"Sir Ikuchi, how long are you planning on staying separated from Miss Kaori?" Gabriella had asked white using a rag to clean out a freshly washed mug. The two of them were in the pub Kaori owned in Hargeon where they've been working for the past three weeks while Ikuchi was coming up with a plan for redeeming himself. It wasn't a particularly large place, only being as large as a small inn. "As long as it takes for an opportunity to present itself." Ikuchi replied, his tone fairly calm. "Lady Lareci had taught me to be patient, wait for my time to strike and once I found it, unleash hell. I plan on using the wisdom she'd given me to aid her until such a time as I'm satisfied." Gabriella had nodded and placed the mug on a tray that contained eleven more, arrange in a four by three pattern. He took it out of the kitchen and into the bar of the pub where he began putting them on the shelves for later use.
The walls of the restaurant was a large, elegant waterfall that wrapped around the entire room. Behind the waterfall, various goldfish could be seen swimming around completely unaware of the presence of humans in their home. The waterfalls emptied into a recepticle that looked like it was made of glass despite being made of a transparent type of steel, making it highly resiliant. In the walls of the recepticle was more freshwater fish that were small enough to not mind the limited space. In the recepticles where the waterfalls empties into, but not in the walls, were koi fish that children could feed if they so desired. The entire floor of the restaraunt was another story, and the only one of its kind... They were made of the same transparent steel as the walls of the waterfoundtain recepticles, and under that was sound lacrima that negated even the loudest of foot stomps. Under that was a massive aquarium with various saltwater fish. The Aquarium hosted blue ringed octopi, lion fish, small sharks, pistol shrimp, several different species of tang, eels, and a couple tasmanian giant crab and crayfish were scuttling about the various corals within. Despite there being so many predators, none of them attacked each other no matter how close they got since they were trained to know three things; when meal time was, what was on the menu, and that there was plenty to go around. The bar counter was made of the same kind of steel and showed many different sized lobster and crab in front it. The backboard was made of black steel, and behind the counter were wooden shelves to hold their various cups and glasses. The overhead shelf was made entirely of bloodwood, Kaori's favorite kind for its dark and rich color. The tables were one with the floor, and allowed the smaller fish and eels to swim up the legs and move about the table tops which amused many of the young children as they ate. A bloodwood staircase in the corner lead to rooms that all had bloodwood floors, but aquarium walls. The hallways were bloodwood to make it so no one could spy on the residents, and between each room was a blacksteel wall inside their walls for the same purpose. Sound lacrima provided privacy, and negated any chance of eaves dropping for the more... intimate residents who stayed the night. Small gaps at the top and bottoms of the steel walls allowed the hundred or so tiny fish move about between rooms. These fish were all bioluminescent salt water fish, and even a few small varieties of squid that put on a dazzling display when the lights were turned out at night.
"Who's the new guy?" Ikuchi asked while looking at a man who was severely overdressed for being in Kaori's restaurant. While people normally would think the joint was high-end on account of the lavish and other-worldly look of the place, the people of Hargeon told tourists to come dressed casually. The restaurant was once a run-down pub until Kaori showed up and tasted their food, then bought the place and split the profits with the original owners. She didn't even ask them to pay her back for the fix ups, just that she and her closest companions (the ones who know had Kaori's symbol) ate and stayed free of charge. "I'm not quite sure, but he seems to be waiting on someone." the younger daughter of the owner said while looking away of Ikuchi. The dragon had always found it curious how the preteen dog-girl lacked the confidence to look him in the eye, but didn't question it. "Has he ordered yet?" he inquired. "N-No, he said he wasn't sure what to order..." "And you didn't recommend anything?" "He seemed to be content, and I didn't want to seem pushy." the conversation went, the girl feeling as though Ikuchi was coming down on her even though he was just trying to find an angle to come at the guest from. Ikuchi approached the man with a serious expression on his masked face. The man noticed the hibiscus dangling from his neck and he stood up, bowing in a more European style to Ikuchi while confusing him for being more than a servant. "Mister Lareci, I was hoping to run into your clan here."
Ikuchi decided to run with it since his master was no where to be found. He bowed back in an oriental fashion saying "An honor to not require introducing myself. Pray tell, gaijin, what cause have you for gracing our restaurant with your presence?" with a calm, humble tone. "I come with a request from the crown of Pergrande." he stated while looking Ikuchi in the eye- err... mask. "If we are to deal business, let us begin with something to drink. I'm sure your travels were long." Ikuchi said, taking after his master's example by showing hospitality to soften her guest up a bit. After the Cassidy (the dog girl) had poured them some tea, the man had taken a scroll from his coat and rested it in the middle of the table. "Please, noble member of Midi's war clan, the Crown of Pergrande requests your aid in matters that do not concern you. As you may be well aware, we share a border with the nation of Sin and have many troubles holding its denizens at bay. The wall we've erected has fallen in a portion, and those denizens continue to batter our armies as we speak. If-" Ikuchi held his hand up, interrupting the messenger. "You need not state what you wish us to do with your enemy, but rather what cause we have to fight your battles. Confuse us not for mercenaries, as we choose which contracts we take and lavish gifts or trickles of coin are less than worthy of my time." he said, being every bit of blunt as Kaori. "The Kingdom of Pergrande would owe your clan a large favor, and offer a seat of nobility to you good sir." Ikuchi's expression didn't change in the slightest. "To what value is this vain title of nobility in your clan?" the word 'vain' hitting the requester like a dagger in the heart. "The title entails a sizable plot of land encompassing four villages, an iron mine, three saw mills, and a large residence with servants to maintain it, my Lord." he replied, trying to hide his fear... the fear Ikuchi had already smelled in him.
'Such would prove beneficial to my Lady...' Ikuchi thought while showing no signs of even considering the offer. In fact, his neutral expression had turned to a disapproving frown that made the man's heart begin racing. "I- I apologize for forgetting to mention this, but I forgot to mention you would be given forgiveness for any crime you have committed, or do commit in the future as a show of gratitude. There would also be a rare armor, and a great deal of gold for your clan leader to include in her treasury.-" "-We do not keep rooms with treasures, only rooms with prizes won in battle." Ikuchi said, making the man begin to feel helpless. Ikuchi took the scroll from the table and opened it, reading the extremely fancy text that listed everything the man said they were offering. "Return to your nation vassal, we will consider your... request." he said, making the man's heart split in two- not knowing if he succeeded or not. 'I'm going to need a partner...' Ikuchi thought, not wanting to take Gabriella since she was a bit... clingy at times.
Ikuchi was leaning against the walls of a room with various books in it with his arms folded under his chest, waiting for his partner to show up. She didn't know she was his partner, but he knew she wouldn't refuse him. When Samira entered the room, she was wrapped in a towel with wet hair that was also in a towel. As soon as her scream was let out, the man said "Relax, you've hardly got anything to be seen." in a very casual tone. While he was referring to her being covered in towels, it could easily been an accusation of being physically uninteresting or in other words, flat chested. If Samira would try to smack Ikuchi, he would grab her wrist and say "I have a request." before pulling the scroll out and putting it in that same hand. If she would instead keep her distance and ask why he was there, he would pull the scroll out of his shirt and toss it to her while saying he had a request. If she asked why she should help him, he would say "Because my master is nowhere to be found, and you don't want to risk me starting a war for not knowing how to interact with your kind." in a very blunt tone. "Our ship leaves tomorrow at 0800, don't make me 'claim' you for this mission." Ikuchi said while walking out the door, suggesting that she'd find herself in the bridal position again. If Samira remembered correctly, she would remember that her door was locked when she went to take her shower. As soon as Ikuchi closed the door behind him, he vanished.
Lava Hawk
Motorcycle
Ikuchi
Ikuchi's Mask
Job
Word Count: 1,735/5,000
Kaori
Ikuchi
Charlotte
Jediniah
Scarlet
Mammoth
Aquarius