A/N I apologize that this is coming out a day late. I had a last minute emergency pop up and just couldn't get to my computer all day. (Nothing to serious everyone was okay.) But I was able to get the chapter out and should be back to the same schedule as usual. Very short chapter this time around, the gang needs to get ready for their next big encounter.

As we have reach Chapter 15 we will beginning the Kaneshiro arc very soon. I also wanted to start doing little updates for the characters to keep thing organize and such.

Ren Amamiya (Joker) Age:25 y/o

Outlaw/Wanted

Prefer Revolvers/Pistols

Morgana Amamiya (Mona) Age: 17y/o

Outlaw/Wanted

Prefer: Pistols/Rifles

Ryuji Sakamoto (Skull) Age: 25 y/o

Outlaw/Wanted

Prefer: Shotguns/Rifles

Ann Takamaki (N/A yet) Age: 24 y/o

Outlaw/Prostitute

Prefer: Pistol/Lasso

Yusuke Kitaguwa (N/A yet) Age: 25 y/o

Outlaw/Artist

Prefer: Throwing knives


Chapter 15

Present Day, 1885

Morning arrived the next day as a groggy Ren got out of bed to wash. Taking some shaving cream and a blade, he trims down the beard that was threatening to get out of hand. Now clean-shaven, he puts on a pair of clean black pants and shirt over his undergarments. His silky gray vest is the last he adds.

Since they weren't in a rush at the moment the allowed his brother to continue sleeping. Shinya being the youngest slept in a makeshift bed by the window, this room was getting awfully crowded. Ren passes by Futaba's room before making his way down. He wonders what had her so distant lately.

The Saloon was technically closed in the morning, the only stragglers being those too drunk to move from the table. Boss would leave a glass of water by them to drink when they wake.

"Mornin Boss," Ren offered. The former outlaw stood behind the bar wiping down mugs from the previous night.

"Coffee?"

"Sure."

"Your new friends seem nice," Boss said pouring some coffee in a tin mug. "Especially the blond-haired woman. Is she someone…"

"She's already spoken for by the rowdy blonde one."

"What about the dark hair one? Her friend was it?"

"She's a nice person, but not my type." The older Amamiya brother knew what Boss was trying to pull. He did it every time a new girl enters the scene around him.

"So your type runs to older women then? Who was that lady you used to skip off to, the teacher a few years back. Kaki….kai—"

"Kawakami," Ren corrected. "Things got complicated and it didn't work out, unfortunately. But it sure was fun times." He wouldn't call her his first love, but it was his first time with a woman. She had a debt problem when he met her and help make the debtors "go away." Her house had also provided a nice hideout location for a job him and Morgana just started doing. But some sweet words and a few bottles of beer later, he made a fool of himself much to the amusement of the younger sibling a door down.

"I see. Just make sure you don't have any random kids running around alright. I've had enough years already looking after you all," Boss joked.

"I think we've been on our best behavior. But I am worried about Futaba. She seems quiet lately. Did something happen?" Ren asked.

"Nothing that we can't handle here. Just focus on you. If we need the Calvary I'll just alert Iwai." Boss had laughed it off but Ren felt that the older man was hiding something.

"Alright." Ren decided to do various tasks around the town. He wanted to make sure they weren't ill prepare to tackle the worst of enemies; the weather. Longer days were almost upon them which meant bad storms and strong gales that were able to pick up homesteads and wagons on a whim.

"Mornin partner." Ryuji and Ann had found him by the main road hand full of provisions.

"Mind giving me a hand here?"

Taking off half, he helped Ren load them onto their new wagon for later. Feeling proud of getting most tasks done before high noon, Ren offered them a request, "If you two don't have anything else to do today, mind helping me round up some horses. This piece of wood and nails ain't pulling itself. And besides, I think its time we showed you the ropes, Ann."

"Are you sure? I don't know a single thing about catching horses," she said.

"You'll be just fine Ann. We can even work on teaching you how to shoot."

"Why would I need to know that Ryuji?"

"Cause it can be the difference between life and death," Ren explains. "As of now its just Morgana, Ryuji, and Myself defending if we are attacked. But what happens if we get separated or one of us goes down? We are not sure how good a fighter Yusuke is and Shinya is just a kid."

"I guess you have a point."

"Good. Now I want you to hold onto this until we get to a good location." The older sibling had removed folded up rope from the wagon for her to hold.

The three left town and headed towards the open field. They need to find a band of horses and tussle for a couple. They didn't need to wait more than 15 minutes before spotting a group idling in the grass.

"Alright Ann, I want you to tie the rope I gave you up like this. Under, over, under again, through this hole, over and then tug. The loop should be about this size." Taking a few tries to get the noose right, she succeeds on her 6th attempt at making a lasso.

"Observe me as I pick a horse, then we'll try you next." Ren kicks his horse into a slight trot, his own lasso in hand ready to place it on an unsuspecting horse. Ryuji stood off to the side inspecting his shotgun for the later lesson.

Ren had found his target and twirled the rope above his head before launching it on a beige color breed. Holding tightly the animal fought back trying to escape the confinement of the rope squeezing its neck. Once secure, the young man hops off his own horse and pulls the freshly capture one closer before jumping on. If Ren could tame Arsene, the most stubborn and strongly spirited mare he ever saw, breaking in this horse would be easy. It tried to buck him off a few more chances before it began to tired out. He had it walk around a tree a few times to make sure it was under his command.

"Now it's your turn, Miss Ann. You wanna make sure that when the horse leans to the right or left you need to lean against it, else you get bucked right off," he directed. Ren hitched the newest horse to a low hanging branch. "I'll herd some horses towards you and you can give it a try. You joining in Ryuji?"

"Nah, I'm good. Don't mind me."

Ann and Ren chased some more horses around the open field. The third time was the charm for Ann to successfully get a lasso around the horse but was thrown off just as quickly. A dozen more attempts later she finally was able to tire out a horse for use.

"Not bad for a first-timer Ann. I'll take the mares back into town and grab some grub. Try to stay out of trouble you two." Getting back into town around 2 pm, the elder Amamiya sibling would settle for a late lunch at the Saloon. Boss should still have some leftover stew brewing.

Dropping off the horses at the stable, Ren walks in the Saloon and is met by an average crowd. Morgana was helping Boss behind the bar wiping down plates and mugs while the older man was having a conversation with their newest member.

"Hello fellas," Ren said sitting down. "Boss, can I get a bowl of some stew please?"

"Coming right up."

"Enjoying your stay so far Yusuke?"

"It has been calming, to say the least. I've been discussing with the proprietor here on the atmosphere of this venue, it has provided me some good material to work with on my sketches."

"What's so interesting at a bar?" Ren asked.

"Ever seen the face of a man losing $100 to a kid in Poker? The anguish in his eyes, the red glow in his cheeks, the passionate cries from his voice. Fascinating," The artist replied.

"Kid? You mean Shinya, what did he do?"

"Clean house is what," Morgana added in as he placed a bowl of hot stew in front of Ren. He could feel his stomach gargling after a long morning of errands.

"Yes, your brother is right. The young one was observing a group of men playing the game this morning and asked if he could join after a few rounds. An hour or so later, he seemed to outplay them, so Mr. Boss here sent him to your room."

Ren cursed under his breath, can't catch a break with that kid, can he? "I'll deal with him later."

"No need kid. I think he understood me the first time around as I gave him my lecture," Boss said.

"Don't tell me you gave him the whole 'let me explain' speech!?"

"Hey now, my speeches are not terrible. I get the point across is what matters."

"Sure Boss." The three of them chuckled at Boss's expense. Ren went back to eating while Morgana continues pouring glasses to the various patrons.

"Now before we were interrupted. I wanted to ask you, young man, what is it you plan to do with this canvas you been lugging around?" Sojiro asked Yusuke.

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure? My whole life I've only admired but a tainted version never seeing it in its original beauty till now. Actually, if it's not too much of a burden, can I leave it here with you? It's not the most ideal setting but perhaps it can be admired on an otherwise dreary day."

"Sure…I guess. Thank you. I'll make sure to take good care of it," he promised.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing in the Saloon. Boss took a plate of food up to Futaba but she still hasn't come down or even said hello since they've been here. Ryuji and Ann had come back sometime later in the evening after shooting practice, clothes dishevel more than usual. Ren almost felt bad for any passerby that saw them during "practice."

Ren, Morgana, Ryuji, Yusuke, and Ann had all sat around a table enjoying a pint on the house. It got loud during the evenings and late in the wee hours of the morning as the alcohol flowed through the system. Ren was feeling a slight buzz after his second cup. All of it going straight to his bladder. Excusing himself from the table, he heads out back to take a piss. The red-orange glow of the lanterns could be seen from various building but after that, it was darkness for miles. Or it was supposed to be.

Zipping up his pants and rinsing his hand in a water bucket, the older brother could see a small blue light in the distance. He knows only one person that knew the materials to make flames look blue in that shade. Whistling for his horse, Ren jots over to the lone light in the shadows. The blue flames were being contained in a lantern held by a young woman wearing a dark dress from head to toe.

"It's good to see you again trickster."

"I find it incredibly rude your Master leaves you out here in the middle of the night under no guard at that. You could get hurt Lavenza."

"Your words are kind, but I'm afraid this isn't a friendly visit. My Master would like to see you. I shall lead the way."

Ren helps the young women on his horse as she provided directions to the requested destination. He sees a wagon hidden in the treeline that also has a blue lantern tied on the coach.

"Please step inside trickster." He leaves her on the horse and makes his way over to the wagon. He opens the door and sits down across from a deform looking man. Nose abnormally large with eyes bulging out of his sockets, his suit wrinkle-free along with his pristine white gloves. He almost came across intimidating.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room young man."


A/N So the "Velvet Room" has been introduce. I've been wanting to include it for awhile and had changed it from an earlier chapter to now. It was originally going to be prior to the Madarame arc but I moved it. Thank you all so much for this story so far. Feel free to review and see you soon. :)