AD 2207, 5/17, 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi – Ronin-Gai
As the traditional Japanese architecture of Ronin-Gai comes into view, Kagura breathes a sigh of relief. Then his face turns serious, his purple eyes narrowing in thought. "We should be far enough away that Tager won't find us. Still, we'll have to return to the port soon, if we don't want to put anyone at risk."
Clover looks warily around from his place in Nirvana's arms, shivering. They need to get him into some dry clothes soon if they don't want another delay. Nirvana is also slowing down, the damage she took in that fight with Bullet is taking its toll.
A flash of red enters Kagura's peripheral, and he's instantly on guard. He raises his rectangular sword but stops abruptly once he realizes it's just Aka Chisuke, one of Shishigami's subordinates. The man comes to a stop on the wooden bridge in front of them, kneeling.
"Lord Kagura! What are you— Hey! Aren't you that kid the Boss used to call his disciple?" Chisuke rushes over to Clover, who stares at him suspiciously.
"Yes?" Clover scans Chisuke from head to toe. Kagura lowers his weapon, still on edge, but more comfortable knowing that the patrols are still here.
"You look terrible, why don't you go to the clinic and have the Doctor take a look at you?" Chisuke leans in closer to peer at Clover, but Nirvana adjusts her grip to free up an arm in warning. Chisuke wisely backs off. "Hey! There's no need for that!"
Kagura huffs. "Call her off, Clover. We've got bigger problems."
Clover gestures for Nirvana to stand down. She obeys, and Chisuke sighs. "You know, Master Carl, that was rude. Just because the Boss says you're his disciple, that doesn't mean you get to push us around."
Clover sighs. "My apologies. My sister is just on edge at the moment."
Kagura chooses to interject. "We've got someone on our tail right now, Chisuke. Is Shishigami here?"
Chisuke looks up with worry and shakes his head. "No. The Boss is taking care of some business in Wadatsumi, but he should be back by tomorrow night. Lord Kagura, who would be brazen enough to antagonize you?"
"The Red Devil of Sector Seven, apparently." Clover's response is the driest thing about him now.
Chisuke startles. "The Red Devil? I'll have to warn the others, wait here." Chisuke disappears into a red blur, bouncing off a stone dragon statue on his way to the rooftops.
Kagura turns to look at Clover. His shivering is getting worse, and his skin is beginning to flush feverishly. He's also glaring at him again. Great.
"Stop staring at me." It's hard to take Clover seriously when he's shaking in a see-through shirt.
"Relax, you're not my type. I need to make sure you're not getting sick on me. Here." Kagura unfastens his cape and holds it out to Clover. "You need to keep warm if we wanna get outta here."
Clover stares at him for a moment, then reaches out to take the cape, wrapping it around himself tightly. Nirvana adjusts her grip to hold him closer, trying to limit his exposure to the wind.
Kagura huffs impatiently after they wait for several minutes. What's taking Chisuke so long?
Kagura glances to the right as he spots a flash of green in his peripheral to see Midori Kokoro, Shishigami's top subordinate, speeding towards them. He drops into a kneel in front of Kagura when he reaches them. "Lord Kagura. Chisuke has told us of the situation, and we've prepared lodgings for you and Master Carl."
Kagura smirks. "Good. We need to get him into some warm clothes soon. Lead the way."
Midori nods. "Yes, Lord Kagura."
He leads them carefully through the dark back alleys, always keeping out of sight of the sky. Clover's teeth begin to clatter slightly as they move, and Kagura frowns worriedly.
Eventually, they arrive at what Kagura guesses to be one of Shishigami's safe houses, close to the exit of the district. Kagura gestures for Clover to enter first, and he does so reluctantly.
Midori follows soon after. "I shall find him something warm to wear, and start the fire, Lord Kagura."
Kagura nods then looks around warily. He doesn't see anyone. He enters the house soon after.
AD 2207, 5/18, 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi – Ronin-Gai
Mutsuki hums thoughtfully as he watches Carl work on his Knight. The afternoon sun reflects brightly off the puppet's damaged golden shell. "Hey Clover, I gotta check in with the guys, you alright to watch yourself?"
Carl shoots him an annoyed glance. Mutsuki shrugs. "I'll take that as a yes." He walks out the door, leaving Carl to his own devices at last.
His repairs are almost complete. Ada is back to full health, as are Pawn and Bishop. Rook's repairs are mostly complete, incapable of advanced movement, but still able to guard Carl effectively. Knight is in the most perilous condition. It will take a few hours to complete its repairs. Hours Carl might not have.
Carl's own body is still shaking off a near fever from the rain and cold, and it aches from the wounds he sustained in his fight with Bullet. He'll be at a heavy disadvantage in any fights for the next few days, perhaps the next week if he's unlucky. Thankfully, Mutsuki should be able to protect him from Tager. If his sterling reputation as a fighter is anything to go by at least.
He spends half an hour continuously repairing his Knight. For now, it can only thrust from inside his cloak, like when he was a child, but only at half its usual strength. It will have to do. Carl gathers the puppets into his cloak and dons his dented hat, rising on his aching legs from the makeshift worktable.
He huffs as he makes his way out the door, stepping into the late afternoon sun. He blinks his eye blearily at the sudden change of light, before walking forward. He weaves through the various platforms and bridges. Eventually, he catches sight of a caravan of some sort near the lower entrance to the district.
"Strange." He looks around warily. His eye widens in shock when he spots a pair of beautiful young men watching him.
They've got creamy smooth skin, lilac eyes, and raven hair done up in space buns. One wears a spring green kimono, and the other wears a summer orange one, each tied with a red and purple obi. They're staring at him excitedly and whispering to each other.
"Oh no, not now." Carl feels himself grow stiff with worry and irritation. Those two must be from the Maiko Troupe. This means Amane Nishiki can't be far behind. The twins notice him looking at them and dash around the corner, giggling airily. "Just what I need, more trouble."
He picks up the pace, looking around desperately for Mutsuki. He can't run very fast right now, and if what he remembers of Nishiki's strength is accurate, he won't be winning a fight against him any time soon. He enters the upper markets, where he spots Kokoro at a stall, chatting with an elderly person.
Kokoro glances up to catch Carl in his chocolate brown eyes. "Master Carl? What are you doing out by yourself? Lord Kagura—!"
A shout of excitement cuts off Kokoro, and Clover groans miserably. He looks over his shoulder to see a small teenager in a red yukata with purple hair in a long topknot staring at him with sparkles in his sky-blue eyes.
"Azuki! Azuki! I found him!" The teenager points at Carl, bouncing on the balls of his feet exuberantly, his geta clacking merrily on the ground.
An icy blue-haired man steps around the corner, a sleeveless black kimono clinging to his thin frame. He beams at the sight of Carl, patting the eager teenager on the head. "Good work, Ayaka! Carl, please hold on a moment!"
Carl groans. At least it's not Nishiki. He must be busy. Maybe he'll have time to—
"Koji!" Azuki cups his hands and shouts to his right.
A large ginger man comes around the corner, his muscularly thick frame seeming to become even bigger at the sight of Carl. He wears a tight black crop top, and a purple hakama tied by a red-white rope, perfectly emphasizing his muscular gut. "Well, well! Look who it is!"
Carl's eyes widen at the sight of such a goliath. He thought Nishiki only adopted svelte pretty boys. What was that saying about assumptions, again?
Koji lumbers towards Carl with alarming speed, and the young man barely evades his grasp.
"What do you think you're doing?" Carl raises an incredulous brow at Koji. No one in Nishiki's troupe has been so brazen before. He glances around to get Kokoro to help, but the ninja is gone.
"Listen, Carl. We just want a chance to win you over. You've run from us for so long. It makes Lord Amane so sad. Can't you just come with us?" Azuki looks at him pleadingly with turquoise eyes.
Carl huffs. "As I've said before, I have no interest in joining your troupe. Please, leave me be."
Koji is blunter. His reddish-brown eyes betray his frustration. "Lord Amane has been ever so patient, and you won't even give us a chance? How cold of you, Carl." He crosses his arms, pouting around the piece of wheat in his mouth.
Carl opens his mouth to protest, but Ayaka rushes up to him, tugging at his sleeve pleadingly. "Please, oh please, Carl! Just give Lord Amane a chance! He just wants you to be happy!"
Carl feels a pang of guilt as he meets Ayaka's slightly tearful eyes. The moment is enough. Two pairs of arms wrap around his own, unpinning his cloak soon after. Koji grabs Ada in a full nelson. Carl squirms as the twins from earlier lean in from either side to smile at him.
"Yeah, Carl, just listen to Ayaka." The green one says.
"You won't regret a single thing." The orange one says.
"We promise." They finish in perfect unison, eyes shining brightly. Carl shivers. That's creepy.
Azuki claps. "Oh, that was simply splendid Haru, and you too, Natsu."
"Thank you, Azuki." The twins chirp in unison.
Carl pulls with his sore arms, but it's no use. These two are stronger than they look. He knew he should've taken up some saber fencing, like his uncle Francis had. "Sis!"
Ada breaks Koji's hold easily but doesn't hurt the man. Carl is annoyed, yes. But he doesn't want to hurt Amane's troupe. He just wants to get away.
The twins tighten their hold with a scoff and roll their eyes. "Really Carl?"
"They've got to stop doing that." Carl shudders. "Let me go! I don't want to hurt you, but I have things I need to do!"
Azuki looks at him strictly. "As do we, Carl. We've been patient, these past few years, but you're being completely unreasonable." Azuki snaps his fingers, and the twins let go.
Carl tries to scramble forwards, but Koji envelopes him in a bear hug from behind, knocking off his hat. Carl shrieks as he's lifted easily into the man's broad chest.
Koji chuckles. "That's a pretty voice. It suits you, Carl. I can't wait to hear it sing on the stage." Koji's face grows wistful, even as Carl continues to squirm.
Ada moves to stop the large man, but the twins pull out a pair of Nishiki's infamous ribbons, throwing them expertly to entrap Ada's arms. Azuki and Ayaka follow suit, and soon, they pin Ada's arms to the side of her body. Nishiki's ribbons are incredibly hard to tear, so it will take Ada time. Time, they don't have.
The quintet cheers happily as onlookers gawk at the scene. They begin to march the Clover siblings out of the market and towards the lower section of Ronin-Gai, where their caravan awaits. Carl continues to struggle. Azuki has his cloak draped over his arm, and Ayaka is cheerfully wearing his hat. His puppets are once again out of his range. His sore body can't do much against the brutish muscle of Koji.
Azuki tuts. "Really Carl, you shouldn't be so childish."
"Excuse me, but you're kidnapping me!" Carl shouts angrily. This is humiliating.
"We're not kidnapping you; we're adopting you, big difference!" Ayaka sing-songs.
Carl huffs. "I'm fully grown! You can't adopt me!"
Koji laughs. "Says who? You're never too old to have a good parent, Carl."
They're almost at that caravan. Carl can see various men and boys working hard to patch some holes in the wagons. At the head of the train, giving orders is Nishiki. Carl squirms violently. Once he sees him, it's all over.
Alas, all it does is make Koji grumble in annoyance. Ayaka hands off his ribbon to Azuki and then runs excitedly toward Nishiki. Carl pales considerably.
"Lord Amane! Lord Amane! Look who we found!" Ayaka sing-songs as he skips towards his troupe leader.
Nishiki turns, his purple topknot waving then does a double take at the hat on Ayaka's head. "I-Is that…?" His ice-blue eyes glance in Carl's direction, and the puppeteer shudders at the passion and excitement that enters them. "Carl! Oh, I knew you'd come around!"
Nishiki rushes over to him joyously, his sleeveless pink kimono and the pink ribbons on his arms billowing gracefully in the wind. Carl tries desperately to burrow his back through Koji's abdomen.
Nishiki leans in far too close, eyes sparkling with wonderous joy. "Look how you've grown! That face, that hair! Brilliant! Oh, you'll be a star, I can't wait to get you ready for the stage!"
Carl scowls. "For the last time, I'm not joining your troupe! I have my own business to take care of!"
Nishiki laughs. "Oh, come now Carl! There's no need to be so hasty. Just wait until you get a taste of the stage. You'll love it, I just know you will!"
For once in his life, Carl is happy to hear Mutsuki's voice. "Yeah, hate to break it to you pal, but Clover's with me."
Nishiki peers around Carl, his smile turning into a deadpan appraisal as he looks at Mutsuki. "Hmm… You're that Mutsuki fellow, right? Well, listen. I don't know what's going on here, but I believe the proper phrase is, 'I saw him first.' So could you just, stay out of my way?"
Mutsuki scoffs. "Seriously? Listen, man, I don't think he likes you much, and I can't let you complicate things right now. I suggest you let him go before I gotta— Hey!" Ayaka has taken another Nishiki's ribbons and expertly twirls it around Mutsuki, binding him to the flat side of his massive sword.
"He's so handsome, Lord Amane! Can he join too?" Ayaka looks to his leader hopefully, a happy blush on his cheeks.
Nishiki hums thoughtfully. "Hmm…" He eyes Mutsuki coolly. "I don't see why not. He could be a dashing hero. Given the right circumstances, of course." Nishiki claps his hands and turns back to Carl with a bright smile. "Now Carl, I expect you to do your best tonight, okay? We'll have all of Ronin-Gai watching, and I can't wait for them to see you dance with me."
"Hold it right there!" Bang's voice rings out through the district, and Nishiki groans.
"Oh, what is it now?" He catches sight of Bang and huffs haughtily. "Shishigami, can't you see I'm busy?"
Bang wags his finger. "For shame, Nishiki! How dare you kidnap Master Carl?!"
Nishiki narrows his eyes. "Hold on now, who said I was kidnapping him? He's just about to join my troupe, aren't you Carl?" Nishiki looks at Carl with adoration, and the younger man shivers.
"Truth be told, I never did agree to be Bang's disciple, but Nishiki doesn't need to know that." Carl turns to Bang and cries out. "Mister Bang, help me! He's gonna play dress up with me like I'm some doll!"
Nishiki pouts at him with frustration. "There's no need to phrase it like that, Carl!"
Bang gasps. "Nishiki! How dare you pull others into your beautiful trickery against their will?"
Nishiki stares at Bang with a coldness that Carl hasn't seen in him before. "Again, with this? I didn't trick anyone. It's not my fault you think I'm beautiful." Nishiki smirks at Bang's sputtering.
"I-I-I-Why you! If you didn't flaunt your legs that much, I wouldn't have to keep reminding myself that you're a man! Oh, the nerve!" Bang clenches a fist, glaring at Nishiki's legs intensely.
Nishiki rolls his eyes with a scoff. "Like that matters…" He mutters under his breath.
Bang perks up. "What did you say?"
Nishiki shoots him a bored look. "If you didn't hear me the first time, there's no need to repeat myself. Now, can you run along Shishigami? I have a show to prepare for."
Bang gapes at him for a moment, then growls in righteous fury. "How dare you dismiss me so easily, Nishiki? I'll have to teach you a lesson!"
Bang rushes forward, and Nishiki sighs tiredly. "Very well, I suppose this could be a good warm-up. Watch closely, Carl."
As the two men clash in a flurry of speedy attacks and graceful ripostes, Kagura seizes his chance to escape.
Channeling his Ars Magus into his blade, he successfully wriggles enough to cut through the ribbon holding him. Nishiki's troupe is too busy watching their leader in action to notice. Kagura swiftly hefts his sword and severs both the ribbons Azuki is holding, as well as the one held by Haru.
Nirvana seizes the chance to free herself, snatching Clover's cloak from the stunned Azuki. Kagura then plucks the hat from a now-shaking Ayaka's head and tosses it to Clover. The Pawn pops out and once it's within range of its master, it pokes Koji in the eyes. The large man lets Clover go with a pained cry, covering his eyes. Clover plucks his hat out of the air and manages to dash into Nirvana's waiting arms.
"Carl! Get out of my way, Shishigami! Carl, please! WAIT!" Nishiki's desperate cries only prompt the puppeteer to signal his sister to get moving. Wary of the pair leaving him in the dust, Kagura rushes over to Nirvana's side. She clenches them both to her hard frame, then bolts off in a blinding blur of purple and silver.
Amane lets out an angry cry of loss. He then forms his ribbons into a drill and aims for Shishigami's sweaty abs with a vengeance.
Bang manages to bring the 55-inch nail on his back to bear and block the blow with a hefty grunt.
Amane glances at his troupe to assess the damage. Ayaka is crying, sad that their show is going to be down their newest member. Azuki tries his best to console him. Koji is blinking away tears of his own, both of frustration as well as pain. Haru and Natsu are fussing over all three of their comrades, occasionally pausing to glare at Bang.
Amane hisses lowly. "You're banned, Shishigami! Do you hear me? Banned!"
Bang freezes momentarily. "W-What? Banned? Please, be reasonable, Nishiki— Guh!" He narrowly dodges out of the way of a drill from below, but Amane catches him with a follow-up grab of his ribbon.
Amane slams Bang to the ground viciously, then pulls him in close, his eyes blazing with cold fury. "I. Said. Banned." He whispers menacingly in a husky tone.
Bang shudders, his amber eyes wide with emotion. "N-Now, men!"
"YES, BOSS!" Bang's subordinates quickly arrive on the scene, throwing down smoke bombs. They and their precious boss beat a hasty retreat while the troupe coughs violently.
Amane cries after them furiously. "This isn't over, Shishigami! Consider your buddies banned too!" Amane then rushes over to check on his boys, muttering dark curses under his breath. "Oh, Ayaka, sweetie, please don't cry."