The cold wind was Longs only answer, swirling around him silently
He laughed, tossing his head as he stands up, bathed in moonlight*
The world was stilled in an eerie hush, as if all life is holding its breath, trying to hide from the predator in its mist.
Slowly, Long strolled to the bloody heap where the cuffs fell and he picked them up, looking at them. "You want out? Or do you just want retribution? Perhaps it would be better if you let ME clean your soiled body, hmm?"
The air grew more silent and empty, oppressive even, only broken by the soft sounds of the shore
"Heh." he chuckled, then tossed the metallic cuffs into the waves, tossing his hair over a shoulder and placing the glasses back on his face
As if something snapped, the world goes back to normal, but with a wary air, as the wind itself skirted gingerly around the predator
Long walked with silent steps, smile teased by moonlight
The moon stayed on its stately course to exchange places with her sister light, the sun, already, false dawn could be seen over the watery horizon
The martial artist turns to look at the sun for a moment, his eyes gleaming a dull mahogany, then he slipped silently into the shadows of a building*
The shadows were silent; there was no life to them, no insects, no rats, no nothing, and only the silent in and out of the sleeping world
Long sighed, stretching languidly
There was a slight crash in an alley; a mouse darting out as a world-weary Tomcat chased after it. The rodents' pathetic squeaks were cut short by talented claws.
The martial artist smiled at that, finding it amusing
The Tom noticed the man's presence, recognising the fellow feline, it hissed, thinking that Long wanted his prey.
"Oh come come, no need to be defensive." He purred, a hand outstretched.
The cat swallowed the done for rat, and cautiously came forward, curious.
Long made soft, whisking sounds, moving his fingers to bring the cat forward.
Finally, the cat made contact with his hand, and rubbed slightly with its head.
The martial artist scratched behind the feline ears, smiling
The cat purred, as it had felt little kindness in its life.
"Such a lovely cat..." he murmured, fingers running over it smooth as silk;
The cat meowed plaintively, knowing that this peace was only momentary
Long picked up the creature and placed it in his lap, stroking it
The cat cuddled close and purred, full and happy.
The Kempo Master wiped at a bit of blood, cleaning it
The tom's rough tongue lapped at his hand in return, perfectly willing to help out
"Heh" he smiled, petting affectionately
The cat stretched its neck out, revealing the scarish bald spot where a collar, long gone, had once rubbed, it purred, letting its thin frame stretch out against him.
"Hmm." his slender fingers moved practicdly over the cat's fur, scratching in places he knew would feel good,
The cat closed its wise, green slit eyes, letting Long pet him, making him remember the warmth of the hearth on a cold day, and the comfort of an even warmer lap.
"Yes...fond memories, ne nii-chan?" rubbing
The cat quietly mewed in responce as if to say 'what is past is past, and future is now, but remembrance is nice'
He chuckled. "You're wise." As he scratched under its chin.
The cat assumed a haughty elegance. 'Of course. I am a cat' it seemed to portray.
The Kempo Master laughed.
The Tom let his amusement show. He let out a sigh, and stretched a bit, watching the shadow's of the night, looking for all the world like an innocent old man, where as inside lurked the wise hunter.
"Hmm. Perhaps I should call you ojii-chan?"
The Tom made a chortling sound. 'Am I that old?'
"Perhaps...ojii-chan." he smiled
The cat purred. 'You are older then I, yet younger too. But old enough to be wise.'
"Yes, old enough to play mind games, young enough to be lead astray." he lounges against a crate. "Old enough to know, young enough to not care."
'Perhaps, but I am old enough to not be mearly clever.'
Long smiles. The cat was interesting, entertaining...inspiring to 'talk to' "You have much to say, ojii-chan."
'All cats do. You are one of the few who listen.'
"Hehehe. Perhaps...perhaps, ojii-chan...Perhaps"
'What is it you would know from me?'
"I don't know..."
'Ah, does not matter, you will see all sooner or later. You are a cat.'
"A cat...hmm, a larger cousin"
: 'But of feline blood all the same.'
"The cat is a derivation of a prehistoric lion."
'Thus all are one. You smell of young one. Clever, but not wise, mixing with your own sent.'
Long sighed.
'Troubles?'
"Troubles for me, no. I'm quite content at the moment."
'Ah. I see now. Be content in your life. It shall serve you well.'
"And yet life takes so many twists and turns...two sets of them."
'Divided one can only teeter for so long.'
"Yes, but divided never the less it is."
'The two paths must reconcile, if only to lead parallel turns'
"And if I so wished to cut off the newest path to unlock the old?
'Once created, a path will run forever. One can become the other, but never cut it off to end it'
"I see." he didn't look too happy, nor disappointed
'However, there can be a bridge between the two.'
"A bridge?"
'A connection between the two conflicting paths, not of the ground they run upon but built none the less.'
"Ugh..." he looked at little annoyed at that
'The two paths can not be destroyed by the other, no matter how they might wish, always the ghost will run beside them like a twin hunting partner, a shadow, a point of crossing will be reached.'
"Faahh..."
'Listen if you will, ignore if you wont. It does not matter to me, which you choose. I am only an old cat.'
"The ghost...by any chance does this ghost have red eyes?" Long said, almost sarcastically.
'If you choose it to have. I know not of your own two paths, of your ghosts or bridges. That is for you to know.'
Long smiled. "Hai ojii-chan"
'Do you see any better now?'
"Perhaps, or maybe I am more clouded"
The Tom chuckled. 'Clouds will dissipate on their own, they only need a nudge in the right direction.'
"Hmm."
'The future is now, and the moment is always. Do not worry, you have plenty of time.'
"Is that so?"
'Time is a circling river. You may not get the exact same water twice, but some relative of that may swirl past. Live.'
He sighed. "Alright"
'It may not be what your head wants to hear, but your heart understands.'
"This is true"
The Tom gave one last purr, and rubbed its old head gently, reassuringly against Longs chest. 'Remember, you are a cat, and thus will know in time. May your prey always present the right amount of challenge my cousin. Now'll if you'll excuse me...the queen is calling and I wish not to hear her voice as she might use It.' with that, it hopped of his lap and bowed its head in acknowledgement.
Long chuckled with amusement. "Yes, go see the Queen, you don't want to disappoint her..."
'She is nice to look at, and very warm...but prone to vocalisation.' with that, the old cat disappeared silently into the shadow's from which he came. Only his 'voice' flickered back to Long. 'And may you catch what you seek, your ghost or otherwise.' was the last that was heard from the Tom.
Long just smiled, finding the old cat amusing. He could hear a complaining meow.
The silence once again returned to the alley, a light wind flitting around like a harried mother running errands with an over tired child.
"Thanks, ojii-chan." he walked off, chuckling to himself. Long walked leisurely, smiling almost strangely
He laughed, tossing his head as he stands up, bathed in moonlight*
The world was stilled in an eerie hush, as if all life is holding its breath, trying to hide from the predator in its mist.
Slowly, Long strolled to the bloody heap where the cuffs fell and he picked them up, looking at them. "You want out? Or do you just want retribution? Perhaps it would be better if you let ME clean your soiled body, hmm?"
The air grew more silent and empty, oppressive even, only broken by the soft sounds of the shore
"Heh." he chuckled, then tossed the metallic cuffs into the waves, tossing his hair over a shoulder and placing the glasses back on his face
As if something snapped, the world goes back to normal, but with a wary air, as the wind itself skirted gingerly around the predator
Long walked with silent steps, smile teased by moonlight
The moon stayed on its stately course to exchange places with her sister light, the sun, already, false dawn could be seen over the watery horizon
The martial artist turns to look at the sun for a moment, his eyes gleaming a dull mahogany, then he slipped silently into the shadows of a building*
The shadows were silent; there was no life to them, no insects, no rats, no nothing, and only the silent in and out of the sleeping world
Long sighed, stretching languidly
There was a slight crash in an alley; a mouse darting out as a world-weary Tomcat chased after it. The rodents' pathetic squeaks were cut short by talented claws.
The martial artist smiled at that, finding it amusing
The Tom noticed the man's presence, recognising the fellow feline, it hissed, thinking that Long wanted his prey.
"Oh come come, no need to be defensive." He purred, a hand outstretched.
The cat swallowed the done for rat, and cautiously came forward, curious.
Long made soft, whisking sounds, moving his fingers to bring the cat forward.
Finally, the cat made contact with his hand, and rubbed slightly with its head.
The martial artist scratched behind the feline ears, smiling
The cat purred, as it had felt little kindness in its life.
"Such a lovely cat..." he murmured, fingers running over it smooth as silk;
The cat meowed plaintively, knowing that this peace was only momentary
Long picked up the creature and placed it in his lap, stroking it
The cat cuddled close and purred, full and happy.
The Kempo Master wiped at a bit of blood, cleaning it
The tom's rough tongue lapped at his hand in return, perfectly willing to help out
"Heh" he smiled, petting affectionately
The cat stretched its neck out, revealing the scarish bald spot where a collar, long gone, had once rubbed, it purred, letting its thin frame stretch out against him.
"Hmm." his slender fingers moved practicdly over the cat's fur, scratching in places he knew would feel good,
The cat closed its wise, green slit eyes, letting Long pet him, making him remember the warmth of the hearth on a cold day, and the comfort of an even warmer lap.
"Yes...fond memories, ne nii-chan?" rubbing
The cat quietly mewed in responce as if to say 'what is past is past, and future is now, but remembrance is nice'
He chuckled. "You're wise." As he scratched under its chin.
The cat assumed a haughty elegance. 'Of course. I am a cat' it seemed to portray.
The Kempo Master laughed.
The Tom let his amusement show. He let out a sigh, and stretched a bit, watching the shadow's of the night, looking for all the world like an innocent old man, where as inside lurked the wise hunter.
"Hmm. Perhaps I should call you ojii-chan?"
The Tom made a chortling sound. 'Am I that old?'
"Perhaps...ojii-chan." he smiled
The cat purred. 'You are older then I, yet younger too. But old enough to be wise.'
"Yes, old enough to play mind games, young enough to be lead astray." he lounges against a crate. "Old enough to know, young enough to not care."
'Perhaps, but I am old enough to not be mearly clever.'
Long smiles. The cat was interesting, entertaining...inspiring to 'talk to' "You have much to say, ojii-chan."
'All cats do. You are one of the few who listen.'
"Hehehe. Perhaps...perhaps, ojii-chan...Perhaps"
'What is it you would know from me?'
"I don't know..."
'Ah, does not matter, you will see all sooner or later. You are a cat.'
"A cat...hmm, a larger cousin"
: 'But of feline blood all the same.'
"The cat is a derivation of a prehistoric lion."
'Thus all are one. You smell of young one. Clever, but not wise, mixing with your own sent.'
Long sighed.
'Troubles?'
"Troubles for me, no. I'm quite content at the moment."
'Ah. I see now. Be content in your life. It shall serve you well.'
"And yet life takes so many twists and turns...two sets of them."
'Divided one can only teeter for so long.'
"Yes, but divided never the less it is."
'The two paths must reconcile, if only to lead parallel turns'
"And if I so wished to cut off the newest path to unlock the old?
'Once created, a path will run forever. One can become the other, but never cut it off to end it'
"I see." he didn't look too happy, nor disappointed
'However, there can be a bridge between the two.'
"A bridge?"
'A connection between the two conflicting paths, not of the ground they run upon but built none the less.'
"Ugh..." he looked at little annoyed at that
'The two paths can not be destroyed by the other, no matter how they might wish, always the ghost will run beside them like a twin hunting partner, a shadow, a point of crossing will be reached.'
"Faahh..."
'Listen if you will, ignore if you wont. It does not matter to me, which you choose. I am only an old cat.'
"The ghost...by any chance does this ghost have red eyes?" Long said, almost sarcastically.
'If you choose it to have. I know not of your own two paths, of your ghosts or bridges. That is for you to know.'
Long smiled. "Hai ojii-chan"
'Do you see any better now?'
"Perhaps, or maybe I am more clouded"
The Tom chuckled. 'Clouds will dissipate on their own, they only need a nudge in the right direction.'
"Hmm."
'The future is now, and the moment is always. Do not worry, you have plenty of time.'
"Is that so?"
'Time is a circling river. You may not get the exact same water twice, but some relative of that may swirl past. Live.'
He sighed. "Alright"
'It may not be what your head wants to hear, but your heart understands.'
"This is true"
The Tom gave one last purr, and rubbed its old head gently, reassuringly against Longs chest. 'Remember, you are a cat, and thus will know in time. May your prey always present the right amount of challenge my cousin. Now'll if you'll excuse me...the queen is calling and I wish not to hear her voice as she might use It.' with that, it hopped of his lap and bowed its head in acknowledgement.
Long chuckled with amusement. "Yes, go see the Queen, you don't want to disappoint her..."
'She is nice to look at, and very warm...but prone to vocalisation.' with that, the old cat disappeared silently into the shadow's from which he came. Only his 'voice' flickered back to Long. 'And may you catch what you seek, your ghost or otherwise.' was the last that was heard from the Tom.
Long just smiled, finding the old cat amusing. He could hear a complaining meow.
The silence once again returned to the alley, a light wind flitting around like a harried mother running errands with an over tired child.
"Thanks, ojii-chan." he walked off, chuckling to himself. Long walked leisurely, smiling almost strangely
