some sort of note that said they would be attempting to kill him later this night and take all his money. But as Skye began to open the note, his original hope had been killed, then replaced with something ever so slightly sadistic.

Skye peered back for a moment as he felt Hanse move closer to him, then returned his attention to the note under his mug. He took a sip of his drink and pulled the note and ignored some of the girls cries that came when a room key fell into his lap. He first opened it to the side that had the tab on it, and furrowed his brow. He felt Hanse's initial disappointment, then gave a more relaxed face as he turned the tab over. "Ah-hah..." He said quietly, and as his eyes passed over the carefully crafted letters, he could tell by how much the paper was pressed in that no loving woman wrote this note. He glanced up to Hanse over his shoulder, and pushed the note into Hanse's hand.
He stood up quickly, passing the room key from his lap into his hand, and tapped the table a few times to get the ladies attention, "It has come to my attention ladies," he paused for a moment, "That my partner Hanse here, has a secret admirer!" Every lady blinked for a moment, now realizing there was a man behind Skye, then they all broke out in cheer and claps for him. Skye motioned them to quiet down a bit, "It seems that she'd like to meet him in her room," He wiggled his fingers some and made the Ooooo face. Several of the younger girls laughed and giggled, as did a few of the older ones. He motioned to Hanse with one hand, and the direction of the room with the other with the key dangling from his fingertips. "Should he go, my ladies?"

Hanse took a step back as Skye thrust the note into his hand, and scowled at him. Skye didn't know where it had come from, and was trying to pass it off at him. His sudden growth of attention irritated him, and he wanted to kill someone for it, he could just feel the urge rise. His mind realized exactly who got him into this mess, and his eyes quickly darted to where the two men were, but now there was only one. Had the other already gone off to the room? He must have, Hanse deduced, and a fiendish grin crept over his face like the black plague.

All the ladies clapped, cheered, and screamed, urging Hanse to go to this woman. Hanse took a simple bow, and nearly tore Skye's finger off as he pulled the key from his fingertips. "Don't be surprised if you hear some screams, friend." Hanse's voice sounded almost deathly as those words slipped from under his breath to the leaning ear of Skye's. Skye only could chuckle a bit, knowing Hanse was serious, "Don't hurt her too much." Skye joked. Hanse's brief reply before heading towards the stairs to the rooms, "She won't be hurt at all." With that, Hanse slowly made his way to the stairs to the bedrooms of the bar, making sure to shoot a glance over in the now lone man's direction with that same evil grin on his face.

"we ready to go? Awsome!" poke was already walking out the door. "lets go find this inn that the guy was talking about" Her stomach rumbeling in protest at not being fed in so long.

Outside, she paused to think on where exactly the inn would be. She remembered staying at one of the inns here, but wasn't sure of the name... "I think...it's this way" she started walking down the road