1 A Night To Remember Mon Jun 03, 2019 12:23 am
Maikumaru
A-rank
Maikumaru walked along the path through the mountain range. The nights in The Land of Lightning were always dark. Though at times the sudden strike of lightning here and there would cause the sky to flash for only a moment. A head of him was the entrance to a small village. The village was of a medium size. The village looked to be a bit on the pristine side, but Maikumaru knew of the invisible rot that plagued this village. Many mercenaries and bandits came through here. They came through here and preyed on its residence. Maikumaru wasn’t surprised to see that said village was in a bit of a grimy shape. He kept his coat on tight, obscuring his face. He hunched himself over, trying to make himself look smaller than he actually was. It worked to a greater extent then to be expected. Seeing someone as large as he was was something of an oddity, however seeing someone be generally big was common amongst most villages where protection was needed.
The Tsuchikage continued to walk down the street. He had looked to the side to see a man speaking to another. Whatever argument they had, it got heated and the broke out into a fight. They clearly weren’t shinobi. They clearly weren’t the warriors Maikumaru was looking for. Maikumaru left out a soft sigh. “Dammit. I didn’t even bother to think where to look.”
He looked up at the sky and saw a torrent of smoke exiting from the village below and up to the night time sky. He had decided that was to be his destination. The back alleyways of the village were even more disgusting than he had anticipated. There were people laying on the ground. He found two people in an intimate moment. They were trying to hide it, but it was quite clear. He grew closer to the billowing smoke. He cut through some corners, walking over trash and people. Eventually he came upon it. It was a group of apparent about ten homeless ronin, gathered by the fire, cooking food. He smiled. “Hey what the hell do you want? You came to take our food? You think just cuz you’re big you can come here and do what you want? HEY?! I’m talking to yuh! What are you staring at?” He gripped his sword. The others did the same. They drew their weapons. And brandished them towards Maikumaru. He stood up straight, revealing his full size. He grabbed his hood and pulled it back. “You...all of you...are true warriors. Tell me...what brings you here?”
They all looked at one another puzzled. “We’re Suna refugees. What’s it to you.” Maikumaru’s foot flew sideways, slamming against the trashcan of fire to the side, leaving the suspicious meat to char in the fire. They all looked ready attack and started to make moves towards him. But before they could, The Tsuchikage let out a roar of words. “This is not food fit for true warriors! These are scraps left for the weak! And none of you are weak!” He reached in his coat and pulled out a bag full of Ryo. “Tonight! All of you will dine like warriors!”
They all cheered for Maikumaru. Except for one. He was a small man. “All of this will come at a price. Nothing in this world is free. What do you want?” They all stopped cheering and looked at Maikumaru. “I’m looking for warriors. Mercenaries to join my cause. To join me in battle.”
“For what?” The Tsuchikage smiled.
“For now, all you need to do is eat. I’m sympathetic towards your positions regardless of my own motivations. All that I want from you guys right now is to enjoy a meal with you.”
They all smiled and nodded, and walked towards Maikumaru to stand beside him. Once again, the small man hesitated to accept the offer. “The only place to eat is at the bar. And its always occupied by the Broken Swords.”
“What are the Broken Swords?”
“Gang of bandits.” Maikumaru raised his eyes. If he could assert his dominance on them as well, they might prove useful.
“They always pick fights and rob people. They think of the bar as their own. And I don’t think it’d be a good idea to piss them off, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
He ripped off his coat and revealed his strong body, and the seals on it. “Don’t worry. They don’t scare me. And don’t underestimate me either. I eat bitch ass bandits like them for breakfast.”
Arriving at the bar on the corner of the village. There were sounds of hardy laughter and vulgar debauchery. Maikumaru looked up at the bar, and placed his fists on his hands. He looked at his group and nodded his head. “Let’s go eat.” Maikumaru knew what was going to happen. He knew how bandits operate and how violent they can get. And this was going to get violent. It was the perfect opportunity to gauge their skill. They had the soul of warrior’s, willing to fight for themselves in the face of an unknown enemy. Usually that would be enough for the Tsuchikage. However the game has changed, and he needed more than their soul. He needed proficient soldiers.
Maikumaru looked opened the door the the Tavern. The sounds immediately died down. Eyes fell on Maikumaru and his group. The tavern was rather large even having an upstairs, but it wasn’t even half full. It consisted of only men, who wore jackets with the kanji for ‘broken’ on the back. And they all looked at them. Maikumaru walked towards the tender of the bar. His face looked fearful, darting between Maikumaru and the members of the Broken Swords. He presented the bag of ryo and gestured the group to sit at a table close to the counter, where Maikumaru placed himself. “Whatever these guys want. On me. If they ask for drinks you give to them…” he leaned in close, his tone even more serious and his eyes dead centered on the bartender “...no matter what.” He walked quickly to the kitchen, and started to hear whispered between him and his chef. A lady sheepishly walked out of the kitchen, trading glances between the Swords and Maikumaru’s group. She started to take their order’s as Maikumaru turned into their direction, look at them. His eyes left them and then saw the ones of one of the blades. They looked eyes with one another, even from across the room. And then they stared at each other. But the Broken Sword member cocked his head to the side, and made a devilish smile. Maikumaru glared a strong glare, and nodded his head, turning back around in his seat. They were warriors too. What would happen tonight will sure be interesting to say the least...
1169 WC
The Tsuchikage continued to walk down the street. He had looked to the side to see a man speaking to another. Whatever argument they had, it got heated and the broke out into a fight. They clearly weren’t shinobi. They clearly weren’t the warriors Maikumaru was looking for. Maikumaru left out a soft sigh. “Dammit. I didn’t even bother to think where to look.”
He looked up at the sky and saw a torrent of smoke exiting from the village below and up to the night time sky. He had decided that was to be his destination. The back alleyways of the village were even more disgusting than he had anticipated. There were people laying on the ground. He found two people in an intimate moment. They were trying to hide it, but it was quite clear. He grew closer to the billowing smoke. He cut through some corners, walking over trash and people. Eventually he came upon it. It was a group of apparent about ten homeless ronin, gathered by the fire, cooking food. He smiled. “Hey what the hell do you want? You came to take our food? You think just cuz you’re big you can come here and do what you want? HEY?! I’m talking to yuh! What are you staring at?” He gripped his sword. The others did the same. They drew their weapons. And brandished them towards Maikumaru. He stood up straight, revealing his full size. He grabbed his hood and pulled it back. “You...all of you...are true warriors. Tell me...what brings you here?”
They all looked at one another puzzled. “We’re Suna refugees. What’s it to you.” Maikumaru’s foot flew sideways, slamming against the trashcan of fire to the side, leaving the suspicious meat to char in the fire. They all looked ready attack and started to make moves towards him. But before they could, The Tsuchikage let out a roar of words. “This is not food fit for true warriors! These are scraps left for the weak! And none of you are weak!” He reached in his coat and pulled out a bag full of Ryo. “Tonight! All of you will dine like warriors!”
They all cheered for Maikumaru. Except for one. He was a small man. “All of this will come at a price. Nothing in this world is free. What do you want?” They all stopped cheering and looked at Maikumaru. “I’m looking for warriors. Mercenaries to join my cause. To join me in battle.”
“For what?” The Tsuchikage smiled.
“For now, all you need to do is eat. I’m sympathetic towards your positions regardless of my own motivations. All that I want from you guys right now is to enjoy a meal with you.”
They all smiled and nodded, and walked towards Maikumaru to stand beside him. Once again, the small man hesitated to accept the offer. “The only place to eat is at the bar. And its always occupied by the Broken Swords.”
“What are the Broken Swords?”
“Gang of bandits.” Maikumaru raised his eyes. If he could assert his dominance on them as well, they might prove useful.
“They always pick fights and rob people. They think of the bar as their own. And I don’t think it’d be a good idea to piss them off, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
He ripped off his coat and revealed his strong body, and the seals on it. “Don’t worry. They don’t scare me. And don’t underestimate me either. I eat bitch ass bandits like them for breakfast.”
Arriving at the bar on the corner of the village. There were sounds of hardy laughter and vulgar debauchery. Maikumaru looked up at the bar, and placed his fists on his hands. He looked at his group and nodded his head. “Let’s go eat.” Maikumaru knew what was going to happen. He knew how bandits operate and how violent they can get. And this was going to get violent. It was the perfect opportunity to gauge their skill. They had the soul of warrior’s, willing to fight for themselves in the face of an unknown enemy. Usually that would be enough for the Tsuchikage. However the game has changed, and he needed more than their soul. He needed proficient soldiers.
Maikumaru looked opened the door the the Tavern. The sounds immediately died down. Eyes fell on Maikumaru and his group. The tavern was rather large even having an upstairs, but it wasn’t even half full. It consisted of only men, who wore jackets with the kanji for ‘broken’ on the back. And they all looked at them. Maikumaru walked towards the tender of the bar. His face looked fearful, darting between Maikumaru and the members of the Broken Swords. He presented the bag of ryo and gestured the group to sit at a table close to the counter, where Maikumaru placed himself. “Whatever these guys want. On me. If they ask for drinks you give to them…” he leaned in close, his tone even more serious and his eyes dead centered on the bartender “...no matter what.” He walked quickly to the kitchen, and started to hear whispered between him and his chef. A lady sheepishly walked out of the kitchen, trading glances between the Swords and Maikumaru’s group. She started to take their order’s as Maikumaru turned into their direction, look at them. His eyes left them and then saw the ones of one of the blades. They looked eyes with one another, even from across the room. And then they stared at each other. But the Broken Sword member cocked his head to the side, and made a devilish smile. Maikumaru glared a strong glare, and nodded his head, turning back around in his seat. They were warriors too. What would happen tonight will sure be interesting to say the least...
1169 WC