As Nuriko served the tea, Tasuki's chopsticks slyly left his own dish, and
headed towards the last piece of seasoned egg on the purple-haired
warrior's plate. Quick as lightning he snatched it, and immediately
returned to his own plate. Nuriko swung around.
"What did you just do?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Nuttin," mumbled Tasuki, quickly trying to choke down the egg. Nuriko crossed his arms.
"Oh really. Then why does my plate look emptier than it did before?" he questioned menacingly. Tasuki shrugged.
"I dunno," he said, "Maybe 's because you ATE some of it?" Nuriko rolled his eyes, and went back to pouring refills. Wooh, close one, thought Tasuki. His 'impeccable' stealing skills had all be taught back at Mount Reikaku, where his gang still lived. Kouji was their leader now. It had been so long ago, but he still remembered first arriving at that very mountain.......
It had been a cold winter that year in Koshu Taito. Heat was a scarcity between the week and feeble houses. Not the best time for a 9 year old to be running from home. A young Tasuki wandered the snowy streets, going nowhere but leaving from somewhere.
"Bakayaro family," he muttered under his breath, "Bakayaro mom. Bakayaro sisters. Why d' they always have t' pick on me jus' because I'm youngest? Why did mom have to have five girls an' one boy? They're all bakas!!" Tasuki stopped, and looked around. Where was he? Koshu Taito's lights were twinkles behind him, and ahead there was nothing but darkness. Trees covered in snow loomed above him, and suddenly it seemed very quiet.
"Where is this?" he asked himself, turning every which way. An owl hooted a loud response.
"AAAAHHH!" he screamed, toppling over a fallen tree branch. Nervously, he looked up, but saw nothing. Suddenly, he could hear a pair of feet crunching through the snow. Afraid, he tried to get up, but twigs from the branch had caught his pant legs. Someone picked him up by his cloak, tearing his pants in the process.
"HEY! PUT ME DOWN!" he yelled, trying to swipe at his captors. One of them laughed.
"Doesn' look like there'll be much loot on this one," one man said. Tasuki found the man's arm, and quickly tried to chew it off.
"OW! What d' you have?? FANGS?? You lil punk, watch it!! You know what we d' to violent people like you?? We-"
"Fiesty, ain't he?" another man asked, "Is his family out here? Or is he alone?"
"Probably alon'," the first man said, cradling his arm, "We'd have heard somethin' else by now."
"Heh. So yer a runaway?" the second man asked, "Howabouts we take you back wit' us to see the Chief? I think he'd have a use fer a brat like you."
"PUT ME DOWN! I DON' WANNA GO NOWHERE WITH YOU.......CREEPS!! LEAVE ME ALONE!! HEY!!! YOU-" A cloth was shoved over Tasuki's head.
"Shuttup," one of the men said. The two trudged back through the snow. Back up the rest of Mount Reikaku.
There was a thump as Tasuki was slung to the ground in front of the Chief.
"What have we here?" the Chief asked, "Loot? Gold? Jewels? Sake?"
"ONCE I GET OUTTA HERE I'M GONNA KICK YER STUPID A-" Startled, the Chief jumped back a little.
"I didn't know sake talked! Maybe it's finally gotten to me after all these years......" he exclaimed. One of the captors lifted the cloth off of Tasuki's head. Immediately he stopped struggling, and glanced around, trying to reorient himself.
"Heyyyyyyy," he muttered, "This looks like a bandit hideout. Where am I?"
"A bandit hideout," the Chief said bluntly.
"Chief, we founds him at th' base of th' Mountain. He's probably one of th' people from Koshu Taito. Koshu residents are usually strong types. This one could be of use to us. We could train 'im to be one of our finest, sir," the second captor said.
"Hmmmmm," the Chief contemplated, "That sounds like a good plan. We'll wait a few days to see if your family comes to get you. If not, we'll train you Reikaku style. For now, you can be our little hostage. Your clothes reflect that of a middle-class family. Thus, you must have something valuable back home. We'll keep you until mummy calls......for a price!!"
"OH YEAH?" asked Tasuki, standing up, "WELL THAT'S WHAT YER THINKING! You think yer soooooooooooo tough! WELL YOU HAVEN'T MET KOU SHUNU OF KOSHU TAITO!!"
"You're right, I haven't met him," the Chief smirked, "Though he does sound appealing. Is he your father?"
"NO," barked Tasuki, "He's ME!" Suddenly, the hideout erupted with laughter. Tasuki, trying to keep a tough pose, allowed himself to look questioningly about the room.
"What?" he asked the roaring Chief. It calmed down. The Chief wiped a few stray tears from his eyes.
"You think YOU, a young boy, could defeat any one of us bandits? We're one of the strongest gangs around!! I'd like to see you try!" laughed the Chief. Tasuki sized up the bandits, and came to realization that he probably would never be able to beat any one of them.
"Yeah....I could do it. I'm jus' tired right now, so I can't. Maybe in a few days," he said quietly. The Chief let out another roar of laughter.
"We'll see," he said in-between breaths.
Three days past and none of the Shunu family came around Mount Reikaku searching for their lost son. Tasuki hadn't felt any immediate loss, since he had run away from the home in the first place. The Chief resided to teach him the "Reikaku Way" or whatever that was. He was treated normally, as if he were boarding in any kind villager's home. Despite for the fact that there were tons of men everywhere, and the occasional woman brought to the Chief's room, there really wasn't much to see. Except when captures were brought in. It was then that the mood got a little exciting. Raids were the best. Tasuki longed to join the bandits in one of them, but according to the Chief, he was still too young. Being 11 now, he had learned a great deal about stealing. His first assignment had been a few months earlier, and instead of succeeding he got caught by his victim. There was a lot of explaining involved in that one. A few days earlier, Tasuki had snuck into the main room to look at the Chief's prized weapon, the iron tessen. It was said that this weapon could spew fire on command, but only the Chief knew that specific command. Tasuki itched to try it out. It looked so.....for lack of a better word....COOL! It was on a cold, drafty night that the Chief had caught Tasuki looking at the iron tessen once again.
"A lot of people want that," the Chief whispered, quietly sneaking behind Tasuki. He jumped, but tried not to show his sudden nervousness.
"Someday," Tasuki muttered, "Someday I'll b' the one usin' that." The Chief chuckled.
"Maybe I should teach someone to use this," the Chief mused, "After all, once I'm gone, someone will have to wield it, right?" Tasuki nodded eagerly. The Chief picked up the tessen. It was said to be one of the heaviest weapons to use, as well. One really needed some muscle to hold it up, much less swing it through the air. The Chief handed it to Tasuki.
"Here, you try holding it," he coaxed. Tasuki grasped hold of the bandaged handle, and the Chief let go. With a sudden THUNK, the tessen was on the floor and Tasuki was working hard to pull it up again.
"Erg," he struggled, "I....I can get it up. Jus' gimme a second." A strange, warm red light glittered on Tasuki's arms. The symbol "Yoku" appeared brightly on his forearm, and for a second, Tasuki was able to lift the tessen up a few inches. He had it almost waist length when the symbol disappeared, and the iron object was back on the floor.
"Yeah well someday," he muttered, "Someday I'll hold it up." The Chief nodded, and decided he would teach Tasuki the ways of the tessen. After all, he was a Suzaku Warrior, wasn't he? It would be amusing to see one of the greatest bandit weapons in action against the evils the Priestess of Suzaku faced.....
"What did you just do?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Nuttin," mumbled Tasuki, quickly trying to choke down the egg. Nuriko crossed his arms.
"Oh really. Then why does my plate look emptier than it did before?" he questioned menacingly. Tasuki shrugged.
"I dunno," he said, "Maybe 's because you ATE some of it?" Nuriko rolled his eyes, and went back to pouring refills. Wooh, close one, thought Tasuki. His 'impeccable' stealing skills had all be taught back at Mount Reikaku, where his gang still lived. Kouji was their leader now. It had been so long ago, but he still remembered first arriving at that very mountain.......
It had been a cold winter that year in Koshu Taito. Heat was a scarcity between the week and feeble houses. Not the best time for a 9 year old to be running from home. A young Tasuki wandered the snowy streets, going nowhere but leaving from somewhere.
"Bakayaro family," he muttered under his breath, "Bakayaro mom. Bakayaro sisters. Why d' they always have t' pick on me jus' because I'm youngest? Why did mom have to have five girls an' one boy? They're all bakas!!" Tasuki stopped, and looked around. Where was he? Koshu Taito's lights were twinkles behind him, and ahead there was nothing but darkness. Trees covered in snow loomed above him, and suddenly it seemed very quiet.
"Where is this?" he asked himself, turning every which way. An owl hooted a loud response.
"AAAAHHH!" he screamed, toppling over a fallen tree branch. Nervously, he looked up, but saw nothing. Suddenly, he could hear a pair of feet crunching through the snow. Afraid, he tried to get up, but twigs from the branch had caught his pant legs. Someone picked him up by his cloak, tearing his pants in the process.
"HEY! PUT ME DOWN!" he yelled, trying to swipe at his captors. One of them laughed.
"Doesn' look like there'll be much loot on this one," one man said. Tasuki found the man's arm, and quickly tried to chew it off.
"OW! What d' you have?? FANGS?? You lil punk, watch it!! You know what we d' to violent people like you?? We-"
"Fiesty, ain't he?" another man asked, "Is his family out here? Or is he alone?"
"Probably alon'," the first man said, cradling his arm, "We'd have heard somethin' else by now."
"Heh. So yer a runaway?" the second man asked, "Howabouts we take you back wit' us to see the Chief? I think he'd have a use fer a brat like you."
"PUT ME DOWN! I DON' WANNA GO NOWHERE WITH YOU.......CREEPS!! LEAVE ME ALONE!! HEY!!! YOU-" A cloth was shoved over Tasuki's head.
"Shuttup," one of the men said. The two trudged back through the snow. Back up the rest of Mount Reikaku.
There was a thump as Tasuki was slung to the ground in front of the Chief.
"What have we here?" the Chief asked, "Loot? Gold? Jewels? Sake?"
"ONCE I GET OUTTA HERE I'M GONNA KICK YER STUPID A-" Startled, the Chief jumped back a little.
"I didn't know sake talked! Maybe it's finally gotten to me after all these years......" he exclaimed. One of the captors lifted the cloth off of Tasuki's head. Immediately he stopped struggling, and glanced around, trying to reorient himself.
"Heyyyyyyy," he muttered, "This looks like a bandit hideout. Where am I?"
"A bandit hideout," the Chief said bluntly.
"Chief, we founds him at th' base of th' Mountain. He's probably one of th' people from Koshu Taito. Koshu residents are usually strong types. This one could be of use to us. We could train 'im to be one of our finest, sir," the second captor said.
"Hmmmmm," the Chief contemplated, "That sounds like a good plan. We'll wait a few days to see if your family comes to get you. If not, we'll train you Reikaku style. For now, you can be our little hostage. Your clothes reflect that of a middle-class family. Thus, you must have something valuable back home. We'll keep you until mummy calls......for a price!!"
"OH YEAH?" asked Tasuki, standing up, "WELL THAT'S WHAT YER THINKING! You think yer soooooooooooo tough! WELL YOU HAVEN'T MET KOU SHUNU OF KOSHU TAITO!!"
"You're right, I haven't met him," the Chief smirked, "Though he does sound appealing. Is he your father?"
"NO," barked Tasuki, "He's ME!" Suddenly, the hideout erupted with laughter. Tasuki, trying to keep a tough pose, allowed himself to look questioningly about the room.
"What?" he asked the roaring Chief. It calmed down. The Chief wiped a few stray tears from his eyes.
"You think YOU, a young boy, could defeat any one of us bandits? We're one of the strongest gangs around!! I'd like to see you try!" laughed the Chief. Tasuki sized up the bandits, and came to realization that he probably would never be able to beat any one of them.
"Yeah....I could do it. I'm jus' tired right now, so I can't. Maybe in a few days," he said quietly. The Chief let out another roar of laughter.
"We'll see," he said in-between breaths.
Three days past and none of the Shunu family came around Mount Reikaku searching for their lost son. Tasuki hadn't felt any immediate loss, since he had run away from the home in the first place. The Chief resided to teach him the "Reikaku Way" or whatever that was. He was treated normally, as if he were boarding in any kind villager's home. Despite for the fact that there were tons of men everywhere, and the occasional woman brought to the Chief's room, there really wasn't much to see. Except when captures were brought in. It was then that the mood got a little exciting. Raids were the best. Tasuki longed to join the bandits in one of them, but according to the Chief, he was still too young. Being 11 now, he had learned a great deal about stealing. His first assignment had been a few months earlier, and instead of succeeding he got caught by his victim. There was a lot of explaining involved in that one. A few days earlier, Tasuki had snuck into the main room to look at the Chief's prized weapon, the iron tessen. It was said that this weapon could spew fire on command, but only the Chief knew that specific command. Tasuki itched to try it out. It looked so.....for lack of a better word....COOL! It was on a cold, drafty night that the Chief had caught Tasuki looking at the iron tessen once again.
"A lot of people want that," the Chief whispered, quietly sneaking behind Tasuki. He jumped, but tried not to show his sudden nervousness.
"Someday," Tasuki muttered, "Someday I'll b' the one usin' that." The Chief chuckled.
"Maybe I should teach someone to use this," the Chief mused, "After all, once I'm gone, someone will have to wield it, right?" Tasuki nodded eagerly. The Chief picked up the tessen. It was said to be one of the heaviest weapons to use, as well. One really needed some muscle to hold it up, much less swing it through the air. The Chief handed it to Tasuki.
"Here, you try holding it," he coaxed. Tasuki grasped hold of the bandaged handle, and the Chief let go. With a sudden THUNK, the tessen was on the floor and Tasuki was working hard to pull it up again.
"Erg," he struggled, "I....I can get it up. Jus' gimme a second." A strange, warm red light glittered on Tasuki's arms. The symbol "Yoku" appeared brightly on his forearm, and for a second, Tasuki was able to lift the tessen up a few inches. He had it almost waist length when the symbol disappeared, and the iron object was back on the floor.
"Yeah well someday," he muttered, "Someday I'll hold it up." The Chief nodded, and decided he would teach Tasuki the ways of the tessen. After all, he was a Suzaku Warrior, wasn't he? It would be amusing to see one of the greatest bandit weapons in action against the evils the Priestess of Suzaku faced.....