In defense of a rose, the carp strikes
I don't own any copyrighted material, except my own OC's: anyone else's OC's will be acknowledged in their introduction chapter
For Testuo and Velvet, the past three days were the strangest they've had in a while. Cao and Ruby didn't fight or argue in the slightest. They always stayed together, talking about a whole range of topics, none of which were connected. They overall seemed happy together and enjoyed each other's company. Despite the fact the two of them helped push the two to become lovebirds, this sudden change caught them off guard.
"What the hell did you do at that cliff?" Testuo asked that morning as Cao sipped tea
"We simply confessed our feelings to one another and developed a mutual understanding. Now we are in a relationship." Cao said simply before taking another sip
"But you two have gone from at each other's throats to being in a relationship so quickly." Testuo protested slightly, getting a chuckle out of Cao
"Your just jealous I professed my feelings to Ruby before you professed yours to Velvet." Cao replied
Testuo didn't speak after that till the girls came down from the rooms. Cao chuckled as he likely hit a sore spot for his Ronin peer. Ruby smiled when she saw Cao and kissed his head before sitting. Cao smiled in kind and returned the gesture. As they waited to be served a particular stranger in unassuming clothes watched them. He observed everything and began to write down notes. After he was done with the notes he hides the paper in a inside pocket of his shirt and similarly waited to be served.
After the group had breakfast they all walked out of the tavern, the mysterious stranger did the same. He however took a different direction before heading towards an old tanning shop. After slowly entering, he went down a hidden hatch and ladder to a underground hideout. It shared the same dimensions of the house, but it was enough for the small group of about 5. The silver mon of the roaring tiger showed their allegiance to the Sotoras.
"Well? What did you find out today? Any interesting travelers?" The young samurai leading the outfit, a man of about 20
"The group from the failed kidnapping is in town." The spy replied, changing clothes behind a rice paper screen
"What? Here? Is it really them?" The leader asked both surprised and confused
"Yes sir. Fit the descriptions exactly. I stayed there for half an hour just to be sure." The spy said as he came out with a black and silver kimono
"This gives me an idea." The leader said, his lips curling into an ambitious smile
"Sir the last time the main northern cell tried to kidnap them, and they inflicted significant casualties. We are only 5 members. They could very easily wipe us out." The spy said with a lot of concern dripping from his voice and posture
"They kidnapped both of the women. We are going to only capture one of them. The more important one. Ms. Ruby Rose. IF we capture her, then Azolum Sotora will be blackmailed into submission." The leader explained simply, his ambition slowly taking over
"How are we going to do that?" The spy asked
"You're going to lure her away using her naiveite." The leader simply said
"The Ronin is going to be close to her. They appear to be together in a relationship now. Getting her way from him will be difficult." The spy said, nervous about this
"He can't be everywhere at once. At some point he has to move away from her. Stay on her and focus. We need this. This could change the course of our operations in one fell swoop." The leader said sternly, and at this the spy knew he couldn't win
"Yes sir. I will begin preparations immediately." He said with a nod
"Good. Do not fail this." The leader said simply before beginning to read reports
Later in the market square
The spy, who now had changed to the clothes of a traveling merchant, walked amongst the stalls slowly. His eyes lay on the lookout for Ruby and Cao. It didn't take long before he found the two at a food stall. Cao was very preoccupied haggling with a stubborn farmer's wife. Ruby, though standing next to him, was clearly bored from having to endure this for what seemed to be a long time. This gave the spy the perfect opportunity, and likely the only one he would get.
"Explain to me why 3 bags of rice cost a full Koku? Those bags don't even come close to 5 bushels." Cao said, annoyed beyond belief at the gall of the woman before him
"Our crops were hit badly three year ago by a typhoon, and the farms haven't recovered since. We are on the verge of famine sir. Prices for everyone are through the roof. I have to put this price to survive." The woman replied with a sigh
"Sounds to me like someone isn't doing their job properly." Cao said snidely
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" The woman snapped angerly
In a second a full-blown heated argument began. What was once civil, if contentious, now accusations and venom was being slung left and right. Ruby sighed and then turned to leave Cao's side, letting him cut loose in peace. This was the exact even the spy wanted, and slowly began to vaguely walk in her direction, trying not to look suspicious to anyone. Soon he got close enough to initiate a conversation without looking strange.
"Good day mamn, can I interest you in some jewelry?" The spy asked Ruby
"Jewelry? What kind?" Ruby asked, the subject perking her interest
"Give me a second, I have to get some out of my pack. Terribly sorry for the delay." He said as he took off a pack and began digging into it
"It's okay sir. You did nothing wrong." Ruby calmly replied, trying not to let her frustration at Cao's behavior sour her mood
He then begins to display various pieces to her. At first they were nothing special, simple pieces anyone could get ahold of. Then they began to get rarer and more exotic. As the demonstration goes on further, he stealthily pulls a small needle out from his sleeves, and very quickly pricks Ruby's arm when she gets it close to him. Ruby flinches at the sudden prick and begins to feel woozy.
"Are you alright mamn?" The spy said, feigning concern for her
"I feel a bit strange. I think I need to lie down." Ruby said as she put a hand on her head, her mind swimming and feeling wrong
"Let me help you to a bench dear lady so you can sit down." The spy said, offering his hand to her
"Thank you sir." Ruby said, her mind not registering this as a bad idea in its confused state
He slowly led her away from view from the market. As soon as they were out of view Ruby collapsed unconscious. The spy caught her before she hit the ground and signaled to a comrade to help him carry her. They then rushed her back to the house before anyone could notice. They then gently put her down on the table in front of their boss, who's smile grew ever wider.
"Good job gentlemen. We have done it." The leader said before sipping tea
"Are you sure this is going to work boss? What if the Ronin finds out? He's going to raise holy hell to find her." The spy said nervously, still concerned at what could happen
"You worry too much. Put her in the holding room. We need to get preparations ready to ship her back home." The leader said, waving off any concern
"We are all fucked." The spy whispered, and his peer agreed, a bad feeling spreading between them
Meanwhile Cao finally had given up negotiations with the stall keeper. He turned and was confused when he didn't see Ruby anywhere. At first he wasn't too concerned, but as he began to walk around to other stalls the concern grew even greater. The last time he left Ruby alone for as long as he did she got kidnapped. He shrugged off that idea, thinking it was preposterous it would happen again. Finally, after an hour he got concerned, and went to the magistrates with this.
"I need a manhunt formed as soon as possible. One of my companions has gone missing. No one in the market I have talked to has seen her." Cao said
"Alright sir, we will put out a small party for immediate action. Lead them to where you last saw her and we will try to investigate to the best of our ability." The magistrate at the front desk said as a single magistrate and his peasant aides began mobilizing
Cao sighed thankfully that even though he was a Ronin, he had enough pull to get things going. He then led them to the market and they began questioning everyone, preventing them from leaving till they were thoroughly questioned. After 15 minutes of what Cao would describe as jack shit, they finally got a small lead. One of the peasants claimed to have seen Ruby going down the road with a jewelry merchant. At that the small force began going down the street, stopping everyone and searching homes.
"Don't worry sir. If this claim is truthful and honorable, then we are on the right track." The magistrate said as she walked next to Cao down the road
"I hope so. Cause I'm ready to kill the son of a bitch who did this." Cao said with gritted teeth
"Relax sir. We do not have all the information." The magistrate said to try and calm him
"My girl is missing, and you want me to relax! I will kill that son of a bitch after I beat the location of Ruby out of him!" Cao roared in anger, causing the magistrate to back off on trying to calm him
After what felt like forever they bust down the door of the spy's house. Miraculously the spy was sitting at the table, and nearly fell off his chair is fright. Soon the magistrate, Cao and 2 of the assistants came in. The spy sat there with nervous sweat. He knew if he tried to run, he would be viewed as guilty and chased down. What's more he had no were to run. The front door was blocked, and if he went into the secret room then he would be trapped there as well.
"Sorry sir, but we are conducting a search for a missing person. We have a tip that they went along this street. Cooperate we will be out of her quick." The magistrate said
"The door was unlocked. You didn't have to bust it down." The spy said simply, but this pissed Cao off even further
"Listen pal, my girl is missing, and I am going to find her even if I have to tear this place apart!" Cao yelled
"Sir, we found a bag of jewelry, like the witness said." One of the attendants said
This caused the spy to panic and make for the door. Cao however grabbed him and stopped and slammed him hard onto the table, The two men's eyes locked for a few seconds, though to the two of them it felt like a eternity.
"Start talking. NOW!" Cao yelled in his face
"I don't have anything to say to you." The spy snapped back
"Oh really?" Cao said before stabbing his wakizashi through his hand, "Start talking before I tear you apart! You want my woman, then you mess with me!"
Sorry this chapter was a bit late; I've come down with a cold that's been affecting me. I'll try and have it up earlier next week if I can recover from it. Anyways again I can't thank everyone reading this enough. I never thought in a million years this story would get as much attention as it has, and I thank everyone for sticking with it. See you all next time.