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 Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:35 pm
This small village on the other side of Mount Reikaku hasn't really changed much since the time of the Priestesses, with the exception it has grown a little larger. Oddly enough, it has become popular in the spiritual medicinal field.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:48 pm
The thieving business had been rather slow today. There hadn't been as many merchants pass through Mount Reikaku, and sitting on patrol just wasn't doing it for Mika. So, she decided she would pay their little next door neighbor a visit. Pulling the hood of her cloak up over her head, to hide her face and hair, she stepped into the town, glancing about to see if anyone saw her. Luckily for her, no one had even noticed her. Mostly because they were too busy looking at the three that were trailing her. Tai, Kei and Dai, the newest recruits to the Mount Reikaku bandits, looked rather menacing and dark. The poor townsfolk probably thought they were going to do horrible things to her. It was very clear they were outsiders. The trio had very light colored hair, a moderate tan and were fairly buff. The fact that they didn't have their hoods on only made them look even more frightening.
With a sigh, she turned, walking over to Tai, and pulling him down to eye level. "Put your hood on, and stop looking so damn menacing. We're trying to blend in, for Suzaku's sake." The trio did as they were told, and Mika watched as the townspeople seemed to ease up as she talked to the group. Great... now they probably think I'm a royal. Given the nickname she had been given, it wasn't too far from what they saw her as. Mika Miyamoto, the Bandit Princess, the second in command to the Mount Reikaku Bandits, and despite popular belief, a pretty nice girl. Today's trip was just a way to punctuate the last part. She was going to go deliver some of the pilfered mons to the town, and arrange for the boys monthly visit to the local brothel.
Taking a glance about, making sure that her trio was properly covered, she started walking again, heading towards the center of the village.
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TionneDawnstar Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:35 pm
Not everyone in the town seemed to ease up once the trio of men put their hoods up. A young man, sat with his legs out and his back against a tree, watched the young woman more then the men. Sun Li frowned a bit, his hand going to his hip to cover the red light slipping through his thread bare pants. He was a drifter, and didn't normally have much money, which was fine since it meant that he had less to steal. He worked for food, and sometimes coin, and he was fine with that. The people that knew him didn't know what he really was, the celestial warrior, Tamahome.
However, with his mark reacting like it was, he could only thing that one of the four new comers were marked by Suzaku as well. He didn't know why he knew that, but he didn't question himself and just went with his instinct like he normally did.
He got up from his shady spot and headed after the girl and her entourage, interested in learning a bit more about the group, and maybe sneak a peek at who the other mark bearer was. His eyes went to the girl again, rather entranced by the way she moved. She was a warrior, that much was certain, and he admired that. A small smirk graced his features as he carried on behind them, trying to stay far enough back not to alert them to his presence.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:58 pm
There was something odd going on. That much Mika could tell, as the inside of her left ankle started to itch, the familiar burning sensation showing that there was a Suzaku chosen about. But, she knew that Miki wasn't around. He was on a recruiting trip, and would be back later today with new blood if he found some. As she stepped, she rubbed the inside of her ankle against her leg, to try to stop the annoying tingle. If it was Miki, then it wasn't a big deal. If it wasn't, however, that meant that things might just be starting to get interesting.
Heading towards the brothel, she stopped in front of a vendor stand, looking at some of the wares. This one was a small jewelry stall, with an elderly gentleman working. She could tell by looking at him that he probably didn't get enough to eat. Fine jewelry wasn't as very lucrative to sell, since most people didn't have the cash to afford it. Even the jade works he had, while very cheaply priced, didn't seem to move. Taking a look, she found a pair of red jade bracelets, a beautiful carving of Suzaku and orchid branches intertwining. "How much for the bracelets?" she asked politely.
The old man looked startled for a moment, as he hadn't seen her come up. "Oh... well, those would be 2 mon. They haven't sold in years." He looked rather sad in that knowledge. Given the look of them, Mika was certain he must have put a lot of effort into them. Scooping up the bracelets, she slid a pair of Ryo, far more than what he was asking for, over to him. "Keep the change, and get some food, old man." She walked off before he could try to give her something else to make it equal to what she had paid, though she did hear him calling after her to thank her. She smirked as she slid the new baubles on. They were quite fitting for a Celestial Warrior, she thought, and she was going to get some use out of them. The brothel she was heading for was just ahead, the scent of perfume already reaching her.
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TionneDawnstar Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:54 pm
Sun Li watched the girl give the old man some money for a pair of bracelets, which was obviously too much, then let him keep the change. His eyebrow went up, and he went up to the old man and smiled a bit. "Hey Chou, you know that girl?" Sun Li wasn't the friendliest person, but he was well liked by the people of Choko, since he often protected the town from bandits and wild animals.
He pulled his money pouch out, and saw a piece of jewelry that looked a lot like the bracelets, and were probably bought as a set. Tamahome opened his pouch, there wasn't much in there, but he had just finished a job. He took the 5 mon out and handed it to him, picking up the necklace. It had the same Suzaku motif, on a long, red cord. He slipped it over his head and tucked it into his shirt, then watched the girl walk into the brothel, and waited for the old man to answer him.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:13 pm
Another figure walked into Choko, his slim and uncalloused hands definitely not that of a farmer, his attire seemed to say otherwise. His long, brown hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and his hazel eyes inquisitve. Riku had managed to sneak out of the palace again, much to the disdain of his father, the Emperor.
The girlish boy smiled and walked along the avenue, well small dirt path really, but he wasn't there to judge, but to explore and get to know his people. He frowned a bit as his neck started to itch, and his hand went to the area, covering his birthmark. People at the palace didn't even know he had it, he wasn't going to let anyone but his father know about it. He came around the corner and saw a rought looking man in green buying an amulet, and he snuck back around the corner, watching but hiding at the same time. He didn't know what was so interesting about the guy, but his mark was really irritating him now.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:31 pm
The old man known as Chou was still in shock over what had just happened. He had heard of the lady who often visited their village, but he had never had her stop at his shop before. Seeing Sun Li come by, caused him to pause. He took the money, before speaking. "Not personally, but I think I know who it is. That's Lady Yue. Rumor has it, she was kidnapped by the Mount Reikaku Bandits when she was younger, and held for ransom, but it never came. So, now she works for them as an emissary of sorts. People call her the Bandit Princess. She's the reason that they give much of their stolen goods back to the people of Choko." He had only heard rumors of the girl, though the idea had been circulating for several years now. It had to be true, didn't it?
Stepping into the Brothel, Mika waited for a moment before one of the girls approached. "Welcome to the Phoenix Feather. What can we... oh! Lady Yue!" The young woman stumbled over her words, giving Mika a hasty bow before continuing. "I'll go fetch the Madam." It was clear that she was making the young woman uncomfortable, given how fast she had scurried off, which made the bandit chuckle softly. She supposed a bit of notoriety was good in this case, since it meant that she got very good service anywhere she went. Atleast, if she showed her face. In places like this, she did.
After a few moments, an older woman, perhaps in her early thirties came to where Mika was standing. It was Madam Feng, the mistress of the brothel. She gave Mika a small bow, before leading her off to a room. The trio followed behind, and as the two women stepped inside, they stood outside the door. They didn't want anyone to disturb the meeting.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:43 pm
Sun Li smirked a bit, rubbing the spot on his hip that was burning, "The Bandit Princess huh? Well I'll have to meet her. Any friend of Choko is a friend of mine. And she's right Chou, you need to to eat." He smiled a hiked his satchel, which was little more then some thread bare cloth tied around his shoulders, then started down the street. He opened the door, and smirked a bit as the young woman attendant, who smiled back. "Hey Sun Li, you never actually come in here..."
He came forward and leaned against the wall, his pants sliding down a bit to show the top of his birthmark. It didn't matter around her though, she'd seen it before on a few occasions... in the surrounding forest when the Madam wasn't watching. The girl liked him, and he treated her right when he did need a bit of a release. "I wanted to talk to the woman that came in... Lady Yue was it? I have a question I need to ask her."
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TionneDawnstar Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:50 pm
Riku could hear the conversation between the old man and the younger one, raising his eyebrows in surprise at the mention of a Bandit Princess. The young man slipped around the corner and followed the man in green down the street, and saw him go into a building. He didn't really pay attention to what was being sold, figuring it to be a store.
Boy was he surprised when he walked in to see a lady of the evening speaking with the green clad man. His cheeks went bright red, and he started to turn away, before a girl caught him, giving the young prince a sassy smile. "Hmm, you're young, aren't you? Have you ever been with a woman before?"
The boy tried to get back to the door, wondering how he always got into these sorts of situations. His eyes went to the man in green, not knowing why, but hoping he'd help. That was when he caught sight of part of a red mark, one that he recognized. "Your Tamahome!"
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:04 pm
Meili got an odd look on her face when Sun Li mentioned Lady Yue. The woman positively frightened her, and the fact that HER Sun Li wanted to talk to her made her a bit jealous. "Lady Yue is talking with the Madam and isn't to be disturbed. You'd have to get through her guards to see her." Any time Lady Yue came to visit, she always had guards with her. She didn't know what was so important, but given that she was a kidnapped lady, Meili could only guess it was so she wouldn't run off.
Hearing Riku pipe up, calling Sun Li Tamahome, the young woman looked stunned. "Tamahome? You said your name was Sun Li!" Clearly, she didn't pay much attention to the stories of the Suzaku Celestial Warriors, and thought that the young man was using a fake name around her, which irked her.
Sitting with the Madam, Mika was having a rather pleasant conversation with Feng. It was nice to talk to someone other than the women at camp. There was only so much of them she could tolerate without going completely insane. She was fairly certain that Feng was the same way. In between negotiating the price for the boys' visit, as well as when they would come down, they were just talking about how things in Choko were doing. Mika was going to have to make sure that a few more of the textile merchants made their way relatively unscathed to Choko, as Feng mentioned the girls needed some new outfits. It was a rather relaxing visit, to say the least.
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TionneDawnstar Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:14 pm
Sun Li listened at the girl explained herself, about to smooth things over when the door opened and a rather girlie boy walked in, and called out the name of his star. If that wasn't enough, now Meili was upset with him, and he was hoping for a romp in the woods tonight. He guessed that was probably out of the question now, so his green eyes went to the boy, frowning. He then turned back to Meili, "My name is Sun Li, that's my real name... this," he pulled the top of his pants down to give her a little peak at his tan skin, and his full mark, "is Tamahome. You've seen this before..." He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, letting his lips braush her earlobe.
That taken care of, he turned and came forward, seeing a red mark on the boy. He frowned a bit, maybe it hadn't been the woman he'd sensed, but him. He grabbed the boy and pulled him into the hall way, away from the girls trying to get customers, and he looked around, not seeing anyone, and ignoring the sounds coming from beyond. He looked closer, seeing the mark. "I'm Tamahome, but who are you?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:22 pm
Riku looked at Tamahome with huge eyes as he talked ot the girl, then pulled him into a hallway. His cheeks got even redder as he could hear banging in the rooms beyond, and looked to the other man.
"Suzaku's Prince, my name is Riku, but that's all I can say." He wasn't very comfortable in a house of ill repute, he didn't even like to go visit his father in the harum and nothing was going on. "Can we please leave now, and I'll try to answer your questions."
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:42 pm
The young concubine huffed a bit at first, not wanting to talk with Sun Li. And to think, she had really liked him. He didn't make her feel like a whore, even though she knew she was one. He let her just be herself, just another girl. Then, of course, he had to do that little brush technique with his lips, which gave her butterflies in her stomach. Damnit, she had a good rage building up too, and he had to go and ruin it with that and his small comment. Meili shot him a small look, one that usually was a precursor to a night in the forest. Oh, she was going to have get back at him later for that one. He had, in one fell swoop, diffused her bad mood and put her in a very warm mood. Not that it was hard to do, for him atleast. She never really wanted to stay mad at Sun Li.
After a few moments of talking with Madam Feng, a little bit of idle chitchat and then down to business, Mika found herself at a loss for words, which meant it was time to be leaving. She knew that time was money for Madam Feng, and she didn't want to keep her for too long. The older woman was a good friend, atleast in her mind, and someone she greatly respected. Giving her a bow, Mika let herself out, leaving a gift for the woman, a satchel of fine tobacco, as she knew that the mistress fancied a good pipe now and again. The trio stepped away from the door, allowing the young woman to step out of the door before they fell in step behind her.
As she passed the hallway where Riku and Sun Li were standing, her mark itching more than normal, she paused, turning and looking straight at them. Her eyes caught a glimpse at the mark on Sun Li's hip, and a glow from Riku's neck. It appeared that things were going to be rather interesting from now on. She turned back, and slipped out of the brothel, a faint glow from her ankle barely visable through the bottom of her robes. If the Priestess was going to come soon, which would be the only reason she was suddenly seeing so many Celestial Warriors about, then she would need to tell Miki.
Once outside, she paused, turning to her group. "Tai, Kei, you two are to return to camp immediately and wait for Miki. Tell him it's time, and to be ready. Dai, you're going to stay with me. I think we're going to have some followers soon." With that, the two bandits darted off, as she started walking. She still had things she needed to do in town before she could leave.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:51 pm
Tamahome noticed the red haired girl looking at him and Riku, then he turned to see her leave. "Come on kid," he said, grabbing his arm and pulling him back out the door. If Sun Li had know that Suzaku's Prince was in fact, a prince, he might not have been so rough with him. Right before he left, he tossed a wink Meili's direction, then started out to the street, looking around for the other girl.
He spotted her down the street, and took off at a run, knowing full well she had to be a warrior, even if he hadn't seen her mark. He didn't worry about Riku, he could either keep up or find him later. When he got into earshot, he said, "Which one are you, Lady Yue?"
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TionneDawnstar Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:58 pm
Riku wasn't sure what was going on, but at least he was being pulled out of the brothel. Out on the street, he was much more comfortable, and he took a moment to take a breath, before trying to follow after Tamahome. He heard the other man ask his question, and he didn't quite understand. Did he think the girl was a Warrior too?
He was starting to loose his breath, so he slowed down, but he wasn't too far away. He wasn't used to running on a dusty street, and his hands came up to brush his commoner's tunic off.
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