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 Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 6:14 pm
A pile of books lay piled where she one sat, the chair virtually buried beneath them and the swarms of unsettled dust that searched at their leisure for a nice place to settle. The rest of the library looked little better, but considering that it was a library, it was none too bad either. Significantly more than half the books remained on their shelves, particularly the ones nearest base level, so whoever came to replace them certainly didn't have to deal with the worst case scenario.
Red, of course, was not going to put them all away. Not having an eidetic memory, she would be unable to do so properly anyway. Crawling from beneath the table she earlier sat at, she had a look of unpleasant surprise and wrath on her face, her voice rumbling a low growl through her slit lips. Though she could not rightly blame anyone for this - not evidently anyway - she had a passing fair guess as to the names of likely suspects. None of their signatures matched the one she felt however.
Placing her right hand on the edge of the table, she pulled herself to her feet, dusting the skirt of her dress with her left. She cursed herself for not grabbing her purse before ducking under the table in the first place, but resolved the matter immediately, by placing her left hand on the table as well and abruptly shifting her weight through her arms into the table, causing the pile of books to level out on the floor somewhat. Making her way back to her now inaccessible seat, she tossed the books away here and there as gently as possible, unearthing her purse, a black leather affair with two tiny pockets on the front held fast with golden buckles.
Unzipping the top, she pulled out a comb to smooth out the fur of her disheveled tail, which seemed thoroughly agitated about the entire ordeal. As she combed, she propped herself atop the uneven collection of literature that deigned to claim the table for themselves. She ran the comb from as near the base as she could to the tip in slow, even strokes, the sound of static crackling off of the plastic teeth. This meditative action did nothing for her anger, but the task was done in its own time and her ears became alert to the sound of a buzzing noise which, for all intents and purposes, defeated the function of silent mode. Her ears responded emphatically to the vibrations, which encouraged her to quickly undo the buckle of the larger pocket of her purse and pull out her phone, which was more computer than phone.
Withdrawing the stylus from its hidden compartment on the upper right corner of the device, she began tapping away on the screen, eyes scanning the information being thrust before her so urgently. Aside from the signature irritation that came with just about everything she dealt with, she gave nothing away as to what she was reading, making it difficult to tell if she was receiving good news or bad. She read through her messages, uploaded the images, and moved above ground, maybe for tea.
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:32 pm
As the kitsune woman would arrive to make herself some tea, she would see that some was already made. A small ceramic pot let steam loose from the spout, and two matching, handleless cups sat with it on a tray. Of course, there was a person accompanying the whole setup as well. Konosuke was, oddly enough, sitting on the floor with the tea set with his left leg folded under him and right propped up.
His tea cup was down on the tray, and his right hand was filled with a book, his blue eye trained on the words. The ancient samurai was in his tradtional yukata and hakama in grey and red respectively.
"Read any good books lately, Red-dono?" A slight smile played on his lips as he spoke.
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:44 pm
"Let us not speak of books for now, Hasamoto."
She let the irritation carry in her voice, but rather than behave as some sort of pompous overlord, she approached the one armed samurai and sat across from him on the floor. Smoothing her dress out, she folded her feet beneath her neatly. Her knees did not much appreciated the hard tile floor beneath her, but she would live.
"What would bring you all the way out here?"
Her eyes swept over his book, but he held it at such an angle that she could not discern whether or not the title was on the front cover. She diverted her attention to her companion, wearing his usual attire. It complemented him. Then she looked at the ceramic pot and the two cups. She could smell that earthy scent of flora steeped in hot water from his cup, but did not motion to pour her own. Either Konosuke would do that for her or offer to allow her to do so herself. Until he made it clear, she would make no false move.
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:02 pm
Not one to be rude to company, the samurai closed the book in his hand with practiced ease and placed it on the floor next to him. It was an older book, but the faded title was "Ancient Warriors of the East". Konosuke corrected his posture and folded his feet under himself as well, a task much easier done with his sandals placed neatly by the entrance and only his tabi on his feet.
"Curiosity, and an honest love for literature. Epithany-san introduced this one to here when I first paused my wanderings. Tea?"
He already knew she wanted some, but it was still courtesy to ask. As he carefully lifted the handle of the ceramic pot to pour the steaming liquid into her cup, his indicated the book next to him with a nod of his head.
"Strange how books fantasize and exaggerate ordinary men. I met some of them in person during wandering over the years."
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:13 pm
When he set his book aside, she placed her purse down as well, to her right. Her phone she placed on the left side, same as Hasamoto's book. The screen was blank and the phone may or may not have been turned off. She made no comment to his 'honest love for literature,' but she nodded at the natural outcome of Epithany's having shown him the place.
"Yes, thank you."
She continued to look irritated, but she allowed her eyes to convey patience, a guard against whatever wrath she may hold. The liquid splashed against the bottom of the cup and then against itself as Hasamoto prepared her drink. An interesting rolling sound, almost like controlled chaos.
"Books about the past are often written at a time when the customs of old amaze and marvel, but do not inspire. 'Those were the good old days' is what they say, wishing it to be true.
"Here you are though, from good old days of the good old days, as it were. You clearly know the difference between what is true and what is real. What reason would you have had, if I may, to meet...Ancient Warriors of the East?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:04 pm
Hasamoto paused before answering his employer, topping of the top of her tea cup with a few more drops before placing the pot down, and being sure to turn the spout away from her. He took his time still with a slow sip from his cup before placing it down on the floor with a soft clink.
"Mostly we just happened to cross paths for a time. I was chasing down the murders of my clan, and my enemies were hiding amongst theirs. And, not to 'blow my own horn' as they say, a one-armed warrior with two swords can garner a lot of attention from others."
While he finished up with a bit of a smirk, the mention of his prey had stirred some sad memories behind his blue eye.
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:48 pm
"Yes, well I suppose you would be quite a marvel."
She took her cup in both hands, using her left to hold it and her right to support it. The amount of steam rising off of it immediately reduced in volume, though only a keen eye would be sure. She took one sip, testing the drink, then another. Her third sip was longer and slower. It was a dry brew, but refreshing nonetheless. The way the heat radiated as it poured down her throat into her stomach relaxed the muscles in her upper back.
For a short while, she didn't say anything to him. She merely looked at her cup as though it were the only thing to keep her company. The silence she appreciated, and the thought came to her that if another shockwave reached them, she'd have hot tea all over her hands and probably in her lap. The cup was immediately placed on the floor.
"Were you married? Did you have any children?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:27 pm
Now it was Konosuke's turn to reflect quietly for a few moments, the cup of tea lifted towards his lips, but he didn't drink from it. After a minute, the samurai lowered the cup back down to the floor with a bit of a heavy sigh, his blue eye downcast.
"I was, and I did." It was a loss that even five hundred years or more didn't do anything to lessen the pain.
"My wife, Aya, was a marvelous swordswoman. Beautiful, spirited, cheerful. She was my deepest love, and most trusted friend. We were the leaders of our clan together. Our daughter, Yuriko, was my pride and joy. She never gave up, no matter what she was doing..."
He paused, taking up his cup again and drawing a slow sip from it. "But they were taken away too soon, along with everyone else on that isle. And I can't rest in peace until I find the last murderer."
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:39 pm
"I see."
Her voice filled the space between them contemplatively, silently. She did not avert her gaze, though he wasn't looking at her anyway. The mixture of meditation, remorse, and nostalgia took their places upon Hasamoto's face appropriately, she noted. Questions she would not ask came to mind.
With a heavy breath she reached for her own cup of tea and took another two sips, the first half as long as the second. The cup was hotter than it was the first time. Heat from the water had spread throughout the cup. It felt soothing to her palms and fingers.
"Vengeance is a burden. You bear it well.
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Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:50 pm
Shall we just move on Kono?
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Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 4:01 pm
[I would like to continue, actually. My apologies for not being on more.]
"We all have our burdens. Vengeance is not one I wish on anyone, however."
It was a cycle that rarely had an end. One person got revenge against another, and then someone would want revenge for them. It was an endless circle of hate.
He took another, longer sip from his cup, finishing off the tea inside of it before carefully placing it on the tray between them.
"This one was expecting you to ask more personal questions before you hired him into your employment." He smiled a little at her, swinging back into his lighter persona.
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:26 pm
"Your personal life is of no consequence to my company."
She all but finished the contents of her teacup before placing it back on the tray. Placing both hands neatly in her lap, she looked up at the samurai with the blank expression she became accustomed to.
"A new sword with no combat history is worth more to me than a centuries' old chipped sword rusted from time and wear. That you have both experience and a keen edge is merely circumstantial."
For the space of a few breaths, she kept her silence for Hasamoto. Her left arm reached out for her phone, to which her attention turned as she brought about producing something on-screen. Her composure did not command silence, but it was a commanding presence all the same, she knew.
"Your past, your abilities, your aspirations...none of those matter to my business so long as you do not compromise us. If I do inquire into your personal life, it is strictly for my benefit...or maybe yours. Look."
She turned her phone in her left palm and extended her arm to the samurai. There was an image and the beginnings of some news article. She kept it to herself since Hasamoto could very well read on his own, but she offered him little time with which to do so."
"We need not bear our burdens alone Hasamoto."
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:14 pm
Konosuke merely nodded in silence as Red presented her reasoning for not asking about his personal life before hiring him on. Smoothly, he reached inside his haori and pulled out a thin, long pipe. The end was small, but empty. It looked like it hadn't been used for smoking in a while.
Out of habit, the samurai placed the end of the pipe between his teeth, simply sucking on the end of the piece lightly as he leaned forwards to read the article. Having only one decent eye made reading at a distance a bit more difficult; however, it was a weakness he had overcome in battle already.
Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, Hasamoto took the pipe between his long fingers and removed it from his lips. It was a grim place, this world was becoming.
"Aye....this one forgets that sometimes. A rurouni's path is usually a lonesome one. It pays to step off of it once in a while."
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:48 pm
"Yes, it does..."
She straightened her back as she withdrew her arm and placed her phone back down. Collecting the tea set, she rose elegantly to her feet and turned to the sink. Without thinking twice, she left the dishes there unattended and returned to her samurai companion. She knelt and collected her phone, which she returned to her purse.
"I will soon be highly inconvenienced. I would appreciate it if you helped to ease the transition. There is a lot to do. I only trust so many people."
Her shoes made a sharp tapping noise on the kitchen's floor. Each step eased and yet reminded her of the discomfort in her knees. She would live by a wide margin, so she pressed on.
"Would you accompany me?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:10 pm
My restlessness has gotten the better of me, but I have to go to work. I will post again tonight.
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