Disclaimer: Hmm… Just in case, I'm stating that I do not own the Trooper/ Ronin Universe®, though any characters/ villainous beings that don't exist in the show or OVA's are MINE! Use only with permission, SVP.
The house had long ago grown silent, lights were out and the old walls were settling in the still of the early morning.
Wandering through the darkened hallway, he made his way lithely down the stairs without a sound, avoiding the furniture with a practiced ease of one who has tread a path innumerable times.
He paused near a window, gazing out at the nighttime world silhouetted in silver, then, satisfied that there was nothing of interest, made his way to the kitchen. In the near dark, he almost missed the figure standing contemplatively before the liquor cabinet. He nudged the dark form lightly, but it jumped none the less.
"Gah!" There was the sound of fumbling as a hand groped wildly at the air and finally caught the thin string that lit the small bulb in the cabinet. He blinked as his pupils narrowed and gave a gruff humph! for emphasis.
"Whiteblaze! You scared me!" Half illuminated, Dais stared down at the large cat with an expression of relief and offered a hand, which the tiger gratefully ran his head beneath.
The Warlord turned back to the cabinet, eyeing it with scrutiny before finally selecting a bottle. Whiteblaze looked up at him curiously.
"I can't sleep," came the explanation. "I thought this might help knock me out."
"Aren't there other methods?" A bemused Sekhmet stood in the doorway, and Whiteblaze rumbled a greeting to him. "Perhaps less… intoxicating?" He strode over to his companion and took a look at the label. "Oh. Then again…"
Kento awoke to a sharp thud coming from downstairs. He sat up instinctively, listening, and decided to go investigate. He poked his tousled head out his door and saw that Ryo too was awake, sleepily rubbing his eyes in his doorway. They nodded to each other and made their way towards the staircase, hands following the stair rail.
Kale stifled a laugh as Anubis tried to set his chair back up. He never had taken liquor well. As the longhaired Warlord set about his task with great concentration, the other two were also giggling drunkenly. Kale shook his head and took another drink of sake.
"So, anyway, he sent me over to talk to Saranbou, who of course hated his guts. And I'm supposed to talk him into coming over for one of Talpa's 'meetings'…"
The others all rolled their eyes. They knew what it meant when Talpa called for one of those. Though he had had many subjects and subsequent underlings, few were truly loyal to his cause. Most allied with him only out of fear, and of course, the more that did, the more he could take over by force. It had been a viscous cycle, and few had dared to challenge Talpa by the time the Ronins arrived on the scene.
"I'll bet that went well," Dais slurred slightly, taking another swig of his own glass. His voice lowered to a mutter. "Fat baka never was cooperative, or useful."
Kale laughed. "You can say that again. I had to wait forever to get past his entourage just to see him." Another pause for a swig. "With all the pomp around him, you'd've thought he was next in line for Talpa's throne. And I'm a messenger from his lord, but he kept me waiting, just to try to show important he thought he was."
Anubis reached out for the sake bottle again, and the three soberest Warlords exchanged glances.
"Hey," the redhead contended, making a grab for the bottle as Sekhmet pulled it out of his reach. "I want another glass."
"I think you've had enough," Dais giggled again, even higher than before. Kale raised an eyebrow at Sekhmet, who had to suddenly remove it from Dais's grasp as well.
"I believe we have all had enough for tonight," he said, standing carefully from the small kitchen table.
"Had enough of what now?"
All four men looked over to see Kento and a still sleepy Ryo blinking at them in the dimness of the kitchen. They looked around sheepishly, realizing they'd polished off a good amount of the bottle without asking.
Kento made his way over and took the bottle from Sekhmet. He studied it for a moment, then sniffed the mouth of the bottle. Shrugging, he put it to his lips and tilted his head back.
The Warlords watched in amusement, and Ryo looked on in a bit of shock. "We're not allowed to do that, Kento! If Mia finds out…"
"What's she gonna do? It's ours."
"It's her house though."
"Mah, we're paying rent. We can certainly determine what our own rules are. And besides," he gestured at the Warlords, "we are in the company of some very worldly adults who must certainly have a deep sense of responsibility after all those years of… military service." He grinned at Ryo, who looked over to the table where Anubis now seemed quite fascinated by the complex working of the human hand. Ryo watched, then looked back at Kento, then down at the bottle being offered to him. He stared at it a moment apprehensively, then took the neck and hoisted it to his mouth and chugged.
There was a hooting chorus of approval from the table, and Kento tossed a meaty arm around his shoulders companionably. He steered him towards the table. "Now, alcohol is great and all, but you know what's even better?"
Anubis's brow furrowed in deep thought. After a moment, he looked up. "Women?"
This drew a chuckle from everyone, except Dais, who giggled again, and Kento shook his head, laughing. "Good guess," he acknowledged, "but not quite what I had in mind." He left Ryo at the table and headed over to the junk drawer, producing a worn deck of cards, held together by a grimy rubber band. "I don't know that you boys've ever had the opportunity to play poker before, but it goes a little something like this…"
About an hour after dawn, Sai awoke lazily and sat up in his tangled fish print sheets. It was late for him, but after the stress of yesterday, he doubted anyone would be too upset by having to wait for their breakfast. Even Kento had probably slept in.
Stretching, he swung his feet over the edge of his bed and located his slippers, sliding his feet into them and standing. He stretched again for good measure, then ran a hand through his sleep-mussed hair before opening the door. The house was still quite, so he made sure to walk softly down the stairs towards the kitchen.
He contemplated what to make for such a large group as he made for the kitchen door. Stopping briefly outside, he pondered whether or not the Nether Realm dwellers even ate breakfast. Oh well, if they didn't, Kento would gladly take their shares. He stepped into the kitchen.
As the door swung shut behind him, it barely stifled the scream.
RANTING: Gah, it's been too long since the last chapter. But, when Warrior Call (go read it!) was updated, I felt inspired, so here's another chapter that advances nothing! Actually, I lie, this will come into somewhat humorous play later. Next chapter in fact.
And I actually did want to discuss something that came to mind whilst I was typing. When the Warlords are sitting around drinking and swapping stories about the nether Realm, I found the idea interesting. I don't know, the thought that the Nether Realm has certain things in common with the Mortal Realm, such as bosses who want you to do dumb things, or people who ignore you, kind of fit, especially since the Nether Realm is supposed to take it's power from the negative parts of the Mortal World. And also, the thought occurred to me, that hey, Talpa wasn't very liked. Saranbou, for example, was thrilled to death that Talpa was gone, and took the opportunity to go and get himself killed by the Ronins in a vain attempt to gain the Inferno. Most of these people obviously had some sort of alliance going with Talpa, or he'd have squashed them like bugs. So once again, ties to the real world, only on a political scale. Hmm… More evil… So fitting… I swear, Badamon could've been a lawyer, and… clears throat Yeah, anyway, sorry. Half thought out ideas. I may develop them a bit more though, and maybe even try a one-shot from the Warlords' point of view of Nether Realm life.
So, as usual, thanks for taking the time to read, please review, etc.
