Welcome to Gaia! ::

Fern kicked at a rock as she walked through the city. Today was a scavenging day. She was running low on the essentials. The city seemed to be a little more busy than normal as travelers from all over ran here and there looking for quick little souvenirs to take home to their loved ones. She loved this place more than any of the others she'd lived in. Not only was it easier to go unnoticed since the faces of people changed so often, but it made it easier to pick pocket as well. No one was really suspicious of missing items that got "lost along the way". As she continued to look around, she bumped into a man getting his ear talked off by a woman around the same age. "Sorry!" She exclaimed as she raised her voice to get the desired effect of innocence. The man simply nodded in response as they always do and continued on his way pretending to be interested in the "conversation" he was having. 'This is getting too easy.' She thought as the examined the wallet in her hand. 'Really, it's like they're just giving it to me.' She sighed and made her way in towards the main part of town, counting her earnings. It wasn't bad, actually quite a bit more than the average passer by.

She put the wallet in her bag and jumped up to sit on a low wall that served as a barrier between the walkway and the ocean. The breeze was nice and warm rolling in across the water, brushing her hair out of her face. She looked out at all the boats and people. 'I wonder what it would be like to travel all the time. How many strange people I would meet, adventures I could go on... She let her thoughts wander off no longer wanting to think about it. Here was her home. There was no point in thinking about what would never be.

After a few minutes walk, she reached the door to the farm house and non-nonchalantly pushed it open. She paused in the doorway a moment and listened. When she heard nothing she sniffed the air. There was still nothing, like there was everyday she came back. She then waltzed right into the house slamming the door behind her by kicking it with her foot. Making her way into the kitchen she tossed the bag on the counter and stomped off into the living room, flinging herself on the couch. She was more of a lady out in public, but here in her own domain all bets were off. She'd been a lady far to long to care anymore. She laid there contemplating her next move. She'd been in the house for quite awhile now, far longer than any other, and she was beginning to enjoy her life here. "I will never enjoy my life until that vampire is dead." she growled to herself, burying her face in a pillow. No she could never get past this, not until she had her revenge. 'In all these years I've never laid my eyes on him again. Where could he be?' Dead was one option, but that wasn't good enough for her. 'Maybe its time I leave Vatra and expand the sear- NO. Then he would win, he would have taken not only my family but my home as well. I can't let that happen.' She rolled on to her back to stare at the ceiling. "How can I find you?" She continued to lay there completely silent, almost hoping the answer would come from somewhere. After 15 minutes of no answer she rolled over and closed her eyes. 'Maybe I'll dream the answer...

The light of the sun bathes a room in sunlight. Warm. Safe. Oh that sweet energy. In the middle of the floor, laid out upon her back was a young twenty two year old girl. Dressed in layers of fabrics that made her look like a puddle of color, long raven black locks fanned out around her being. One arm was slightly raised, its attaching fingers flittered with the sunlight's rays causing it to dance. The skin like over creamed coffee was bleached white in the light cast from the windows. It was so warm. Somehow, when she lay like this she always came away feeling rejuvenated. Beside her head, upon the floor, lay an open book and quill pen. She had paused in her writing it would seem perhaps to think. Beside that and also on the floor was a hot tea whos steam rose and danced. Her head turned away from her hand as it slowly lowered. It would come to a gentle rest upon her stomach. The female admired the steam as it was free to bend and weave wild and free. She longed to be like that steam.

For as long as she could remember she was always doing what she was told. She had always obeyed without question. Curiosity of course but never with questioning. In her darkest of moments she dare ask to the skies if those around her really did know best. After all, mother and father were dead. This moment that she had for herself on this day was different than any other day. She really needed this one. Today was the day her parents died. Tonight she and her grandfather, her current guardian, would light the lanterns and set them afloat and pray at the shrine in the mountains. For her on this day her grandfather spared her of the usual regiment of cleaning, collecting, practicing. Ever since she had made the choice five years ago to quit the Okiya as to dedicate herself to the sword, her grandfathers training had gotten stricter than she has ever known it to be. But there would be no relief in this day.

Rolling over onto her side, garbs half hanging off of her creamy shoulder that threatened to expose a breast, she rest her head into the palm of her hand. Honey brown hues re-read all that she had written thus far. Thin but strong fingers reached out for her tea to which she brought to her full pout to blow upon it. Her eye's flicked to the piles of other books around her on her floor. Books of literature and poetry, it was so important to her family to be strong in expression. To convey ones feelings in so few words was considered a gift. There was her calligraphy work book, philosophy and so forth. Purposefully she outstretched the hand she had been laying on to push them all over. She didn't want to study today either. It was so nice to not hear the voice of her grandfather bellow at her in some command to do something.

What of the things she had been writing though? Her attention had come back to it.

Today marks the passing of my parents, a day which has haunted me since the day I was eleven. It has been elven years and so...this particular day is even more ominous. A day with which I need to be most careful and aware says my grandfather. Stupid superstition. My mother was tortured before by father and then my father murdered before my mother before they took her away. I know this because i bore witness to it in secret. I am thankful to have a grandfather that was able to take me in. I know I owe him a great deal...but...he's a very hard man to live with and please. I cannot seem to be good enough, fast enough, smart enough. Nothing I do satisfies. Is this what I want to say to my parents tonight in my letter? My complaints? Surely they will be weep for their disrespectful daughter if I did that...I...I don't want to go. They are gone and there is nothing I can ever do to change that. I have nothing to say to them that they have not heard over the eleven years. Same thing. I confess I have become bitter in many ways, a condition that has been getting worse but...I cannot stop it. But who do I have to speak to accept you dear diary. You who will not judge me or tell me I am wrong, foolish, childish. Please help me find the answer in my words. How can I get out of this?

She closed her book and tucked it underneath her pillow. Just as she was finishing her tea her door slid open. Her head snapped to the door to see her grandfather standing there.

"Ojiisan!" she felt panicked as she was not the least bit ready. "I...I don't think I can go tonight. It's...that time for me."

Her Grandpa gave a little sniffle and the flick of his head towards her. His eye's resting to her exposed skin.
"Yumiko! No more red meats for you!" he said in his husked accent. He was of course referring to growing chest.
"How are you to train properly! Meat these days I swear they are putting secret things in our meat."

Yumiko blinked dazed and confused a moment. She blinked and then looked down at herself. Her hand dropped the nearly finished cup of tea to grab up the hems of her collar to yank it back up. Resetting the fabric back upon her shoulder and to conceal herself her head moved to the cup, that was now leaking tea onto her floor. She heard her Grandpa's heavy sigh. She turned her head to him with a horrible red blush about her face. He simply couldn't accept that this was the natural progression for her as a woman.

"You know I wasn't born with a Inkei you know!!" she shouted defensively.

"Well if it would make you less clumsy then perhaps you should have been!" he shouted back before slamming the sliding door shut.

Yumiko grabbed her pillow off of her shikibuton and buried her face into it to scream. It would help to muffle the screams of her frustration.

In the middle of the table was thinly shaved beef , bean sprouts and other various additives for their little 'hot pot' dish. With her chopsticks, Yumiko motioned to pick up some of the beef but was intercepted by Ojiisan's own chopsticks.

"What I say? hm? No beef!"

The look on her face, he was serious? She couldn't believe it. She huffed incredulously at him.
"Have you been binding yourself lately?" he wasn't even looking at her as he spoke between mouthfuls.

Truth? she hadn't really been binding herself like she was suppose to be. She had found wrapping techniques that would still allow her to grow and breathe properly. She simply felt that it was wrong, horrible. She had seen the women who bound their feet because back in the day, tiny feet were desirable to men. Now they couldn't walk and were crippled for life. Screw that noise. When Yumiko didn't respond to this Ojiisan's eye's flicked up to connect to Yumiko's face. His face appeared to be growing concerned but Yumi knew it really was the face of frustrated anger coming to a quick boil within him. Ojiisan slammed his hand down upon the surface of the table causing both of their bowls to jump a bit. Yumi jumped.

"Speak! For I did not tell you to silence yourself"

Yumiko found within herself a growing energy that was also beginning to boil. She needed to keep herself in check! Unless she wanted a lashing on the eve of her parents death!. She closed her eye's briefly and exhaled slowly but it wasn't helping.

"You really think its the beef responsible for my womanhood!!? Why don't you just starve me and maybe my breasts will just fall right off!!!!" she worked her hardest to not chuck her bowl of noodles.

Ojiisan's face grew dark and serious, he too now practicing restrain to his granddaughters lip. He knew deep down that this was going to be difficult. He knew the destiny she would face and that path was going to be the hardest thing of all to keep her on. Especially seeing how naturally unruly she was, like a wildfire. Instead of yelling at her or beating her he tried a different tactic.

"You can explain to the spirit of your parents how and why you turned out to be such a rude child. I am sure you can convince them to be proud of you!"

Yumiko's mouth dropped open at his. Her hand retracted slowly. Her upper lip grew stiff, she wanted to cry so badly but she knew what would happen if she showed him her tears. Instead, with a grunt she slammed both of her chopsticks into her bowl of noodles. They stuck upright resembling crudely, the incense of the dead. In one fowl swoop her right hand cranked back and released. She sent her bowl with noodles flying across the room. It broke with a smash and splat. It was like a slow motion moment for Yumiko. Even before her hand had released Ojiisan's body was already on the move, anticipating her reactions. He underestimated his young granddaughter however. Her own body lunged forwards putting the table between them a little more before rocketing for the door. She prayed, screamed it out in her head.

'Oh please pray to the heavens! Let me get away! Let my life be spared!!!'

The cool air hit her face, her feet did not stop moving, she did not skip a beat! She was faster than ojiisan, for that much she was certain. She ran down the street dodging through other pedestrians trying her hardest to get lost. Ojiisan would not catch up with her. Yet.

Yumiko's destination was of course, the shrine in the Phesr Mountains, she'd have to go through Eldur first so that she could pray. Maybe beg at this point, for forgiveness! Yumiko would grab a departing boat to the Capital of Vatra and second largest City.

{{Exit to Eldur}}

Returning to Feu actually made Yumiko feel embarrassed now. In comparison to Eldur Feu was but a hole. It was a port town which meant that it was rough. In silence it would tell Letha quite a bit about Yumiko and the kind of life she was brought up around. To make matters worse, Yumiko wasn't even brought up in the thick of this port town but lived in one of the farm houses on the outskirts. Port towns were usually gritty and there was a considerable amount of crime and shady people. Now letha could possibly begin to understand why Yumiko's grandfather kept such a tight leash. Perhaps it was for Yumiko's safety? Or was there a true dominating control issue at play here?

Yumiko wouldn't say too much to Letha when they arrived. Immediately she began to unpin the once lovely updo she had wore to pay her respects. Soon her inky tresses would billow and flow about her, the ends to lick at her thighs. Together they walked the road and into Feu. The imagery here had a beauty that only certain people could appreciate. It was raw beauty. The scenery. The view of that river, the bustling people, the ships, the unusual scents and wares, many things passed in and out of Feu. A lot of it was also going to Moto and a few other places in Vatra as well. What children could be seen running around looked as wild as the wind that whipped through their hair. Dirt from the days play was as good as makeup that gave one character. The adults were working people, hard working people and that was seen in their tired eye's, worn hands, sun tanned skin, and sweat upon their backs. It wasn't that there weren't 'nice places' in Feu it's just that it simply didn't add up to the great cities of the lands.

Yumiko had to wonder what Jord was like. Being all earthy perhaps it had mysterious winged beings of the fairy tales she had read? Flowing rivers with gorgeous moss covered rocks! Enchanted forests!? Her mind wandered a bit as they walked. As they got more into Feu Yumiko finally spoke to Letha.
"Okay, so...I need you to do me a favor. We only have one place here in Feu that I can think of that might sell a healing tonic. I can't be the one to ask. Feu is small. People know who my grandfather is. You follow?" she said before coming to a stop before a particular shop.
"I just need you to go in and inquire. Simple as that."

There were always stories told about bandits, thieves and pirates about the lands. Lesser stories about the varying individuals in between mind you. Yumiko of course was always utterly fascinated by those stories. She didn't see the dangers. All she could see was the freedom it came with. Where could she go? Who could she meet? All of the rules were hers to make and break. To her, it was the best life ever and it wouldn't hurt no body. So the idea that she had to seek out someone who was potentially dangerous and affiliated with such persons of story, was thrilling.

'Really? ... how cool!' was the woman crazy!?
'Alright what are we waiting for then...hm...but there is still the issue of being seen speaking to him' she said to Letha as her honey hues gazed around them. That was when she spotted the poncho's on a table nearby that held an attendant that was dealing with a mob of people.

Walking past them Yumiko snatched two off of the surface and walked off. When they were far enough away she handed one to Letha. As she worked hers on she spoke.
"One for me because people might recognize me and one for you because no one recognizes you. Wouldn't want to risk your reputation for talking with criminals." she pulled her hood up. The shadows covered her face quite well. All accept for her fat lips.

It took them awhile but when they were pretty sure where the booth they needed was spotted, they made their move. Walking up to the man with hair much like Yumiko's they came to a stop before him. Would it seem strange to him that two cloaked customers had approached him? A voice, very distinct strummed out to him. Feminine with a slight husk.

"Hello good sir, I had heard that you might be able to help me as I am in search of something that seems to be quite hard to come by. Do you have anything in the ways of potent healing tonics?"

"Anything else?"

The man's hand lay a top of the vial. To Yumiko the man didn't seem dangerous at all. Her honey hues took in the sight of him. He couldn't see it but she was staring at him from under her cloak. The only thing that gave her away was her response.
"I...um...well where is it from? I mean where did you acquire it? How do I know it's not just water in a bottle?" she folded her arms to her chest.