It would be many hours after the event of the noble and him kidnapping Alexis, and now she was following her rude evil knight who had no manners if she had, to be honest. The forest was a pain to walk in, but Alexis didn't lose her graceful way, as she wouldn't stop shouting at what was his name again?..... Did he even tell Alexis what it was? Well, it didn't matter, she just wanted to give him payback. This place was hard enough. "Get me home now! You kidnapped me, so repay me at least that much?" She would be doing this from now from when she met him not giving Ryūsei a break. She was a little hungry, but Alexis was hiding it well, with her voice blocking out any hunger sounds.

As time passed with them walking more into the forest with him not paying attention towards Alexis, she grabbed anything that could be used as rope, so he could experience the same embarrassment, being helpless as she laughs at him. The small vines in the trees would be under her sleeves. She just needed to make sure to get him when the time was right, so it wouldn't backfire and she would be in that same role again.

The event happening was in her mind. She could imagine it down, as she had a smile with her eye's closed. She was standing over him as he was crying out. "Free me." With Alexis turning her head. "No, but you do talk a lot, why don't you keep your mouth shut and I will let you out once you get me home." Putting the vines over his mouth as she pushed him into a closet, waving goodbye to him, as he tries to yell out. "Bye bye." She would relax in a big room smiling as the door closed, but this was happening in her head, but that was going to be her goal.

She opened her eye's to see the forest again. "Let's go, you have to get tired sooner or later?" Hoping he would become tired soon, so her plan could take place and dreams could become true. But the same was said for her. The clothes she was wearing were still heavy, and she was hungry and tired, when was he going to take a rest, it was no way he could beat a ninja when it came to Stamina.

WC 406

“Correction. Your guards kidnapped you. I rescued you, you ungrateful brat.”

This girl’s persistence was beginning to become worrisome for Ryūsei who still had plans of his own to take care of in these lands before getting out of dodge. It was bad enough that this girl was a potential witness for the events that had transpired at Takayama’s compound, but if he couldn’t shake her, she would begin being a further liability to his job. In his own mind, before he was stuck in this mess, the job was easy enough; complete the hit, retrieve his belongings from the inn along the countryside, and follow up with the information he extracted from his target. Every moment that the obnoxious girl stuck around, the man’s plans were delayed further and further and put the success of his mission more and more at risk. His only saving grace was that the girl did not seem to have any idea what really went on in that office. She still thought he was just a thief, and the longer he could keep her believing that, the better.

Either way, the only thing for Ryūsei to do now was allow things to continue on as they were for a time, at least. And so the duo carried on for hours again, long enough for the sun to set on the horizon and night to fall upon them. Not an ideal situation for civilian travel, but then Ryūsei wasn’t really a civilian in this instance. Well into the night the man would continue on the countryside parallel to the road, staying on the course and doing his best to ignore his pursuer, until a thin billowing cloud of smoke came onto the horizon. Once the man took notice of that smoke he would move up onto the road, knowing his destination was near.

A short while up the road a small, isolated building, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, would come into view. It was a long, wooden building with an equally long patio with doors evenly spaced along the side of it providing access to the rooms for rent. Ryūsei would make his way, first, directly into the first door, the office where rooms may be purchased. At the counter sat an old man with eyes blacked out by large sunglasses, even at this time of night. The two men exchanged no words, with the man behind the counter reaching back to the wall of keys behind him and sliding the third set on the wall over the counter in Ryūsei’s direction.

---

439 | 439-

"They did, you are correct for someone so simple, but they are not the one's that got me inside the noble's home. That honor belongs to you." She needed to think, he was not stupid enough to fall for an easy attack. Alexis still didn't know what fully happened inside that base she didn't see the body of the man he killed, but not only that he never said a word about killing him. To Alexis all that happened is a thief robbed from a rich home, wishing to get rich, but if that was true wouldn't he just kidnap Alexis himself?

It was already becoming night time with darkness surrounding them. The smoke in the air gave away a home not far from here, was this rude man going to rob them as well? Well, it would be Alexis's job to stop him, and it also gives her a chance to get home if she could. She followed him all the way up the road, not allowing him to have one break away from her.

A building which looked like a small Inn that travelers would stay in, but Alexis didn't bring any money with her, as she would pout and she didn't wish to try and get in with her rude knight. He would laugh and make fun she didn't wish to be more embarrassed. Alexis would sit outside as she saw him walk into the Inn. She did wish to go inside, but the image of him laughing and just closing the door on her was too much to handle even thinking about it was a pain. But this did give her an idea.

The only way this man would let his guard down was in a room where he could relax and go to sleep. That would be her chance, as she sits outside having a blush, hating how someone like him had more wealth and a noble right now.

WC 324

TWC 730

Ryūsei glanced over his shoulder at the girl who followed him all the way from the Takayama Estate, still pouting like a child. A part of him was glad that within minutes there would be a wall and a locked door between the two of them, so that he didn’t have to look at her or deal with her barking orders any longer. Finally he would have silence and privacy in which to prepare and plan his next course of action. But still, being a father himself, a part of the man couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the lost little girl and the parents that must be frightened to death at her disappearance. She was a brat, but she was still just a child.

“I need another.”

The old man from behind the counter tilted his head down to peer at Ryūsei from over the top of his glasses, waiting a moment in silence before pushing his sunglasses back up with his right hand. Silent still, the old man reached back and grabbed the set of keys right next to the hook from which he had taken the keys to Ryūsei’s room and slid them across the counter to the young man before him in the same manner. The fair-haired man grabbed one set of keys in each hand, slipping his own room keys into his pocket and holding the keys for the girl’s room hidden in his balled left fist.

“Thanks. Charge it to them.”

Ryūsei would turn away from the desk and make his way straight out the door, arriving back on the patio of the inn where the line of doors to rental rooms was located. Once out in the open he would stop abruptly and turn to face the girl who he assumed was still hovering around like a shadow and hold his arm out extended, dangling the extra room key from his fingers. On the handle of the key a large number “4” was written on the tag.

“Here.”

---

344 | 783

Her father worry? About something this small never would happen in Alexis's mind. It was a good chance he didn't know, and if he did. He wouldn't be worried at all, knowing Alexis should be able to beat anything that comes her way. She didn't wish to follow him, but she was sneaking behind the curtain, of the door. She really wished to get her revenge on him and try to get home, but the only way that could be done was to make him with force. Then something odd would happen, he was holding out a key, but was this some type of joke? "Is this some type of joke?" She would say walking closer with each step.

"Okay..... thank you...." She would say, grabbing the key from him having a blush on her face. "I think you're just doing this, so you can run away. Hoping I fall asleep and drop my guard." She didn't like him calling her a child all the time. Alexis would walk away, opening her door giving him one more look before it was closed. Alexis needed to think was it right now to get him back, but if she took to long getting home her father wouldn't be happy. That is when she thought it was no choice. She had to tie him up and make him get her home.

Alexis thought about one of her servants, as she performs hand signs, she would change, into someone who was also beautiful that looked around 25 years old, and long blonde hair. In a maid like kimono, that people use to wear. "Okay, this should work. Now all I need is a story." Yer voice would change just enough so he couldn't tell it was Alexis, but she thought of a good story before leaving for her plan and to enter his room. "I would try as myself, but he thinks I'm too young. This should make him lose his cool." She would soon ready to head out of her room, and if he was inside his room. She would close her door and knock on his door with a smile.

WC 358

TWC 1088

“Whatever.”

Ryūsei had little interest in being criticized for trying to do something decent by not leaving a little girl out in the cold, nor was he interested in any more arguments. Instead the man would simply wait for the noble brat to enter her room safely before making his way over to the door to his own lodgings. As he placed his hand on the door handle he would pause, listening closely to the emptiness of the countryside behind him and keeping an ear tuned in for irregular sounds or disturbances coming from the girl’s room. Just because he used this location as a transition point while on the job didn’t mean he completely trusted any establishment associated with his employers. Once he was comfortable that the girl was secure in her room he would enter his own. Given how remote this location was it was likely they might be the only people who’ve stayed at this inn in weeks.

Once inside his own room Ryūsei would immediately make a bee line for the closet where he had left a duffle bag full of his belongings, using this inn as a storage location while he was completing his assignment. Unzipping the bag and throwing it onto his bed, the man wasted little time in retrieving the folded up missive he had taken from Takayama’s desk and tossing it alongside the bag. He grabbed a change of clothes and moved to the restroom, intending to shower after having spent the last several hours trekking through the countryside. Ryūsei disrobed and let the water run, knowing that it took a few moments for the hot water to come through in this place.

A knocking on the door would cause Ryūsei’s ears to perk up, ever the skeptic of unannounced visitors. The old man wouldn’t come knocking, so that left either the girl or someone else… and he wasn’t sure which one would be more unfavorable. Grabbing the first towel he could find the man tied it around his waist and headed for the door. Peering through the peephole he would see a woman on the other side, one who he did not recognize. He did not like strangers. Rather than opening the door immediately he would yell from behind the wooden barrier.

“Wrong room!”

---

394 | 1,177

She would jump a little as he yelled, putting on a shy act, Alexis didn't wish to act nice, but being a ninja she did know how to put on some type of act. "Oh, sorry sir, I'm sorry to bother you, I'm sure you're just getting used to this Inn, but you are the 1000 customer and have won a special surprise, the staff here will wait on you hand and foot, giving you a massage is what I am here for. If I don't do my job, my boss could be upset with me." She said in a shy tone having a smile, Alexis was sure that owner with the sunglasses wouldn't do anything, he was out of it and just wished to have a quiet day at his desk, well that is what Alexis got from him.

Alexis didn't wish to give him a massage, so the moment he would relax she would attack. "Well, sir? I'm sure you had a long day, taking some time to have a breather is a good thing to do. Before you go back on your travels with your sister, she wouldn't wish to see her brother in pain, but nice and relaxed." She felt like laughing saying that she was his sister, but that made it look more believable.

All Alexis could do for now is wait for his action, was he going to fall for this? Well, she hoped so, but kind of hoped he wouldn't go too far with this whole being waited on hand and foot. She would see if he was still there if not, then this plan couldn't work, as she was still hiding the vines in the sleeves which could not be seen by him. Alexis did feel a little bad, he did help her after all. But this was her only way home by forcing him to take Alexis there.

WC 317

TWC 1405

The red flags that went off in Ryūsei’s mind regarding this woman in the first place were now accompanied by fire alarms as she continued to speak. A one thousandth customer special? This inn was a front house for criminal and covert activity. Whatever story that this woman was trying to peddle was 100% a lie. The lies would only compound as she continued her attempt to convince him. Her “boss” would be upset with her if she didn’t give him a massage? In the briefing he received about his stay at this in the report identified only one employee of the establishment, the old man. The intel he received from his employers was as reliable as it got. There was no way he was going to take the word of some random woman standing at his door.

Beyond that this woman seemed to be aware of the girl that Ryūsei was travelling with, suspicious considering she was nowhere in sight when the two of them entered the front of the establishment and then entered their rooms. Had they been followed this whole time? The man racked his brain in an attempt to work out where he might have made the misstep. There was a chance that this person was related to Takayama, but that didn’t quite seem to fit. Takayama was a rank amateur who hired thugs to handle his thuggish business. Ryūsei had no intel regarding any individuals in the employ of that man who might specialize in espionage or infiltration. If she was truly from the Takayama Estate the inn would have been swarmed by armed men by now. No… this person was an unknown quantity with unknown allegiance.

Ryūsei had intended to shoo the woman away, but now that he had identified her as a threat that was had been observing him, allowing her to walk away would only extend her surveillance and place himself in greater danger. The man would have to deal with this here and now. He would position himself behind the side of the door that would be obstructed by the wooden board as it swung open. With a loud clack he would undo the heavy lock on the door, turn the knob and slowly open the door, hiding behind it and out of sight until she entered.

“Come in.”

Once the woman had successfully entered the room and cleared the doorway, Ryūsei would kick the door shut, causing it to slam closed. Using the advantage of surprise the man would attempt to pounce on the suspicious woman, swinging his right arm around her throat and dragging her into the floor in a head-lock. Assuming he was successful, he would release the pressure he was applying to choke the woman only long enough for her to provide an answer to his question.

“Who sent you!?”

---

482 | 1,659

Briefing? Evil Criminal covert? Okay, Alexis did not know about any of this but giving that she just thought it was a random place they came across it was not like she had time to gather information. Why was he hiding behind the door? Well, it doesn't matter as Alexis entered in. "Oh, thank you." It was working, she didn't have any reason for him to think it was her, so he must have thought her lie was real. "Well lets get started." She would say, about to turn around, but then his door was kicked shut, with Alexis being on the floor in a headlock, it was shocking to her why was he attacking her for no reason? She couldn't breathe, trying to get free, but Also bright red. "Put something more and a towel on you pervert!" Her jutsu ended with Alexis looking like herself again, with Alexis trying to get free, but then had an idea, as she just pulled the vines out of her sleeves geeting ready to tie his hands together.

Alexis couldn't regain her full focus, for one reason he was in nothing but a towel, but she was about to start to put the ropes around both of his hands unless he stopped her in some way. "I have never met a man who liked to not wear clothes so much!" She would say start aiming to kick him from the back and wishing to tie both his hands up with the vines.

"You can't just put a noble like myself in a headlock if your going to fight dirty, so will I." She would say, wishing to make her day dream become real. "You're not taking a shower until you get me home and I am not giving you a break until you do it, and if you don't listen to me I will just make you!" She would say pouting and using force this time.

WC 324

TWC 1729

As Ryuusei struggled to keep the strange woman pinned to the ground and restrained he would feel a strange disruption of his hold, as if her body was shifting in his grasp. Confused, the man looked down to see her physical appearance changing into the familiar image of the small girl that had tagged along with him since leaving Takayama’s estate.

“A transformation technique?”

Ryuusei began processing in his mind the events that were unfolding in front of him at this moment. He knew that she had mentioned being a shinobi earlier in the day, but the man had begun to take her claims less and less seriously as she fumbled any previous attempts she had made at producing any kind of jutsu. It now appeared as if she had been telling the truth this whole time, much to his annoyance as she had stupidly put her life in danger by trying to deceive him. He had intended to begin scolding the girl, but as he was distracted by his own thoughts he would feel a heel kick into his stomach, causing him to reactively release his grip and cover his abdomen as he fell back.

As Ryuusei fell back to a seated position, the girl would take advantage of his momentary confusion, drawing ropes from her oversized sleeves and swiftly beginning to bind his wrists together. Who knew how long she had been hiding these bindings, but the thought that perhaps this girl was part of a setup was now beginning to stew in his mind. It was foolish of him to take pity on her because of her age. Perhaps it was time for him to begin treating her as an enemy rather than a bystander.

“You’re calling me a pervert? I’m in my room getting ready to take a shower! You’re the one disguising yourself as an older woman trying to get into my room and put your hands on me! Have you lost your mind trying to sneak in here!? I would have killed you if you hadn’t transformed back you little brat!”

---

352 | 2,011

She ran over to him tieing him up. He was tied up with both his hands, unable to move, with him like that, it meant she was the winner having a smile. She would look down at him like he was nothing now. "Ahh, I won, but unlike what you did to me, I need you to speak right now so I will not shut you up yet, and yes you're a pervert. Stop calling me a little brat, so let's get down to talking as you can see, you're helpless and well, tied up. So you will listen and answer my questions do you understand." She had more questions, and she might have thought to kill her? Who sent you? He was not just a thief if people were after him. She would sit on the bed looking right at him.

"Okay, first question, who is after you and why? Second, you're getting me home and you don't get to question that one you understand? You're staying like a common dog no rest, no shower and no freedom until you get me back home, kind of like what you did to me and if you bark then you will have a muzzle." She would say that one with a little laugh at her tone, finding this funny. She won and it did make her overconfident. After he answers them questions, giving her a real answer or not, she would start to walk over to him. "Well, you have had way too much freedom for a dog, so I am going to tie you to that heater well I take a little break from you." She would say hoping his towel was not going to fall off, she would aim to grab the end of the vines, pulling him all the way over, tying him to the heater, if this worked, she would just laugh at him for a little bit, finding it really funny.

WC 325

TWC 2054

Even after whining and complaining the entire day, and despite that Ryuusei still going out of his way to ensure that she wasn’t left out in the street with no shelter, this brat was still speaking down to him in the most arrogant and condescending manner he had ever heard. This little girl was absolutely the most disgustingly incorrigible person he had ever had the misfortune of coming across. He was wrong for having taken pity on her; she was no helpless child, she was an insufferable little witch. If she wanted to treat him and speak to him as if he were a dog, fine. He would be a dog. But dogs that get backed into a corner bite.

Once the girl would draw in close, reaching over to Ryuusei in order to pull him along as she wished, the man would suddenly yank the rope violently. His intention was to use his size and weight advantage to simply overpower her significantly smaller stature, pulling her off of her feet and fall face first into the floor of the room. He had been treating this little brat with kid gloves for far too long and it was time that she came to realize that the world didn’t work like the little bubble of aristocracy from whence she came.

After that interaction Ryuusei would contract his core and bring in his knees, coiling his body before releasing the built-up energy in an explosive bound to his feet. Towering over the diminutive girl the man would begin to angrily approach her. His rage began to boil over from within, each word he spoke sharp as a dagger and drenched in vitriolic venom.

“I’m getting really tired of your bullshit, little girl! I’ve let you tag along this whole time. I provided your ungrateful, spoiled ass a roof over your head when I could have left you to sleep in the dirt. I’ve had enough lip from a helpless child who can’t do a thing on her own! If you’re so superior, you should be able to get yourself home on your own. If you can’t, you’re just a stupid, worthless brat and your family is better off without you!”

---

378 | 2,389

He pulled the rope as she fell over, but kick her foot as she did so, falling on her backside. She didn't like him thinking he could just act like this. She started to look worried as he got closer with anger. That last comment annoyed her. The family is better off without her around, she spends hours writing scrolls, she makes sure the rest of the clan sees herself as the next head, she follows every order given out, and this fool dare to say that about her. She looked cold, and mad showing no other emotion at all. "You dare say that to me. My family is better off without me! I spend my whole life, making sure they are more known for training to my etiquette, it's not one day I don't try to improve everything, but someone like you who has nothing, no goals, no responsibility, wouldn't know what that is like!" She started to stand, play time was over.

"If you wish to dare talk down to me, then fine, but I have had enough, you when near a topic that shouldn't be brought up most of all from you." Her father has never once said she did well, and that is what pushed her over the edge.

"If I was you, I would put something on, because I am about to make you feel sorry." She looked him over his hands were still tied up, he shouldn't be able to dodge without using something. She jumped into the air, but it was odd as one foot was straight, but by that point, she only started to wave hand signs. "Wind Release: Stream." She would shoot out the wind from her mouth, but away from Ryuusei as the wind would push her into his direction her foot aiming right for his stomach, but she couldn't see it not with his hands tied up, her speed was faster because of the jutsu. She just couldn't see him dodging in time.

WC 334

TWC 2388

D Rank:

Even now the little brat kept on running her mouth with reckless abandon. At this point he wasn’t sure why he even bothered to continue to speak to her. Such an arrogant, hard-headed child would never be able to be reasoned with. The only thing they would understand are consequences. The man paid no attention to the worthless drivel that she insisted on spouting his way, already assuming them to be completely devoid of substance or value, just like everything else she has had to say that day up to this point. What was clear to him, however, was that this was not simply going to be as easy as scolding her and telling her to leave. The look in her eyes and combative posture made it clear that conflict was inevitable.

As the girl began to form hand seals Ryuusei leapt back in order to place distance between them. Even if she had completely failed to produce any kind of jutsu previously, it was simply unwise to act carelessly before understanding what she was capable of. His hands being bound would be a problem if this girl was actually capable of doing something dangerous, as would be the close confines of the room, leaving him little room to play with in the event of a spread attack. Combat scenarios ran through the man’s head as he begun accounting for the variables that might come into play here: distance, speed, elemental affinity, unorthodox hiden jutsu, weaponry, terrain.

Ryuusei watched the girl jump into the air and lowered himself into an athletic position, preparing himself to take what limited options were available to him as necessary. The man’s eyes would narrow in suspicion as the girl seemed to face away from him after completing her hand sign sequence. What kind of projectile could she fire off that would impact him in the opposite direction. That question would be answered shortly as the girl herself began to be rapidly propelled towards him, powered by a sudden burst of wind powerful enough to be visible to the naked eye. Not expecting such a reckless and unorthodox move Ryuusei found himself having squandered all of the time he had attempted to buy himself by putting distance between them. All the man managed to do to defend himself was raise his arms to provide cover from the imminent impact. Once the girl collided with them, both individuals would be sent crashing into the nearby wall behind him.

---

416 | 2,805

She was mad, if anything Alexis didn't wish to hurt him before he was kind well in his own way, but giving her some place to stay was no doubt not evil of him if anything it was nice. That was the reason she felt sorry about her actions. But now it was all for the better, he made her really mad and annoyed and she was going to shut him up as she makes him by force. The moment she was blowing her wind, she was at him as her kick had more force behind it, maybe it was not the best move to fight someone who knew Taijutsu, but well his hand's were tied up, so it's not like he could win, well that is what Alexis thought. As she kicked, pushed them both back, they would crash into the wall as Alexis foot was still on him, she wouldn't kick away from him yet.

She didn't think he could do anything that was going to stop Alexis, but as she was still close taking the risk, performing each hand sign for a jutsu he saw before, but it lacked any type of power. She would start to perform hand signs one after the other, as she yelled out. "Earth Style, Earth Flow River." She would aim it at him unless stopped. She was in a really bad mood, and this commoner dare to talk about her family would be better off without her, that was just overboard. "I'll teach you, not to say everyone  in my family is better off without me!" She would say yelling out. She still didn't wish to kill him, after he was knocked out she would stop acting like he was a dog, maybe that was overboard, but right now she was a little to mad.

WC 304

TWC 2632

Following her previous failed attempts at using a jutsu against him Ryuusei had made the mistake of taking this girl too lightly, believing that her initial failures were an accurate representation of her abilities. The little stunt she pulled with her wind jutsu, however, had forcibly instilled in him the error of his ways. An opportunity where this girl would find him in a position where he was completely underestimating her abilities again would not be presenting itself again. An opportunity to test this new position would not take long to follow the kick that sent the man sliding backwards into the hotel room wall, leaving a crack in the plaster where his back had made impact.

Ryuusei would take immediate note of the hand seals that the girl began to weave immediately upon her attack hitting its mark. The rapid succession of her moves being used in the offensive did not mask the fact that this sequence of hand seals was identical to the technique she attempted to use hours ago by the water. Earth Release: Earth Flow River. Knowing there was little he could do at this point to stop the technique, Ryuusei would wrap his hands tightly around her ankle, locking his fingers to secure his grasp. As the group beneath him turned to mud he would only tighten his grip, forcing the girl to be pulled in any direction she was sending him.

---

237 | 3,042

She didn't think much of this man for many reasons, one was because she has never seen him fight before, secondly is well simple he didn't act or look like a ninja, and if he did what village was he from? If he was strong or anything like that, he wouldn't try to steal from a noble family, well it could be a job given to him, but if he was from another village that gives Alexis more reason to take him down. She liked him, but he had to go down, for her to get back towards her home. As the earth Jutsu was about to turn the ground to mud, he grabbed Alexis's ankle, her eye's opening in shock, that was not any way to fight, because he would still be hurt in the outcome, was he even trained. Or was this just him being stupid.

She was sent him flying towards the wall, as they both would hit it with much force, she was out of it, being a long range fighter, not many people could hurt her or even had the chance, but what he just did was not even a way of fighting, he was going to be hurt just like herself and well it was foolish, she needed to snap out of it right now and get him, but hitting that wall has made Alexis started to see the room spinning. "Stupid commoner, that is not how you fight, learn to fight with grace and style." She would say, aiming to stand up.

WC 259

TWC 2891

After grabbing onto the pink-haired girl’s leg, both she and Ryuusei were sent hurtling back by the torrent of mud beneath their feet. The collision with the wall just a few feet away was jarring, sending each of them down to the floor, reeling from the impact. Not unfamiliar with the feeling of being knocked around, the fair-haired man took only a brief moment to compose himself before pressing off of the wooden floor with both arms. His immediate course of action was to whip his head back and forth until locating the kunoichi he had managed to bring down with him.

It was imperative to Ryuusei that he take advantage of the moment of chaos he had injected into the situation to gain the upper hand and reset the board while he could. From all fours the man would scramble, crawling and then lunging at the kunoichi before she could regain her footing. In order to prevent any more unexpected surprises from her arsenal of jutsu the man would use his two arms to pin hers to the ground by her wrists, leaving him with only a knee to press down on her abdomen and keep her restrained. There were plenty of questions that needed to be answered, but the first thing that needed to be determined was exactly what level of threat this girl was and how much she knew.

“What the hell are you doing in my room? And why were you disguising yourself? Were you a plant on the Takayama job to set me up? Who hired you?”

---

265 | 3,307

Alexis wasn't used to being hit if anything she has never met anyone that would fight in this manner, he took the same damage as she did, was he just foolish or did we need to add stupid onto that. She would aim to get up from the ground, but unknowing to her, he was starting to crawl on the floor ready to attack like some type of cat, did he not know any graceful way of moving or fighting? It was not how any ninja or someone who was trained would do battle, that is why it was throwing her off. Alexis's training has been dealing with people that did some type of training, and the way he was fighting was no way taught to him.

He would pin her arms down and he used his leg to press into her abdomen, she would struggle for that second, but couldn't get free. "You fight like a wild beast, no class, no style, where did you learn to fight that would not only injure me but you as well." She was then asked a simple enough question but she let out a small laugh looking straight at him. "Funny, no idea what you're on about, but if I was a spy or whatever, would I tell you? Second, I could also be saying this to trick you. So please try and have some brains, and think everything I say to you could be a lie. First, I wanted to get home, that is the only answer you're getting from me." Alexis would say showing a confident smile.

Losing to him in combat was annoying, but well, he couldn't use Jutsu giving he was still tied up. Still giving her a small chance off somehow turning this battle around. What would he do now that she was captured?

WC 307

TWC 3198

“Class? Style? What kind of amateurish bullshit are you on about now? In a fight the only objective is to win. Losers don’t get to criticize the people they lost to. They get to die.”

Ryuusei scoffed at the girl’s infantile view of combat. Only one who has never experienced the hash reality of this world would ever be so naïve as to believe enemies were to be held to some imaginary code of ethics. The moment she attacked him she had made the decision to put her life on the line. That was what it meant to be a shinobi. She had no business being a shinobi if such careless and idealistic views guided her. She had no one to blame but herself.

“You’re right. There is no way for me to have any confidence in what you are saying being the truth. The only smart thing to do is to make sure that you can’t pose a threat to me ever again.”

In order to prevent the kunoichi from using her hands to perform jutsu that might enable her to fight back Ryuusei would perform a small hop with his hind leg to pop himself up and reposition himself on top of her. This time the knee that had previously been pinning her abdomen down would land on her bicep, the man showing little regard for how rough or painful such a maneuver may have been. He would allow the girl no time to process his action, however, as the moment he was repositioned and his right hand was free the man would thrust his hand down towards her throat and wrap his fingers around her neck. His grip would tighten gradually, first cutting off the girl’s ability to speak with pressure to the front of her throat and then completely cutting off her ability to breath as he began to choke her.

“If you were innocent you should have just accepted my kindness and gotten out of my way…”

---

338 | 3,645

Alexis would look at him talking about dying, she didn't know what to say would he really kill her right now? It was nothing she could do with winning this battle, in an up close battle, he was much stronger and Alexis. She would see him move as his legs started to move more up now she knew his style was Taijutsu, a fighting style which was her weakness. She would then feel a force around her neck. She would keep struggling but his hold was just getting tighter and tighter, but she didn't wish to die like this, she understood what it met to be a ninja but right now that was not her role.

She didn't wish to go not like this, but her struggling as it was getting worse, but then it became less, as her eyes were starting to lose light becoming closer to closed each passing second. She had small tears in her eye's if someone didn't come soon the worse would happen. As Alexis had no chance of getting free right now. Her hands were still being held down, making Jutsu, not an option, Taijutsu she was not skilled at, and she had no weapons with her. Maybe summoning? No, she would have to make blood and with her hands, like this, it was none she could draw.

Alexis only had her eye's just open right now, only using her will to stay awake, but it was no doubt if he wanted too and didn't stop she would black out and fall fully unconscious.

WC 260

TWC 3458

Earth Release: Golem Technique

A large, earthen hand would suddenly wrap its fingers around Ryuusei’s body, immobilizing him within its crushing grip and lifting him off of the ground. Feeling his feet leave the ground, the man would shortly be staring down the face of an enormous stone golem. The golem’s free hand would waste no time in scooping up the girl lying on the ground as well, bringing both individuals high into the air, directly in front of the dull, bulbous projections that represented the monstrous entities eyes.

“You damned brats… you dare come to my place of business and make such a mess of things? The only people allowed to stay here are those who have had their reservations made by people in my world. If they sent you here, you should know the rules of my house!”

A raspy, muffled voice would catch Ryuusei’s attention, causing him to begin desperately searching for its source, but there was no one to be seen. The source of the voice would soon be revealed, however, as the stone chest plate of the golem holding both of them captive began to splinter and crack as if something were pulling it open. The chest of the golem showed itself to be hollow, filled with nothing but air and the short old man who ran the inn staring Ryuusei and the girl who had been following him around with an expression of disgust.

“This is a neutral space! There is no fighting, no hits, no conflict in my inn!”

The old man shouted at both of them. Ryuusei had been told by his employers that there was a code of conduct that must be abided by in this inn, one that he never expected to find himself in violation of before this brat came along.

“She tried to get over on me! If you’re going to be angry at someone for breaking the rules, there’s your culprit right there!”

Ryuusei struggled to shout out his response as the golem’s grip restricted his ability to breath, but he still managed to throw the girl under the bus where she belonged.

“There are no victims in this inn! I don’t care who started it! There are no exceptions to the rules! Why don’t you give me a reason why I shouldn’t squeeze the two of you until you pop like balloons?”

---

405 | 4,050

As Alexis thought she was going to die something odd happened, but in her mind good as it did just save her life. Then, as she was close to losing consciousness, but was regaining its slowly being able to breathe again, as a giant golem made of earth took him into the air by his big hand. Alexis was also taken into the air if she was at full strength she might have had a chance to get away, but not fully being with it yet, she couldn't. She could hear him speaking, reservations made by people in his world? And what type of person who owned an Inn had this much skill in earth style? She would worry a little as the golem was looking right at her. She would blink the old man was inside, this was one powerful defense Jutsu he had here.

She would blink, over on me? What was he on about. "No, he is the one that started it, but I promise you we will not do it again, it was rude of us to fight inside your Inn." She would say not trying to get free, fully knowing it was no chance. The only one other way she could get free was with lightning style or her own Crystal style, but Alexis didn't have full mastery over it yet. She could breathe only a little, maybe knowing she was already out of breath, Alexis was going out and back into it, after having the air taken out of her before by Ryuusei. Alexis didn't know how much longer she could stay awake if the golem holds onto her anymore tighter, she would start to lose consciousness once again, she knew it, so she hoped he wouldn't. What type of event did Alexis get herself into?

WC 302

TWC 3760

“I don’t want to hear your excuses!”

As the old man rose his voice his golem’s grip would tighten around his two captives, causing Ryuusei to grunt loudly in pain as the earthen fingers exerted pressure on his bones. The squeeze lasted only a brief moment, clearly designed to send a message not to try the man’s patience rather than actually inflict any real harm. While crude, it was an undeniably effective means to cut through the nonsense as even a man as stubborn as Ryuusei immediately fell silent. This entire job had turned out to be a complete disaster. Allowing himself to take pity on this girl might prove to be the man’s last mistake. It was standard operating procedure to leave no witnesses. He should have just left the girl behind to die like he would have any grown man.

“I’ll ask you again. Why shouldn’t I get rid of you both right here and now?”

Ryuusei swallowed air, struggling to expend the effort to breath as his upper body was being crushed and think of a viable answer simultaneously. His body struggled for a moment, an effort that did absolutely nothing to help his situation and was likely a waste of energy, but it was mostly out of reflex at this point. With the amount of oxygen able to flow into his lungs lessening by the second the man did not have the liberty to be wasteful with his conscious movements. He had an idea which he hoped would help him out of this situation… even if it was a longshot.

“You said you knew who I work for, didn’t you? Then you should know how little tolerance they have for failure or unwanted interference in their affairs. I’m still in the middle of a job. I can’t imagine they’d be thrilled with you undermining their operation.”

---

320 | 4,370

Alexis would feel the might of the grip the Golem had getting tighter, this old man was no way just someone that looked after this hotel when he had this type of Jutsu. Alexis needed to think of a way to get out of this, but had no idea, this man was too strong and Alexis couldn't reach her hands together to perform her crystal style, it was the only thing strong enough to handle this. She would listen to the man speak as she was just trying to stay conscious, but who was he talking about not once did she say anything about knowing who they were. Alexis was careful with her words, she said even if I knew would I tell you? Well, the answer to that was no.

"I never once said that I know who you work for, I said if I did would I tell you? But we are sorry for doing what we did." She would look at the man hiding in the rocks. "I promise we will not do it again, it is your home and it was disrespectful of us. It's nothing more I can say, to you about that, if anything, at least I'm not trying to pass the blame onto others to save myself, we both share the blame equally for fighting inside your home and not thinking about where we were doing it." She would say, hoping that could work, Alexis was honest, it was true what she just said, if the man was trying to think up a plan Alexis had no idea what it was. She couldn't die here, it was many more things that she needed to do, but trying to struggle wouldn't work, if she couldn't break ropes, then a giant hand made from rock well she didn't even need to think about it.

WC 309

TWC 4069