The Siblings and the Samurai [Private/Altarias]

Kenshi gave a quiet sigh as he leaned back in his seat, tipping his head to look up at the ceiling. Instead of the elegant wood ceilings he was used to, this place had some kind of tile covering the roof beams. Everything was so unfamiliar here, though he was slowly getting used to it. The samurai had spent only about a month traveling across Fiore until he had had the encounter that had changed his destiny and lead him here, to the headquarters of Fiore's magic police, the Rune Knights. He had joined the organization only two weeks ago, completing his training in record time thanks to his skills with a blade and strong magic. A month and a half. That was roughly how long he had spent in this strange country, far from the quiet, mountainous regions that were his home.

Just today, he had finished his first patrol as a full member of the Rune Knights' Combat Corps, which turned out to be somewhat less exciting than he'd imagined. At his rank, the Combat Corps were nothing but beat cops. Which meant patrols. Which meant walking around the unfamiliar streets of this enormous city, wearing an uncomfortable uniform and watching for anything out of the ordinary. Like he was supposed to know what qualified as 'out of the ordinary' in this strange country. Of course he had had a crash course during his training, but it seemed like it would take a little while for everything to settle in for him.

Now back in his more comfortable hakama and kimono, swords at his side as always, he simply sat in the lounge area of the headquarters, a mug of coffee steaming gently in front of him. Ordinarily he would have a cup of green tea, but coffee was far more readily available here. And it offered a rejuvenating effect tea couldn't quite match. With another sigh, he took a light sip of the drink with his right hand, his left resting casually on the saya of his katana. A habit instilled into him during his rigorous training, it would allow him to draw the long, razor-sharp curved blade in a heartbeat if need be, in a technique known as battojutsu. The Yamaki clan style, Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu, was famous for it's use of the quick-draw techniques. Powered by the magic of the Lacrima implanted within him, the style allowed him to move at speeds greater than the ordinary eye could follow. He would use this style, this power, to move up in the ranks of the Knights, becoming as powerful and famous as he could to help his impoverished clan back home in Midi. At least, that was the plan. He hadn't quite counted on the job being quite so boring starting out.

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WC: 465
Tag: @Altarias

Kenshi blinked in surprise as he was suddenly joined by two people, one enormous man and one shorter woman, who he noted was very beautiful. He listened to the pair in bemusement, especially as the man described Kenshi out loud, referring to himself in the third person. Once they were both done speaking, the samurai rose from his chair and gave them each a semi-formal bow, his hand never leaving the sheath of his sword.

"You are correct. Yamaki Kenshi, at your service." he said, then sat back down. "And I do possess a Slayer Lacrima. Specifically, that of the Lightning Dragon Slayer."

As he spoke, his keen eyes took in more details of the pair, who were apparently siblings. The male, Tony, was exceptionally large and brawny, with spiky black hair. The female, Britney, was practically a study in contrasts to her brother, being average height and slender but with decent curves, with long and smooth hair.

"I am new to town, yes. I have only been in the Rune Knights for about two weeks, and in the country for not quite a month and a half." he replied to Britney, his soft-spoken voice lightly accented and smooth.

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WC: 199 || TWC: 664

"I am indeed from Midi. Born and raised, in fact, a member of the once-illustrious Yamaki Clan." Kenshi replied, making another short bow from his seat. "I have come to this country seeking wealth, fame and power to aid my family."

The samurai raised an eyebrow slightly as Tony spilled on himself, making no move to assist him even though he had the speed to do so. "That is a generous offer, and I will humbly accept." he said in reply to the man's offer.

As the larger man walked off, Kenshi found himself alone with the lovely sister. His dark purple eyes silently surveyed her, his entire demeanor projecting an aura of calm assuredness. "Is he always like that?" he asked after a moment, giving a slight nod in the direction Tony had gone. The man seemed both eccentric and clumsy, and didn't quite fit the mental model Kenshi had been building of the noble and skilled Knights.

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WC: 159 || TWC: 823

Kenshi nodded along as Britney spoke, explaining the eccentricities of her brother. It made sense in the light of him watching too many movies when he was younger. Movies weren't as popular in his hometown as they were here, but he had seen a couple and figured how much of an impression they could make on a young mind. While Tony's... habit could be annoying in the long run, he would put up with it. It wasn't, after all, harmful to anyone.

As Tony returned and Britney suggested they prepare for his tour, Kenshi finished his coffee in a few quick gulps, then rose with another nod. "Yes, I shall. Give me just a moment to return this mug." he said, then walked over to the coffee bar on the sideboard and carefully rinsed his mug out, then hung it on the rack to be washed later by one of the employees. With that, he returned to the siblings and gave them a quick bow. "I am ready. Please take good care of me." he said in his characteristic soft, humble voice.

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WC: 182 || TWC: 1005

Kenshi nodded as he followed the brother and sister, left hand resting on the sword sheath on his left hip as always. By now he was beginning to learn to filter out Tony's speech and just listen to Britney. They soon left behind the Rune Knight headquarters, walking out into the streets. Kenshi became even more alert, ready for any trouble that may come about. His finely-tuned Slayer senses were searching for anything out of the ordinary.

"I am indeed living in the dorms of the headquarters. They are not quite as nice as my home, but they are adequately comfortable. Someday, when I can reasonably afford it, I would like to seek out a house of my own. Perhaps something in the Midian style of architecture, if such a place exists here in Era." he said in response to Britney's question. He fell silent for a moment, thinking of his home and longing for the quiet elegance, the smell of the cherry blossoms in the spring, and the majesty of the mountains nearby. He missed his home greatly, and hoped that he would soon be able to return to it.

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WC: 191 || TWC: 1196

Kenshi blinked at the mention of the parks representing the different nations of Earthland. The prospect of being able to experience the environs of his home, albeit artificially, excited him. "The park please, if you don't mind." he said, maintaining his outward calm. He didn't know this Tsuyumoto-san, but if he was truly a countryman Kenshi would enjoy meeting him. But that could always come later. For now, he wished to smell the cherry blossom trees once again. He knew they would be in full bloom this time of year, and they were truly a sight to behold.

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WC: 98 || TWC: 1294

Kenshi paid little attention to Tony's ramblings as they walked along. The samurai never dropped his guard, one hand perpetually on the saya of his katana, ready to be drawn in a heartbeat. His light purple eyes roved around, always on the move and always on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary, any sign of trouble. Several times, people walking in the opposite direction saw his expression, which seemed relaxed on the surface but conveyed a sense of deadly preparation when looked at more deeply, and the hand on his weapon, veering out of their way. Whether they were civilians unnerved but they obviously armed and obviously dangerous man walking in their midst or criminals discouraged from doing anything against the party he would likely never know. But it was enough to know that people were wary. One of the lessons that had been drilled into him from childhood was that people were less inclined to begin a fight against one who always looked ready for one.

The swordsman's mood immediately shifted upon fully entering the Midian-themed park. He fell to his knees, overwhelmed with emotion at the sound of the breeze sighing through the leaves and the blades of grass, accompanied by the light, sweet scent of the sakura petals drifting on the wind. The sound of the gently burbling stream, the Midian architecture of the bridge that crossed it, the fences that surrounded the park, the pagoda just ahead of them... It was as if he had stepped through a portal straight into his homeland. All it needed was a range of mountains in the near distance and it would be virtually identical to the place he had grown up. Kenshi remained there, on his knees, as the other two Rune Knights walked ahead, forgetting about him. He didn't mind. He simply swept his gaze around at their surroundings over and over again, drinking in the sights. Eventually he closed his eyes, his guard falling almost completely as he relaxed, soothed by the sounds and the scents of his childhood.

As Britney and Tony continued ahead, they would soon find themselves surrounded by six rough-looking men dressed all in black leather festooned with spikes and chains, along with two women dressed in much the same. Every one of them bore a weapon of some kind, handling them awkwardly, as if unsure how to properly look threatening. That didn't stop one from stepping up behind the girl, wrapping an arm around her neck and stepping backwards to steal her balance, while simultaneously pressing the muzzle of his gun against her temple, smirking all the while. "Well well well, lookie what we got here, boys." he said, his voice greasy and smug. "A Rune Knight. Two Rune Knights, unless I miss my guess. Two Rune Knights who think they're above everyone else and treat everyone like the dirt they walk on. Well, we of Obsidian Skull are gonna teach them a lesson, even though one of them's a babe."

His monologue would be interrupted by a crack of thunder that belied the clear blue sky above and a rush of wind that blew through the middle of the group. A heartbeat passed, then suddenly the eight thugs cried out in pain and fell to the ground, weapons severed in half and blood spraying from the wrists of their weapon hands and their thighs. Kenshi crouched a few feet beyond the group, at the end of a trail of flattened grass, some of which was scorched, and blood splatters. His sword was in his hand, extended to his right side, the edge bathed in scarlet. He rose slowly and flicked the katana effortlessly, clearing the blood from the blade before returning it to the sheath in traditional Midian fashion - placing the spine against the mouth of the sheath, just above the circular handguard, and pushing the sword away, the spine sliding across the mouth of the sheath until it reached the tip, at which time he reversed the motion and slid the blade home, all in one fluid, flowing movement. He did it without looking, the mark of someone who had done the same action thousands of times until it was ingrained in their mind.

The swordsman had been shaken from his reverie by the sounds of the thugs surrounding his compatriots, his keen Slayer hearing picking them up with perfect clarity despite the distance. He had waited for the dark guild members - for he had no doubt that's what they were claiming to be - to relax slightly, then had engaged in one of the techniques that were the hallmarks of his family's sword style. The Yamaki clan had risen to prominence thanks to this style, known as Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu, which translated as Flying Heaven Dragon. It relied heavily on the user's speed and agility, training these two aspects to almost superhuman levels. Eventually, the practitioner would be able to move faster than the human eye could follow, an aspect of the style which was known as Shinsoku, or 'Godspeed'. This combined with a technique called battojutsu, which involved drawing the sword rapidly and immediately employing it in a strike that continued the fluid movement of the sword drawing, created a style in which the user could strike in a heartbeat, often finishing a fight before the opponent even knew a fight was happening. This, in conjunction with the extreme speed achievable by a Lightning Dragon Slayer, gave the Yamaki clan a reputation for ending battles in the blink of an eye. The member of the clan currently holding the Lacrima that was their prized possession could extend the battojutsu technique to multiple targets, striking all in what seemed to be a single instant, as Kenshi had just done to the members of the so-called Obsidain Skull. It was all over before the Altarias would even get a chance to act.

The samurai walked up to the man who had held the gun to Britney's head, and who was currently sobbing in pain and fear, clutching his wounded wrist. With a disgusted snort, Kenshi put his foot on the man's chest and shoved him away from his compatriot. "You're lucky I remembered at the last moment to wound instead of kill. Were this my land, all of you would be dead. As it is, you'll soon be seeing the inside of a cell. Assaulting a member of the Rune Knights is a serious offense."

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WC: 1075 || TWC: 2369

Kenshi was admittedly impressed with the pair of siblings' reactions in the stressful situation that had suddenly become not so stressful. He had seen Tony's hands begin to glow green during the altercation, and knew it meant the big man was preparing to use magic. On Britney's part, she had remained perfectly calm during her near-death experience, despite the fear causing her heart to hammer in her chest, which he heard easily. That level reaction spoke to long training and masterful self-control. He was willing to bet that if he hadn't stepped in, the two would have managed to deal with the situation at least adequately. But he was glad things hadn't gotten to that point, as in a scenario like that it was all too easy to be injured.

For his own part, the swordsman took a deep breath, unconsciously using a mental exercise he had learned so long ago it was like second nature to him in order to slow his own thundering heart, the buzzing in his veins fading as the adrenaline surge ended. Potentially unnoticed by the siblings, his eyes would fade from a bright burnished gold to their normal dark violet, a side effect of his magic. Within a few moments, he had returned to his usual calm demeanor.

"I thank you for your kind words." he said in his usual soft voice, so dissimilar to the one he had used when speaking to the thugs. "Were either of you injured?"

He listened quietly as the pair spoke on, Tony flinging his arm around the slender swordsman's shoulders, which he bore stoically. "I am glad to hear that my culture has captivated you so. It is heartening to me that we are not seen as outsiders to all in this country." he replied to Tony in Midijin, giving him a slight bow.

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WC: 307 || 2676

Kenshi blinked at Tony's Midijin reply. Either the big Rune Knight played for a different team than the swordsman expected or... Surely it was just a mistranslation. "Actually, the phrase is 'hang out with'." he said first in Fioran, then ending in Midijin. "What you said is... something different."

The stoic swordsman then blinked again at his compatriot's outburst of emotion and subsequent monologue that included a threat of murder. He turned his head and regarded Britney steadily. "It seems that everything in this country is chaotic. At least, compared to what I am accustomed to. Everything in Midi is... peaceful. Quiet. Serene..." he said, trailing off as he looked around the gorgeous park again. "If you ever decided to visit there, I would be more than glad to accompany you."

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WC: 131 || TWC: 2807

Kenshi nodded at Britney's words, accepting her explanation. It seemed Tony's quirks were simply something he would have to accept. "For the most part, yes." he said in reply to her question. "But... Midi has a quiet serenity that this park, as wonderfully as its designers have done, cannot replicate. Perhaps it is just my Slayer nature, but I can still hear the sounds of the city behind us. Where I grew up, we are surrounded by fields and rivers, with enormous and beautiful mountains within a day's walk. When we were young, my siblings and I would often camp in the mountains, living off of the land. It is... A place to which no other could compare. I hope you are able to see it someday. Perhaps you could visit my family's estate, when you do?" he said in his calm, serene voice.

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WC: 144 || TWC: 1951

Kenshi found himself smiling slightly as he listened to Britney speak. "No, no, it's alright. If this is not too much to say, I enjoy the sound of your voice. It... Reminds me of home, somehow." he said, shaking his head in response to her self-admonition. "To answer your question, yes. I am the latest in the long line of bearers of a Lightning Dragon Slayer Lacrima, handed down from father to son in my clan for generations. It used to be that the Lacrima would be passed on only when the father was ready to retire, but this time... My father fell ill and was no longer able to perform his duties as First Sword. I had not yet come of age, so I was not prepared to receive the power or the title. And thus, my clan declined in both wealth and fame, without the First Sword to complete jobs. Now it is my duty to reclaim my family's status using the power that I inherited. I have now held the power for seven years, and before that I was prepared for it by years of training, so it feels... natural to me. Part of me. I am never caught by surprise by what I can do." He raised his right hand and gazed at it for a moment, then clenched it into a fist which began giving off gold-colored sparks. "This is the power of the Yamaki Clan, and the power by which I will bring glory back to my family."

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WC: 254 || TWC: 2205