Nimble Wish
Chapter 5: Northern Bound
'This must be the place.' Ranma thought as he opened the door and slipped inside.
It wasn't hard to find considering it was the only building in this neighborhood that had expensive black oak as doors. It was the Black Ruby's only marker since there are no words or hanging signs out in front. A person could either get directions or accidentally walk in. The patterns on the double doors look like it used to be part of a bigger piece, possibly from a bigger doorframe, before it was cut down to fit the smaller frame of the tavern's doors.
The bar, along with its pretty female bartender, was at the wall to the right. Tables littered the rest of the large empty space, each occupied by someone. At the back of the room was what looked like an entrance to a small kitchen, not a common feature in taverns, and a few women go in and out carrying trays of snacks and the like. Next to the kitchen's entrance was another room, closed up by dark curtains. How unusual.
He sat himself on one of the stools at the bar. At the table to his left sat two pretty women, both giggling and giving him flirty smiles. He gave them a flirting smile of his own before turning his attention to the noises at the back of the room. Two men seemed to be arguing over one of the waitresses, pushing each other in a challenge. According to the uniforms they wore, Ranma could tell that they came from under Lord Hiroshi. The pushing became punches to the face and within the next moment, the smaller of the two soldiers were tossed onto a table.
"Aya! They're at it again!" Upon the call from the bartender behind him, a middle aged lady wearing a simple blue and grey dress, came running out of the kitchen but only to stop short when two men struggled on the floor in front of her. She looked to be in her mid-thirties, darken brown hair, pale green-grey eyes, and a stubborn chin to toughen her features. Something in the way she carried herself makes her seemed stern and authoritative.
Carefully arched brows lowered into a frown then gave both men icy glares that froze them both on the spot.
"You boys will have to take it OUTSIDE!!" Her bellow startled everyone in the room, bring more attention then there is already.
The dark curtains were pulled aside in haste and out come the same boy that nearly squashed Ranma's nose an hour earlier. Behind him was the same dark- haired man he glared at earlier in front of the sword smith.
In the light, the boy looked more like a girl then young man-very bishounen. Another look at the boy told him otherwise. He had though the boy had dark black hair back in the alley but now illuminated, the dark locks seemed more blue then black. He stood out in the crowd of older, unruly men, looking better mannered and groomed then many of the people present here. In fact, he's probably a merchant's son, perhaps even a lord's son.
"What's going on Aya?" asked the older man from besides the boy, stern green-blue eyes full of amusement as he watched the two men rolling on the floor.
"What else Shinosuke? They're fighting over Lulu again," said the boy jokingly as he leaned casually on the wall besides the curtains. Lulu, the waitress who was the purpose of the fight, blew a kiss at the boy then hurried into the kitchen to avoid embarrassment. The boy reddened nervously at the gesture but smile passively at the lady in return as she disappeared behind the counter.
Aya pulled the men apart, scowling and threatening that if they don't stop, they would be banned from the tavern. Upon hearing her words they stopped immediately. The two fighting men stood up, dust off their clothing, then proceed in cleaning up the broken furniture and glass as if nothing had happened between them.
"It's all going into your tabs gentlemen!!" informed Aya angrily as she overlooked the clean-up. The men groan-great more money to pay off.
The bystanders, disappointed that there won't be any further fighting, went back to whatever they're doing before the sudden interruptions.
Ranma kept his eyes at the boy; something about him is familiar. From his place at the wall, the boy looked up and around, towards Ranma's way.
For the second time since he got here, twin golden orbs stared back at him.
Gold.
Not a dull amber gold but a brilliant shining gold. That particular shade of color isn't exactly common in people's eyes yet he can't shook the feeling that he'd seen those set of eyes somewhere, long ago in his past. However, the face was very familiar.
Could it be that they're related?
Must be, especially with that eye color. Both have the same face frame and hair color. The noble girl with the Shikon jewel shard from last week sighted him with the same shade of gold. Again he wondered how she caught sight of him in the first place. She was beautiful though. If he hadn't escaped the castle early, he would've stalked the girl and stole that Shikon shard from her. No doubt that Naraku already sited it when he stop to talked to the prince and she was beside him.
No matter, he isn't here to dwell on pretty girls.
This boy matched the cloaked lady's description dead on. She had said to look for the young man with gold eyes and dark midnight-blue hair and this boy is the only one here that that match that description.
Oddly enough, this boy also possessed a Shikon shard-well, according to that lady anyways.
Ranma watched bemusedly as the boy nervously refused two drunken girls-both trying to get him to sit down and drink with them-dragged the reluctant boy to a table. 'Heh, probably not even at drinking age yet.' They mysterious lady did say that he just turned 18 years old. He wanted to laugh at the way the boy was desperately trying to push away the small cup of sake the girls were holding out for him.
He drained the last of his own liquor then turn back to order more from the bartender. Looks like he'll stay here for the night.
"Thought I'll never have to see you again," said a voice nearby. He didn't have to turn to see who it is. They've been friends for a long time after all. "Not going to say hi Ranma Sao-"
"Don't even bring it up Shino," he growled. He took another gulp of his drink then settled his arms comfortably on the counter. Shinosuke sank into a chair next to him as the bartender placed an unmarked bottle in front of him.
"Still the same ol' Ranma."
"No different then you are Shino," was the smart reply. "I see you haven't quit the business. Those oak doors are from Lord Osaki's manor aren't they?"
"I'm surprised you still remember," said the other man beside him. "I figured I should take something of his as a souvenir. Something to remind me of the old bastard."
"Heh, should have known it was you that savaged the old man's expensive doors."
That comment produced a half-hearted laugh for the old time friends. "I wouldn't call it "savage" exactly."
"You've done well.your own tavern among other things." said Ranma, turning around again to idly observe the tavern's occupants.
"I guess you heard. What 'bout you? You disappeared on us back then. Even I couldn't track you down."
"I had business to attend to.." Ranma quietly replied.
"Still haven't found him yet?" Shinosuke was known to be blunt and direct when he wants to be.
"Nope. That old man really knows how to hide himself."
"I could help you find him ya kno." Offered Shinosuke.
Ranma only shook his head. "No, it's better if I find him myself."
"Very well then. What are doing here anyways?"
"No reason, just still looking."
The two old friends talked and drank into the late hours. They finally end in the courtyard, sparing like the complete drunkard they are, and then retired for the night, waking up late in the morning.
Shinosuke, of course, has an amazing alcohol tolerance so he had no problems waking up early.
***
The Great Northern Road.
Named specifically because it stretch from the deserts and barren lands of Buga and Madeira-south of the Ezru and Lüdan Realms-to as far north as the small lands of Cuita, passing the Saotome Realm of several hundred miles. The road itself may take up to six months to get from end to the other given that no problems aroused. Half the time if one could find some fast horses. The best thing about it is that thousands of inns and rest stops littered along the way, except for around the deserts of Buga. The road even passed through hundreds of cities and towns, and even small villages made bigger to accommodate the many travelers.
***
Akane traveled on this road before but it had been under the cover of a carriage, and not on top of her horse and it was only to Tyra. Now, she watched in fascination as all sorts of people traveled the road with her. It seemed crowded now but once she reached the Copper Mountains, the travelers would thin out significantly, since the area was rumored recently of bandits. Travelers were weary to travel there at through night, even though there is a roadside inn that would keep them relatively safe.
She left at dawn this morning; getting past the guards at the western gates was easy enough when they're still half asleep. Like Shinosuke said, the western gates were the least secured since only forest and greenery lay before it. They didn't bother checking her bags, which hung carelessly on Toshi, as they should.
Floating in her usually happy mood, she stirred her horse off the road to a small eatery. After tying Toshi's reins around a post near a small patch of clovers, she headed inside for some tea and maybe a snack.
***
"Dammit" cursed the pig-tailed rider as he urged his horse faster along a secluded trail parallel to the Northern Road. At this time of the day, the part outside the Capital was particularly swarming so he took the trail along the forest. It was all Shinosuke's fault. If it weren't for that idiot's oddly strong liquor, he would have the boy's Shikon shard in his hands by last night. It was his best chance. He woke up this morning to find out that the boy left the city at dawn, three hours earlier. Not only was he grumpy and disorientated, he had a major hangover. He never had a hangover like that.
What the hell was in that god-forsaken drink!?! The flavor was a mixture of sake, wine, and a hint of.peaches? He should have never drunk anything that Shinosuke developed, how stupid of him.
The boy was only about four hours ahead. At the pace he's going; he would be able to catch up at the next roadside eatery.
After another hour of hard riding, Ranma and his steed emerged into the main road. His objective could still be an hour further along the road but his horse is tired and he hadn't eaten anything yet. He settled on stopping at the little restaurant ahead of him to fill up his empty stomach then continue north.
He tied his reins around the post where a white horse was already tied to then enter the eatery cheerfully with the thought of food.
As Ranma entered, a boy working at the door immediately greeted him and showed him to an empty table at the back of the restaurant.
"Would you like anything to eat sir?" asked the short boy politely as he poured Ranma some tea. Indecisive, Ranma merely asked for whatever dish that taste good.
The owner picked a great location for his little restaurant. People streamed constantly in and out of the place, giving the family that owned the place plenty to live by. By the door, a boy-looking to be around 13 or 14 years old-greeted the customers and showed them to their tables. Older girls and boys took food orders and served food while two adults worked at the counter. The food wasn't bad either.
For the lack of a better thing to do as he waited for his food, he glanced casually around at the people around him.
Ranma's lips tugged upward in a grin.
Just his luck; stopping here saved him a lot of trouble.
Two tables away from him, a dark blue head bobbed up and down as he ate out of a bowl of ramen.
A/N: Yay! Finally done with this chapter. I got a writer's block with this chapter. I can visualize this story in my head, scene by scene, but I'm having a lot of trouble writing it out and expressing. Urgh!! Itz fustrating. Don't you writers out there have the same problem or is it just me? I enjoyed writing but I hate English. Go figure.
Anyways.hope ya like my little chapter.
Remember! REVIEW REVIEW AND REVIEW SOME MORE. I don't mind flames cuz I tend to ignore them (I have very few tho) and I always welcome constructive criticism and corrections.
Chapter 5: Northern Bound
'This must be the place.' Ranma thought as he opened the door and slipped inside.
It wasn't hard to find considering it was the only building in this neighborhood that had expensive black oak as doors. It was the Black Ruby's only marker since there are no words or hanging signs out in front. A person could either get directions or accidentally walk in. The patterns on the double doors look like it used to be part of a bigger piece, possibly from a bigger doorframe, before it was cut down to fit the smaller frame of the tavern's doors.
The bar, along with its pretty female bartender, was at the wall to the right. Tables littered the rest of the large empty space, each occupied by someone. At the back of the room was what looked like an entrance to a small kitchen, not a common feature in taverns, and a few women go in and out carrying trays of snacks and the like. Next to the kitchen's entrance was another room, closed up by dark curtains. How unusual.
He sat himself on one of the stools at the bar. At the table to his left sat two pretty women, both giggling and giving him flirty smiles. He gave them a flirting smile of his own before turning his attention to the noises at the back of the room. Two men seemed to be arguing over one of the waitresses, pushing each other in a challenge. According to the uniforms they wore, Ranma could tell that they came from under Lord Hiroshi. The pushing became punches to the face and within the next moment, the smaller of the two soldiers were tossed onto a table.
"Aya! They're at it again!" Upon the call from the bartender behind him, a middle aged lady wearing a simple blue and grey dress, came running out of the kitchen but only to stop short when two men struggled on the floor in front of her. She looked to be in her mid-thirties, darken brown hair, pale green-grey eyes, and a stubborn chin to toughen her features. Something in the way she carried herself makes her seemed stern and authoritative.
Carefully arched brows lowered into a frown then gave both men icy glares that froze them both on the spot.
"You boys will have to take it OUTSIDE!!" Her bellow startled everyone in the room, bring more attention then there is already.
The dark curtains were pulled aside in haste and out come the same boy that nearly squashed Ranma's nose an hour earlier. Behind him was the same dark- haired man he glared at earlier in front of the sword smith.
In the light, the boy looked more like a girl then young man-very bishounen. Another look at the boy told him otherwise. He had though the boy had dark black hair back in the alley but now illuminated, the dark locks seemed more blue then black. He stood out in the crowd of older, unruly men, looking better mannered and groomed then many of the people present here. In fact, he's probably a merchant's son, perhaps even a lord's son.
"What's going on Aya?" asked the older man from besides the boy, stern green-blue eyes full of amusement as he watched the two men rolling on the floor.
"What else Shinosuke? They're fighting over Lulu again," said the boy jokingly as he leaned casually on the wall besides the curtains. Lulu, the waitress who was the purpose of the fight, blew a kiss at the boy then hurried into the kitchen to avoid embarrassment. The boy reddened nervously at the gesture but smile passively at the lady in return as she disappeared behind the counter.
Aya pulled the men apart, scowling and threatening that if they don't stop, they would be banned from the tavern. Upon hearing her words they stopped immediately. The two fighting men stood up, dust off their clothing, then proceed in cleaning up the broken furniture and glass as if nothing had happened between them.
"It's all going into your tabs gentlemen!!" informed Aya angrily as she overlooked the clean-up. The men groan-great more money to pay off.
The bystanders, disappointed that there won't be any further fighting, went back to whatever they're doing before the sudden interruptions.
Ranma kept his eyes at the boy; something about him is familiar. From his place at the wall, the boy looked up and around, towards Ranma's way.
For the second time since he got here, twin golden orbs stared back at him.
Gold.
Not a dull amber gold but a brilliant shining gold. That particular shade of color isn't exactly common in people's eyes yet he can't shook the feeling that he'd seen those set of eyes somewhere, long ago in his past. However, the face was very familiar.
Could it be that they're related?
Must be, especially with that eye color. Both have the same face frame and hair color. The noble girl with the Shikon jewel shard from last week sighted him with the same shade of gold. Again he wondered how she caught sight of him in the first place. She was beautiful though. If he hadn't escaped the castle early, he would've stalked the girl and stole that Shikon shard from her. No doubt that Naraku already sited it when he stop to talked to the prince and she was beside him.
No matter, he isn't here to dwell on pretty girls.
This boy matched the cloaked lady's description dead on. She had said to look for the young man with gold eyes and dark midnight-blue hair and this boy is the only one here that that match that description.
Oddly enough, this boy also possessed a Shikon shard-well, according to that lady anyways.
Ranma watched bemusedly as the boy nervously refused two drunken girls-both trying to get him to sit down and drink with them-dragged the reluctant boy to a table. 'Heh, probably not even at drinking age yet.' They mysterious lady did say that he just turned 18 years old. He wanted to laugh at the way the boy was desperately trying to push away the small cup of sake the girls were holding out for him.
He drained the last of his own liquor then turn back to order more from the bartender. Looks like he'll stay here for the night.
"Thought I'll never have to see you again," said a voice nearby. He didn't have to turn to see who it is. They've been friends for a long time after all. "Not going to say hi Ranma Sao-"
"Don't even bring it up Shino," he growled. He took another gulp of his drink then settled his arms comfortably on the counter. Shinosuke sank into a chair next to him as the bartender placed an unmarked bottle in front of him.
"Still the same ol' Ranma."
"No different then you are Shino," was the smart reply. "I see you haven't quit the business. Those oak doors are from Lord Osaki's manor aren't they?"
"I'm surprised you still remember," said the other man beside him. "I figured I should take something of his as a souvenir. Something to remind me of the old bastard."
"Heh, should have known it was you that savaged the old man's expensive doors."
That comment produced a half-hearted laugh for the old time friends. "I wouldn't call it "savage" exactly."
"You've done well.your own tavern among other things." said Ranma, turning around again to idly observe the tavern's occupants.
"I guess you heard. What 'bout you? You disappeared on us back then. Even I couldn't track you down."
"I had business to attend to.." Ranma quietly replied.
"Still haven't found him yet?" Shinosuke was known to be blunt and direct when he wants to be.
"Nope. That old man really knows how to hide himself."
"I could help you find him ya kno." Offered Shinosuke.
Ranma only shook his head. "No, it's better if I find him myself."
"Very well then. What are doing here anyways?"
"No reason, just still looking."
The two old friends talked and drank into the late hours. They finally end in the courtyard, sparing like the complete drunkard they are, and then retired for the night, waking up late in the morning.
Shinosuke, of course, has an amazing alcohol tolerance so he had no problems waking up early.
***
The Great Northern Road.
Named specifically because it stretch from the deserts and barren lands of Buga and Madeira-south of the Ezru and Lüdan Realms-to as far north as the small lands of Cuita, passing the Saotome Realm of several hundred miles. The road itself may take up to six months to get from end to the other given that no problems aroused. Half the time if one could find some fast horses. The best thing about it is that thousands of inns and rest stops littered along the way, except for around the deserts of Buga. The road even passed through hundreds of cities and towns, and even small villages made bigger to accommodate the many travelers.
***
Akane traveled on this road before but it had been under the cover of a carriage, and not on top of her horse and it was only to Tyra. Now, she watched in fascination as all sorts of people traveled the road with her. It seemed crowded now but once she reached the Copper Mountains, the travelers would thin out significantly, since the area was rumored recently of bandits. Travelers were weary to travel there at through night, even though there is a roadside inn that would keep them relatively safe.
She left at dawn this morning; getting past the guards at the western gates was easy enough when they're still half asleep. Like Shinosuke said, the western gates were the least secured since only forest and greenery lay before it. They didn't bother checking her bags, which hung carelessly on Toshi, as they should.
Floating in her usually happy mood, she stirred her horse off the road to a small eatery. After tying Toshi's reins around a post near a small patch of clovers, she headed inside for some tea and maybe a snack.
***
"Dammit" cursed the pig-tailed rider as he urged his horse faster along a secluded trail parallel to the Northern Road. At this time of the day, the part outside the Capital was particularly swarming so he took the trail along the forest. It was all Shinosuke's fault. If it weren't for that idiot's oddly strong liquor, he would have the boy's Shikon shard in his hands by last night. It was his best chance. He woke up this morning to find out that the boy left the city at dawn, three hours earlier. Not only was he grumpy and disorientated, he had a major hangover. He never had a hangover like that.
What the hell was in that god-forsaken drink!?! The flavor was a mixture of sake, wine, and a hint of.peaches? He should have never drunk anything that Shinosuke developed, how stupid of him.
The boy was only about four hours ahead. At the pace he's going; he would be able to catch up at the next roadside eatery.
After another hour of hard riding, Ranma and his steed emerged into the main road. His objective could still be an hour further along the road but his horse is tired and he hadn't eaten anything yet. He settled on stopping at the little restaurant ahead of him to fill up his empty stomach then continue north.
He tied his reins around the post where a white horse was already tied to then enter the eatery cheerfully with the thought of food.
As Ranma entered, a boy working at the door immediately greeted him and showed him to an empty table at the back of the restaurant.
"Would you like anything to eat sir?" asked the short boy politely as he poured Ranma some tea. Indecisive, Ranma merely asked for whatever dish that taste good.
The owner picked a great location for his little restaurant. People streamed constantly in and out of the place, giving the family that owned the place plenty to live by. By the door, a boy-looking to be around 13 or 14 years old-greeted the customers and showed them to their tables. Older girls and boys took food orders and served food while two adults worked at the counter. The food wasn't bad either.
For the lack of a better thing to do as he waited for his food, he glanced casually around at the people around him.
Ranma's lips tugged upward in a grin.
Just his luck; stopping here saved him a lot of trouble.
Two tables away from him, a dark blue head bobbed up and down as he ate out of a bowl of ramen.
A/N: Yay! Finally done with this chapter. I got a writer's block with this chapter. I can visualize this story in my head, scene by scene, but I'm having a lot of trouble writing it out and expressing. Urgh!! Itz fustrating. Don't you writers out there have the same problem or is it just me? I enjoyed writing but I hate English. Go figure.
Anyways.hope ya like my little chapter.
Remember! REVIEW REVIEW AND REVIEW SOME MORE. I don't mind flames cuz I tend to ignore them (I have very few tho) and I always welcome constructive criticism and corrections.