Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sakura smiles softly and pours tea into a cup and places it before her. He then looks over to the man on the floor. "Would you like some tea Kazuma?" How this man could be so calm, so seemingly empty, and yet so incredibly strong and fast, was beyond normal thought.

Masamune watched Yumi as she worked furiously through the days, shaping, and reshaping her blades, over and over again, heating, reheating, pounding again and again, instructions coming from Masamune every few moments. Finally after a week or so she had a desirable shape to both and was near completion. "Once you're finished with the blades, you'll want to attach them to a handle each, as well as put the tang into the handle and put nails through it, but just enough to fill it up. Make sure the handle is long enough, or short enough, and that the blade is throughly waxed. You don't want a messy blade after all." He smiled softly. Yumi wouldn't know it until she left his workshop to head back for the mainland, but she had gained power, speed, and a bit of wisdom and patience. Through this trial, she had improved herself to beyond what she once was, yet she didn't know it, he almost wished he could see her face when she realized it.

During the nights Masamune had been altering Yumi's sword. There were runes that she did not, and could not see. When the sword was used though, they would be burned in black. They were symbols of power, agility, balance, protection, and greatness. That sword that was with her was possibly as powerful as any of his, if not more so. Maybe beginners' luck, maybe simple grace and determination, but she had made something of greatness.

Kashi looked up, his body scarred, his face bleeding, and open wounds littered across his body. In parts he was burned from the fire they had tried to kill him with. He had escaped, but not without a deadly burning, and horrendous scars. This man now burned with hate, and he would kill, anything he could...

((For now, let Yumi and Kashi rest. We've skipped ahead of the others, and need to wait for them. ^_^ Ehhe.))

Sakura shrugged and sipped his tea slowly. His grey eyes closing. "If you go for that walk, you will either join up with those of the ten that will be going for that man, or you will die in the streets...Chochmah is coming for you." He slowly sipped his tea. "You would do better to stay in here, and take some tea."

Sakura smiles softly and shrugs a bit finishing his tea. "It's a shame to waste that good tea then. I am here as nothing more than to save your life to make sure your opinion isn't biased. Whether or not you leave here before Chochmah gets here is your decision, but I will help you no more...I must return to another place...and I promise you may never see me again." Sakura rose and turned walking toward the window. One didn't even hear the window open, but somehow knew that man was simply...gone. He was off heading back toward another place...he needed somewhere...where he wouldn't be searched for. On the road...as a rurouni.

Chochmah was nearing the town now. Always a quick walker, and moving fast to catch that man...that possible traitor. The ten didn't care for Kazuma really. He wasn't one of the best. Even the women outdid him. He was always questioning morals and such. The rest just did it because they could...without limitations, they became the betters of him...

((Ask not for whom we wait, for we wait for Mou))

Chochmah stops at the inn door and looks back at Nobara. "How long are you planning on following me? I was hoping you wouldn't do what I knew you would. Go back to Tokyo, and find Mouki...wait there. There is business to be taken care of. Also, gather the rest of the ten up if you can. We need to decide our next plan of attack as it were..." Chochmah turned and disappeared into the inn.

Miu quickly snuck out of the window and climbed up on the roof, horrified that something would happen to Kazuma, but knowing she wouldn't be able to help him anyways. She got up on the roof just in time to spot the approaching man and a woman dressed in a blood red kimono, a woman who looked strangely familiar. And just as she was thinking she recognized the woman Nobara looked up. Too late Miu realized who she was. s**t! She rolled down from the roof and landed on the ground with a soft thud. She was about to move on when 20 kunais pinned her down to the ground.

"Well well well... look what I found here... ain't it little Kimiko missy?" Nobara grinned and sat down on the pinned down girl.

Kazuma closed his eyes. hHe had no time to make plans. He thought of his days as a child..hearing stories of wolf raids on outskirt farms. Such efficient killers..they acted on instinct. They didn't have the thoughtful brain he was gifted with. But they also had the advantage of a pack..he was by himself.Miu..i'm afraid I must risk you momentarily. Please forgive me. "Chochmah..you are obviously the most perceptive of us ten..so surely you would know.." Kazuma bent down, picking up the half-empty tea pot that Sakura had been drinking from only such a short while ago. "..That sometime the life of one most be sacrificed for the good of many." With his final word he hurled the tea pot and it's hot contents toward Chochmah, and leapt backwards, out the window.

His long hair flew out infront of him, the wind brushing and skirting past the back of his head. His right foot touched the roof, and he opened his eyes as it did so. Spinning around, he pushed off again, launching himself toward Nobara. His thumb flicked forward, loosing his sword from it's resting place. Grabbing the handle, he prepared to deliver a strike. I'll show you the grace and deadly accuracy of iaijutsu firsthand.