A Night With the Wolves
"Hey honey...serve me a drink," a fat, drunk man called to the
strawberry-blond in the corner of the room.
"I'm not the bar maid," the weary youth helped herself to another drink. Stricken with sorrow, the young woman hovered over her fifth mug.
"Then dance for us! I bet you look good without all those layers on!" a younger man approached her eyeing the chords holding together her manly shirt.
Jaw clenched, her jade eyes burned holes through the pest. "Leave me alone," she growled.
Still, the boy remained. "Come on honey. Show us a little leg," he cooed as his hand clutched her loose-fitting pants.
Before he could register anything, she grasped his wrist rubbing his bones together for added emphasis. "I told you to leave me alone," her voice was intense.
"What 'er you gonna do Kouji?" the fat man looked toward the second in command.
Running his fingers through his blue hair, he closed his eyes as he leaned against the wall. "The kid deserved it," he smiled.
"The kid" yelped when she let him go. Running to his comrades, he rubbed his sore wrist.
As if suffering a headache, her hands roughly rubbed her face and combed through her hair. As if on cue, the woman who owned the bar
approached causing the maiden to smile knowingly.
"Dear...you've had enough," the robust woman took the girl's hand as she sat in a nearby chair, "drinkin' your worries away isn't gonna bring them back."
"I know Mikai-san," she rested her head on the table as she fingered her father's amulet.
"You've got that nasty headache again don't you..." the wise woman recognized the girl's avoidance of light.
"Aa..." she covered her eyes with her free arm.
"I'll make up my remedy Teiki," her bones creaked as she rose from the chair.
"Arigato Mikai-san..." the girl groaned.
As she passed, Kouji grabbed the arm of the older woman, "you know that girl?"
"Aye..." she glared at the young man.
"I've never seen her before..." he pressed.
"She's been in hiding...her family was killed by your rivals..." she poked the bandit in the ribs, "I'd suggest your men stay away from her. She's very angry right now."
"I'm not scared of a girl," he boasted.
"Suit yourself, but don't say I didn't warn you," she winked as she left the youth's company.
"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE!!" was the cry just before a
dark haired bandit hit the wall.
Shocked, Kouji's attention jolted back to the girl. Once again, her arm covered her eyes as her fingers fidgeted with her necklace. Shifting, he stared at his less then intelligent comrade.
"What d'ya do?" he lightly kicked the young man and bent to meet his glazed stare.
"I taxed her for her necklace..." he managed to say before passing out.
"Baka..." Kouji turned to stare at the girl again.
"I told you," the cheery bar mistress reemerged carrying "the remedy."
Too loudly, a mug was slammed onto the table, "drink up dear!"
Gratefully, pale fingers brought her medicine to her mouth.
"You know..." Mikai looked toward the unconscious lad, "you
shouldn't over do it when you're in this condition."
The girl chuckled, "thank you Mikai-san. You really don't have to trouble yourself over me like this."
Brushing a lock of graying hair behind her ear, the older woman
smiled, "well, I'm the closest thing to family you've got right now dear...and I take care of family. Don't you forget that."
Teiki smiled gently at her surrogate mother as she set down the mug.
"How do you feel now?" the woman asked.
"I feel better," the girl drawled before everything went black.
"You killed her!" Kouji gawked from behind Mikai.
"Nah...that's just the remedy doing its stuff," she motioned for the lad to pick the girl up and follow.
Carrying his burden bridal style, he followed the short woman up the stairs and to the left. Teiki's long braid tempted him slightly as it tickled his arm. He wanted to pull on it, but she was asleep so he wouldn't get the reaction he so craved.
"Don't worry about jostling her or anything. She's out cold," Mikai assured him as she lit the only lamp in the simple room, "just set her on the futon dear."
With a shrug and an evil smile, he dropped her onto the hard surface. He felt rewarded when he witnessed the look of displeasure coming from the woman's face.
"I said don't worry about jostling her...I didn't mean you could drop her!" she smacked him.
He continued to smile defiantly as he noticed she was still "out." Curled up in a little ball, the old woman tried to loosen the girl's clothing so she would be more comfortable.
"Do you mind? I'm gonna get her ready for bed," Kouji was glared at.
"No...I don't mind at all..." he smirked as he leaned against the wall facing the two women.
Scoffing, Mikai untied the girl's shirt to apply the rest of the remedy. Gently, the ointment was massaged into the girl's chest as her shoes were removed and thrown across the room.
"What's that?" the young man knelt beside the older woman and
moved to touch where the ointment had been placed.
She swiped at his wandering hand, "this will warm her Chi. She needs to strengthen her blood."
"Oh..." he sat cross legged and continued to watch as the girl was prepared for bed.
"Help me sit her up...since you decided to stay and all," he was instructed.
The looseness of her clothing gave him a good view as he lifted her torso off the futon. When Mikai finished putting the ointment away, she returned with a underused brush.
"I swear. This girl never does anything with her hair. It's amazing she was able to grow it out this long," she began to undo the girl's braid.
The damp locks fell down her back in a kinky mass framing her pale, freckled face. A peaceful smile spread over her features as the kindly woman began brushing the strawberry mane. As the brush smoothed the wild hair, the dampness retreated leaving behind only rich color. Her lips slightly parted, Teiki breathed her approval to the simple act.
Kouji fell silent as he watched her lips welcome air. Continuing to hold her up for the old woman, silky strands brushed against his skin. His hazel eyes wandered from her softened facial features to her scarred hands. Her chest rose and fell with each breath making his view all the more enjoyable.
A small silver and jade amulet gently rested just above her breast. It looked expensive and antique...The little trinket would be worth a lot of money...
Kouji was ripped from his thoughts when Mikai coldly informed him that he could leave. With a smirk, he held out his hand waiting for some reward for his trouble.
Golden eyes stared at him with contempt. Then, at his hand which was still presented before her.
"Okay, okay, I'll let you have a free drink, but only you," she
relinquished.
A smirk set upon his face, he followed her out of the room purposely leaving the door open. As the two traveled down the dark hallway, Kouji drifted further and further behind the older woman until he was sure he was alone in that part of the inn.
Brushing his unruly bangs out of his face, he turned around to go back down the hallway. With a grin, he leaned against the doorframe waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark. Silently, he kneeled next to the sleeping girl. Hazel orbs narrowed with concentration as he fingered the jade jewel laying between her breasts. In one swift movement, he unfastened the silver chain and left her side. Lingering at the doorway, he smiled at the sleeping figure, "thanks for the taxes Teiki."
"Hey honey...serve me a drink," a fat, drunk man called to the
strawberry-blond in the corner of the room.
"I'm not the bar maid," the weary youth helped herself to another drink. Stricken with sorrow, the young woman hovered over her fifth mug.
"Then dance for us! I bet you look good without all those layers on!" a younger man approached her eyeing the chords holding together her manly shirt.
Jaw clenched, her jade eyes burned holes through the pest. "Leave me alone," she growled.
Still, the boy remained. "Come on honey. Show us a little leg," he cooed as his hand clutched her loose-fitting pants.
Before he could register anything, she grasped his wrist rubbing his bones together for added emphasis. "I told you to leave me alone," her voice was intense.
"What 'er you gonna do Kouji?" the fat man looked toward the second in command.
Running his fingers through his blue hair, he closed his eyes as he leaned against the wall. "The kid deserved it," he smiled.
"The kid" yelped when she let him go. Running to his comrades, he rubbed his sore wrist.
As if suffering a headache, her hands roughly rubbed her face and combed through her hair. As if on cue, the woman who owned the bar
approached causing the maiden to smile knowingly.
"Dear...you've had enough," the robust woman took the girl's hand as she sat in a nearby chair, "drinkin' your worries away isn't gonna bring them back."
"I know Mikai-san," she rested her head on the table as she fingered her father's amulet.
"You've got that nasty headache again don't you..." the wise woman recognized the girl's avoidance of light.
"Aa..." she covered her eyes with her free arm.
"I'll make up my remedy Teiki," her bones creaked as she rose from the chair.
"Arigato Mikai-san..." the girl groaned.
As she passed, Kouji grabbed the arm of the older woman, "you know that girl?"
"Aye..." she glared at the young man.
"I've never seen her before..." he pressed.
"She's been in hiding...her family was killed by your rivals..." she poked the bandit in the ribs, "I'd suggest your men stay away from her. She's very angry right now."
"I'm not scared of a girl," he boasted.
"Suit yourself, but don't say I didn't warn you," she winked as she left the youth's company.
"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE!!" was the cry just before a
dark haired bandit hit the wall.
Shocked, Kouji's attention jolted back to the girl. Once again, her arm covered her eyes as her fingers fidgeted with her necklace. Shifting, he stared at his less then intelligent comrade.
"What d'ya do?" he lightly kicked the young man and bent to meet his glazed stare.
"I taxed her for her necklace..." he managed to say before passing out.
"Baka..." Kouji turned to stare at the girl again.
"I told you," the cheery bar mistress reemerged carrying "the remedy."
Too loudly, a mug was slammed onto the table, "drink up dear!"
Gratefully, pale fingers brought her medicine to her mouth.
"You know..." Mikai looked toward the unconscious lad, "you
shouldn't over do it when you're in this condition."
The girl chuckled, "thank you Mikai-san. You really don't have to trouble yourself over me like this."
Brushing a lock of graying hair behind her ear, the older woman
smiled, "well, I'm the closest thing to family you've got right now dear...and I take care of family. Don't you forget that."
Teiki smiled gently at her surrogate mother as she set down the mug.
"How do you feel now?" the woman asked.
"I feel better," the girl drawled before everything went black.
"You killed her!" Kouji gawked from behind Mikai.
"Nah...that's just the remedy doing its stuff," she motioned for the lad to pick the girl up and follow.
Carrying his burden bridal style, he followed the short woman up the stairs and to the left. Teiki's long braid tempted him slightly as it tickled his arm. He wanted to pull on it, but she was asleep so he wouldn't get the reaction he so craved.
"Don't worry about jostling her or anything. She's out cold," Mikai assured him as she lit the only lamp in the simple room, "just set her on the futon dear."
With a shrug and an evil smile, he dropped her onto the hard surface. He felt rewarded when he witnessed the look of displeasure coming from the woman's face.
"I said don't worry about jostling her...I didn't mean you could drop her!" she smacked him.
He continued to smile defiantly as he noticed she was still "out." Curled up in a little ball, the old woman tried to loosen the girl's clothing so she would be more comfortable.
"Do you mind? I'm gonna get her ready for bed," Kouji was glared at.
"No...I don't mind at all..." he smirked as he leaned against the wall facing the two women.
Scoffing, Mikai untied the girl's shirt to apply the rest of the remedy. Gently, the ointment was massaged into the girl's chest as her shoes were removed and thrown across the room.
"What's that?" the young man knelt beside the older woman and
moved to touch where the ointment had been placed.
She swiped at his wandering hand, "this will warm her Chi. She needs to strengthen her blood."
"Oh..." he sat cross legged and continued to watch as the girl was prepared for bed.
"Help me sit her up...since you decided to stay and all," he was instructed.
The looseness of her clothing gave him a good view as he lifted her torso off the futon. When Mikai finished putting the ointment away, she returned with a underused brush.
"I swear. This girl never does anything with her hair. It's amazing she was able to grow it out this long," she began to undo the girl's braid.
The damp locks fell down her back in a kinky mass framing her pale, freckled face. A peaceful smile spread over her features as the kindly woman began brushing the strawberry mane. As the brush smoothed the wild hair, the dampness retreated leaving behind only rich color. Her lips slightly parted, Teiki breathed her approval to the simple act.
Kouji fell silent as he watched her lips welcome air. Continuing to hold her up for the old woman, silky strands brushed against his skin. His hazel eyes wandered from her softened facial features to her scarred hands. Her chest rose and fell with each breath making his view all the more enjoyable.
A small silver and jade amulet gently rested just above her breast. It looked expensive and antique...The little trinket would be worth a lot of money...
Kouji was ripped from his thoughts when Mikai coldly informed him that he could leave. With a smirk, he held out his hand waiting for some reward for his trouble.
Golden eyes stared at him with contempt. Then, at his hand which was still presented before her.
"Okay, okay, I'll let you have a free drink, but only you," she
relinquished.
A smirk set upon his face, he followed her out of the room purposely leaving the door open. As the two traveled down the dark hallway, Kouji drifted further and further behind the older woman until he was sure he was alone in that part of the inn.
Brushing his unruly bangs out of his face, he turned around to go back down the hallway. With a grin, he leaned against the doorframe waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark. Silently, he kneeled next to the sleeping girl. Hazel orbs narrowed with concentration as he fingered the jade jewel laying between her breasts. In one swift movement, he unfastened the silver chain and left her side. Lingering at the doorway, he smiled at the sleeping figure, "thanks for the taxes Teiki."