Torn ((Closed to Reiko and SunDancer))

[SunDancer]

“Dammú air*!�

Lee’s wings were not strong enough to keep him up! Just as he was about to hit ground, he curled into a ball and withdrew his wings, in order to protect himself as much as possible, and closed his eyes, braced for the impact. But, the fall took a little bit longer than he expected. Just as he was about to look to re-gauge the distance, he hit ground with a thump and groan. Uncurling, he tumbled down a small slope and stopping on a bed of thick ferns. With a groan and a wince, he completely unrolled and laid there sprawled for a moment.

“�igh**.�

As he lay their, Lee realized that things were much quieter before: he could not hear any of the normal bustle filtering through the valley from his bailebinn.*** Then, he noticed the growing feeling that his chest was caught in a vice.

Cael? Lee asked, hoping to hear from the surprisingly quiet end of his bond with the year-old dragon hatchling. You there?

Lee got to his feet, automatically checking the status of his weapons as he did so. There was no answer from Cael, his Fain-thair*`; the vice about his chest tightened. Looking around, he realized that the mountains around him were not his home mountains. With a small gulp, he gathered his bearings, checked again for Cael, and stated to head west along a dear path, which should have been in the direction of home, as his mind flitted from question to question.

Where was he? Why couldn’t he hear the normal bustle filtering through the valley? Why did the mountains about him look different? Why does his chest feel like it’s in a vice? And, most importantly, where was Cael?

A few moments later, Lee head voices. Ceart go leor!**’ he thought as he picked up speed along the dear path he was on.

It soon met a small manmade road. He took a left, following it round a corner, and stopped dead in his tracks. There were two men fighting over something in a language he couldn’t understand. And there was one other that was counting things in a saddle pack that he had just taken off of a nearby burro, there seemed to be a blood splatter on the burrow’s saddle blanket. They were all dressed in some sort of rough robe, tied with a belt, and wearing odd slabs of wood attached to their feet by a tongue about the toes. The two fighting didn’t see him at first, but the counter did. He shouted and grabbed a mean looking curved sword. The other two grabbed their weapons, some that Lee had never seen: one man’s looked like spiked, metal knuckle coverings; the other’s looked like two sticks connected by a metallic chain.

“SÃ*ocháin*’’!â€� Lee shouted, holding off on drawing his sword for a bit.

This attempt at diplomacy didn’t slow the bandits. However, when Lee took a combat stance and drew his saber, one did seem to hesitate. They must have thought that they could scare him off. He smiled; such a silly assumption. Ducking the counter’s slash, he rolled to one side, the tip of his sword catching one at the knee. He stood up in a fluid movement, and parried an attack with the stick weapon. Trying to keep from being surrounded, he backed up against the cliff wall. Not remembering the lack of noise from his hometown, he shot a small fireball into the air in the traditional Gaeling form of calling for back up. He then pushed some of his inner fire through the hits of both of his weapons, wrapping the blades in flames. With a snarl, Lee bared his teeth and fought with everything he had been taught.

* Dammú air: Celtic curse word.
** �igh: ‘ouch’ in Celtic.
*** Bailebinn: Cliffside home.
*` Fain-Thairi: bond-brothers.
**’ Ceart go leor: ‘alright’ in Celtic.
*’’ SÃ*ocháin: ‘peace’ in Celtic.

[Tsukiko]

If a traveler was to come upon Tsukiko while she slept she would have been an odd sight. They would see a red fox curled up in a red woman's kimono next to two swords, two bows and a pile of armor made for a woman and if they saw her awake they'd hear a cute whine of a yawning fox and then the soft hum of magic if their ears were healthy and young. Then finally the site of a naked woman with a swishing tail putting on armor.

Tsukiko felt rather embarrassed at her makeshift camp, she had underestimated the chill of the spring night and had to not only assume the form of a furry fox but her own kimono as blanket as well and she felt a mess when waking up as well as her kimono looked like it'd be better hanging up somewhere. Too bad she wasn't home where she could have a hot morning bath and Ki could use some of her magic on the kimono to make it good as it was when brand new. But she had to take the good with the bad of adventuring and the girl smiled once her armor was on. She was sure that something would happen and she could be a hero.

The girl looked up at the horizon and saw the strangest piece of weather phenomenom she had seen when her mother wasn't playing around. A bolt of fire went strait up, it wasn't a kitsune for the fire wasn't blue but perhaps it was a stray shot of wizard magic. Curiosity got the best of the girl and Tsukiko ran in the direction of the bolt after she got her swords tucked in the obi of her armor and her short bow strapped on her back and her father's bow hidden with her kimono. Like the natural foxes she was good at finding her hidden things.

The bolt had come from the mountains but thankfully it was close to the forest so the kitsune girl didn't have to run far. Tsukiko found herself coming close and she quickly jumped behind a bush for there was four men fighting and three against one. "Oh no, I don't think he can win." Tsu stayed hidden a little while longer as she watched them fight. She needed to be sure that she would be helping the hero and not the villain. The boy that was onset was fighting well with foreign swords, probably from Corone or Salvar but the three men were from here and the one with the sword was probably a ronin. He was definitely not like mom being grizzled.

"Give up boy! You can't win, we only want all your possessions! You can keep your life!" the man yelled with a filthy smile and Tsukiko knew they were bandits. She probably could shoot one and then join the fray for even terms. The vixen thought as she she reached back and forgot that she had no arrows. Perhaps she could sneak in and take a bandit out. No if she got caught it might interrupt the winged boy and he could die. The tailed girl then smiled as she conjured an image of a great black dragon like her mom sometimes took the form of. The girl was going to scare them.

The men saw the dragon and took defensive steps back. They were poorly armed and no way a rusty katana could pierce dragon scale and the men screamed "Ryu!" as they ran away with figurative tails between their legs. Tsukiko giggled and jumped in front of the bush with her hands raised. "Sorry if I stole the fight, it didn't seem fair." Her tail swished a bit as she looked at the boy, he was nearly tall as her but he was still a child but he had batlike wings on his back. He definitely wasn't a tengu since no bandits would go after a crow person unless they were an army. "I'm Tsukiko, what's your name."

[SunDancer]

The bandit leader, the one with the sword, shouted something at Lee in a foreign language. Lee would have shrugged to show that he didn’t understand, but the three villains were pressing him too hard. Up till this point his battles had been with friends and trainers, so he was unsure on how to handle these three bastards. Completely focused on the fight, Lee forgot to spread out his fire-instincts and didn’t notice the approaching Dragon till it was right on them. As the bandits faltered, Lee took advantage of their distraction and used his inner fire to burn a good chunk of the stick weapon. The man with the knuckle covers received a stab into the bicep of his main arm before the three ran away.

As the bandits ran, Lee sheathed his dirk and saber before punching the air with his sword fist and triumphant roar, a tradition among the Gaelings whenever victory was achieved. Then he noticed that the Dragon wasn’t a Dragon, and he halted mid roar. It was as if it wasn’t even there. What if it wasn’t a Dragon? It did look very different from any other Dragon he had seen before. Though there were some similarities between the shape and style of the scales between the Dragon-creature and Cael. Then, a short moment after the bandits were out of sight, the Dragon-creature vanished as if it had never been there. And, the vice tightened about his chest again as he realized that Cael was still silent.

Letting his arm fall to his side, Lee stood there shocked for a moment, before he heard a slight sound. Whirling around, he had his saber half out of the saber before he saw the fox woman, who appeared to be greeting him; though, he couldn’t understand a word she said. Since she didn’t appear to want to fight, he sheathed his saber and greeted her in the traditional Gaeling fashion. Since Gaelings were a proud folk, they never bowed unless a person truly deserved it. So, instead he raised two fingers to about his year, the palm facing outwards, the arm bent at the elbow, which was kept at his side.

“Hola*! Dia duit**!” then, switching to Latin, he said, “The name is Conlead Aolus; though, I am oft called Lee.” Hoping that they would be able to find a common language, Lee fell silent with a small smile. Whoever this girl is, he thought, She’s got a lovely smile.

((* Hola: ‘helo’ in Spanish, or an Eathian dialect of Elvin.
** Dia duit: a Celtic greeting.))

[Tsukiko]

Tsukiko found her smile disappeared when she only heard words from a language she did not know. "How did you come this far not being able to speak either Trade Speak or Akashiman?" She asked rhetorical question knowing he couldn't understand. Her tail twitched as she thought how to communicate.

"I'm Tsukiko." She said slowly pointing at herself hoping it was good enough that he know who she was. "Tsukiko." She pointed at herself and then at the kid hoping he got the gist and she would know his name. The vixen smiled again once she regained her composer the kid was cute in a strange way and it was an interesting mystery why he was here.

One idea was that he was barbarian that came from down the mountains to hunt or got lost. Perhaps he never learned trade speak because only a few members knew the language and they would handle trade with other nations. That would explain his Coronian style weapons and maybe he was a prince of the tribe. The greeting he gave was quite regal.

But one thing was sure for Tsukiko was that he couldn't stay here and her for that matter. The girl went up slowly and took him by the hand to lead him away. "We have to go before the bandits come back with friends. I don't think we could take ten of them." She knew that they didn't have to go far since there was some nice hidden areas and one was where she had her kimono hidden, wouldn't hurt to go back and get it. Boy, she wished she could talk to the kid. Things would be much easier.

[SunDancer]

She didn’t even know Latin? Lee was incredulous. As she pointed to her self, repeating that one word, he was thinking through all the bits and pieces that he had been taught: Elvish, Celtic, Latin, and he also knew some of the traditional Dragon-speak. But whatever the fox-woman was speaking was out of his realm of knowledge. Trying to figure this out, he tried to wrap his tongue around the foreign word she reaped while pointing to herself.

“Tsu-kio,” nope, not it, “Tukiko,” not quite, “Tsusisu,” grr…wait, what did this word mean to her? Was it her clan name, her race, a greeting, or her personal name?

Then she reached out and took him by the hand, saying something in the foreign language and gesturing to where the bandits had fled before pulling him in the opposite direction. Was she trying to run in case the bandits returned? No Fire Gaeling could do that willingly; Lee pulled back, stood completely straight with square shoulders.

“Nae, I cannae,” he said, trying Dragon-speak.

Trying to get her to understand, Leee put his sword-hand on the hilt of his saber, held the other out in front of him clenched in a fist, and let his inner fire wrap itself around the wrist. He would stand and fight if they came back. He had to; no Fire Gaeling could live with himself otherwise.

“I must not flee.”

Just then, he heard a sneering voice behind him. It was the voice of the bandit swords-man from before. Whatever the bandit said, it had to be an insult. So, reacting as any Fire Gaeling would, Lee laughed, laughed mockingly and loud. Not until after he had finished laughing, did he turn around to face the bandit hoard. And hoard it was, because their numbers had swollen to a little more than half a dozen. Woops, maybe he should have retreated.

However, he didn’t allow his hesitation to show. Instead, both of his fists were covered in his inner fire as he bared his teeth with a snarl. Which he thought, must be somewhat comical since he was missing one of his canines and hadn’t lost all of his baby teeth yet. Trying to up the intimidation factor, he extended his wings to their full extent and drew both his dirk and saber, letting his inner fire cover them as well.

Just as the bandits were about to make the first move, there was a disturbance in the air between the two groups. The bandits hesitated; the disturbance grew into a whirling silver circle in the air about head height. One of the bandits made a sign as if to ward off evil, another whispered something, the others looked increasingly worried.

Lee, however, was delighted. Cael! He basically shouted over their telepathic link.

Lee! There you are! Lee could hear Cael ask even before he zipped out of the silver whirling mass in the air, which quickly closed.

Quite a few of the bandits yelped, some even fled, making that same sign the first had. The leader was the only one who at least hid his fear. The rest faltered as he stepped forward to show that he was unafraid.

You know, Cael said to Lee, I think that they believe that I’m some sort of demon that just entered through a portal to hell.

“Then let’s take advantage of that,” Cael said in Celtic, realizing that the vice was no longer about his chest.

Lee and Cael roared together. Then as Cael was spitting burst of fire as he hovered just above Lee’s head, Lee took a deep breath and pushed as much energy into his inner fire as he thought he could. Once it was stoked enough, he slowly let it cover more and more of him till every inch of his body appeared to be burning. He was going to regret this, but hopefully it worked.

With one last roar from the year-old Imperial Dragon and the eleven-ear-old Fire Gaeling, all but the leading bandit fled, shouting woefully. The leader hestitated for a moment before shaking a fist at Lee and also fleeing.

Yup, we’re supposedly demons. Cael told Lee with laughter in his voice. Who’s the fox-woman behind us?

“I think she helped me scare them away the first time by conjuring an image of an odd Dragon. Wait, you understand them?” Cael asked, sheathing both his fire and his weapons as the dragon lowered himself till he was perched on Lee’s back: long tail wrapped around the boy’s waist, forepaws gently clutching where the top of Lee’s wings met his back, back paws clutching the back of his belt, and long neck holding the graceful head just above and to the right of Lee’s.

“But of course, I’m an Imperial Dragon; we’re taught many languages even before we hatch,” Cael said in Celtic, “This is a dialect of an Eastern language from back on Earth.”

“Are we not on Earth anymore?”

“Nae, we’re on one of her sisters; though, I’m not sure about which one.” Cael then switched to the language that the bandits had used, while simultaneously and telepathically translating it for Lee, “Hello, I’m Cael an Imperial Dragon and the bond-brother of Conlead Aolus, second son of the Fire Keeper Aolus, here; though, you may call him Lee.”

[Tsukiko]

Tsukiko hardly could believe the kid, it was like wanted to fight the bandits. Sure the fox understood what he was thinking as she kinda itched for a fight herself but not one on the bandits terms. But kid resisted and then when he heard the bandits he laughed with the voice of a kid trying to sound older than he was. The truth was she didn't want the kid to be hurt.

"So you had some kitsune bitch trick us, there was no dragon!" the bandit leader yelled now having twice the number. Tsu was sure it was going to be a tough fight and knew that she should have left with the kid. There was no way he wasn't going to get hurt if the fight happened and the vixen felt she likely wouldn't get out unscathed as well.

But then The bandits looked surprise and scared while yelling "dragon" again. But Tsukiko never conjured another image but she blushed fearing she would know the dragon when she looked up. "Thank the kami." Tsukiko said when she saw the dragon wasn't her mother but a baby dragon that seemed to come from the Celestial Court and he and the boy started putting on the show. Then the bandits were yelling "oni" (Demon) in fear and began to run. They really were cowards but Tsukiko back a few steps, her tail quaking.

He must be an oni! Tsukiko thought as she kept her eye on the kid and his dragon. A child oni, that would explain why he was so big. "Don't eat me." the girl softly whimpered and blushed but the dragon that now rested on the boys shoulder spook in a thickly accented Akashiman introducing themselves. Son of the Fire Keeper made him sound like a demon prince.

"Umm, I'm D-Doji Tsu-Tsukiko." The stammered as she made clumsy bow and not terribly sure if she should ready herself for a fight. Demons were dangerous creatures and lived to see people suffer before dining on their flesh. "Second daughter of Doji Ki." She said to stay with the greeting and hoping they would know that name and think twice about harming her. "Please don't eat me." She said again not wanting her adventures to end so soon and in the belly of a demon kid.

[SunDancer]

Lee and Cael could both hear the intimidation in the fox-woman, Tsukiko’s, voice with her greeting. Lee, trying to fix things though unsure on why she bowed to him, smiled and extended a hand in greeting.

I think we also scared her, Cael. Lee told the Dragon.

Um, Cael fidgeted, moving his forepaws to Lee’s shoulders, Maybe retracting your wings would help. Lee did so, once in the pouch on his back, the wings were not visible.

Then Cael said to Tsukiko, “Lee and I are glad to meet you, ma’am. Sorry that he isn’t saying this himself, but his knowledge of languages isn’t as extensive as mine. If you are the one who conjured the Dragon earlier, Lee would like to thank you for helping him out.”

“Dammú air,” Le cursed softly, rubbing his temple.

He was right, he was regretting the over use of his inner fire. He now had a growing headache. Nope, change that, he was aching all over. Cael trilled worryingly after lifting off to land by Lee’s side.

With a small groan, Lee told Cael, “I’m fine; just need to sit a bit.”

As he walked over to a nearby boulder, things started to fuzz over. With Cael trilling worried beside him, Lee’s able to sit down. But the last thing he’ll remember seeing for a bit is the anxious mug of Cael inches from his face and the fox-woman, Tsu-something, looking at him still cautious.

[Tsukiko]

The kid seemed to be friendly even though Tsukiko was frightened of him but the fear just couldn't last since Lee didn't act in any way like a demon and the kitsune doubted he was a demon at all. He was just a foreigner and a young one at that. The vixen felt fairly guilty for being scared of the child and truth now that she was over her fear she kinda liked the kid.

There was something in him that reminded her of herself. Perhaps it was the pride or the need to prove himself but all he needed was a fluffy tail and Tsukiko would think he was her little brother. But those qualities also caused trouble as Lee ended wobbling to a boulder and sitting down obviously exhausted.

"Are you ok?" Tsukiko asked as she went next to him and look at his face which to look off color to the girl. Something was wrong but she didn't know what it was. Tsukiko hoped he was just tired and not sick but either way it wasn't good to stay out here with angry bandits nearby and who knows what else and the only thing that the vixen could think of that would help would be rest.

She had to take the kid to her home for rest. Perhaps her mother would know what was the matter and a days rest might just be what he needed.

There was one problem, Tsukiko had promised herself that she would return the victor of one adventure and she hadn't had anything to show for herself. But health was more important than her pride so Tsukiko decided that she would take the kid home. "Wait here." Tsukiko said as she got up. "I have to get some things." The girl ran off for a moment, she didn't want to forget her kimono and other items she left or Ki might spank her for being careless.

It wasn't a long run and Tsukiko had a pleasant surprise in that in her kimono was a couple of un eaten rice balls. Once Tsu had her things she ran back to the kid with much haste hoping that the bandits didn't come back. Thankfully the place was the same and Tsukiko went to the kid and offered a rice ball. "Here, eat this. It may help." The girl help out the food with two hands in hopes he'd take it. "You can eat as we walk, lean on my shoulder. Don't worry I'm stronger than what most people think of girls. I'll take you home so you can have a warm bed and a warm bath and if that doesn't fix you then maybe my mom will know what's wrong." Ki kneeled down to offer her support of her shoulder.

(Hey feel free to Bunny Tsukiko to helping Lee walk to her home.)

[SunDancer]

The next thing that Lee remembered seeing was Tsu offering him a rice ball. Cael translated that she wanted him to eat it, that it could help build up his strength, and that she could lean on her shoulder while they walked. Lee was glad that she no longer was afraid of him. With a weak smile, Lee took the rice ball and took a bite, while Cael asked the fox-woman something.

“Lee would like me to thank you for the food. Where is your home, and will your family mind? Also, would you happen to have any whisky about you? It helps build the inner strength of a Fire Gaeling when they’re depleted like this.�

After hastily eating the rice ball, Lee realized he was ravished. The next groan came not from his throat, but from his stomach. Smiling sheepishly, Lee slowly stood up, using the proffered shoulder to steady himself. Then he was forced to stand still a bit until his head stopped spinning.

Struggling with the words, Lee said in the language that Cael and the girl used, “Thank you.� Frowning at how badly he butchered the words, Lee thought, Oh, if only I was old enough to not have the fire-binding, then the few tricks I used wouldn’t even faze me.

With Cael flying just ahead of them, Lee and Tsu started to walk down the side of the mountain they were on. Trying his best not to tire her, Lee refrained from using the offered support beyond a way to steady himself; though, he soon seriously started to doubt that he’d make it much further. If I wasn’t fire-binded, the blast needed to knock me out would have slain all those petty bandits. Being achy and weary was getting on Lee’s nerves.

[Tsukiko]

Tsukiko was glad as she saw the rice ball eaten as she considered the dragon's words. "My family won't mind. Mom takes in lost people a lot if they have a good heart and My homes just a little ways into those woods over there. Umm, I don't have any whiskey. That's an adult drink with alcohol right, mom might have some sake but she wouldn't let me take a bottle with me. Mother say it's fine to drink but only in moderation and not to carry around the stuff." Tsukiko smiled. "And a cute girl like me just doesn't fit the grizzled old ronin ideal and they're the only ones that have a full bottle all the time." She laughed as they made there way towards her home.

The trip home was not too fast being that Lee was holding her shoulder but it seemed like as they went further the kid needed her more and it seemed like it got heavier as well but she was sure it was her imagination. This kid was a strong sort and the vixen was sure he'd make it the small ways to her house. The truth was she knew she was getting close when the ground evened out and the small mountain trees gave way to young evergreens and the occasional sakura tree where there was enough sun. Tsu loved the sakura trees this time of year as the would become almost all pink in cherry blossoms. "Don't worry, we're almost there." The vixen reassured the kid even though he couldn't understand and the dragon probably didn't hear her. She wasn't lying as she saw the copse of almost all sakura trees that the kit knew as her home and soon she could see the little house with it's walled garden. The only purpose for the walls was so no one outside could see whoever bathed in the hot spring when it was in use and no other real purpose.

"See we're here." The vixen cheered as she led the strange child further home and then two figures met her outside. A kitsune girl with hair and a tail of pure silver and a kitsune boy with simple brown hair and tail. The two were laughing and Tsukiko blushed, she knew it, knew that they would think her a silly girl wanting to live the life her mother used to but didn't have the guts to do it.

"So Tsukiko!" Ryo the fox boy called out. "Where's the treasure, you said you'd come back with treasure!" The youngest Doji just kept going forward.

"Don't taunt me, this boy here needs rest!" Tsukiko yelled back as she kept leading Lee to her home and Chiyo ran up.

The white fox was probably coming to see if Lee was cute. "Found yourself a man? Did you keep him out all night and that's why he's tired?" Tsukiko's face turned as red as it ever did in her life.

"N, no!" Tsu yelped as she shook a little, seemed that this trip had tired her out and the stress of the taunts was a little much.

"Stop it you two!" A third voice came out as Ki walked out and bobbed the twins on their heads. "Show your sister respect when she comes home and her guest too." The nine tails came out and looked at the kid and thought about bopping Chiyo again, the person that Tsu was helping was just a child. "Are you OK hun?" The mother asked the kid.

Tsukiko smiled at her mother. "Hey mom, he doesn't speak Akashiman or Trade Speak. He needs his baby dragon to translate." The vixen pointed at Cael who was hovering nearby.

[SunDancer]

Struggling not to be too much of a burden on Tsu, Lee saw little of the surrounding landscape. But its exotic beauty did catch a part of his attention. Some of the unique plants had similarities to those of his homeland, but others were so different he actually stumbled while studying one. Actually, he stumbled just as Cael told him that the fox-woman was assuring him that they were close so he couldn’t answer her. (Thankfully Lee’s bond with Cael was close enough to where they were telepathically linked to the point where whatever one of them sensed, the other sensed as if through his own senses.)

Just as he was starting to actually consider asking her for a break, the forest parted to show an odd looking house with a wall around one section of the yard. Parts of the house looked to be made of paper! How in the world were the inhabitants going to defend it? And how many people did they try to fit and support in the tiny cottage? The more and more that Lee saw of this new and strange world, the more bewildered he got. Where was he? How did he get here? And, most importantly, how can he get back home?

Just after Tsu said that this place was their destination, two other fox-people approached them. Trying to keep them from thinking him week, Lee took his hand off of Tsu’s shoulder and squared his shoulders. Cael landed and curled about his feet; his long neck holding his graceful neck at a curious angle as he watched the two strangers approach. Lee sensed Tsu’s discomfort as the other two greeted her with mocking tones so he placed his hand on the hilt of his dirk.

When Cael translated what the silver-haired fox-woman said, Lee’s jaw dropped. He was too young for a woman like Tsu to even think of like that! Once that thought had flitted through his head, he felt pride at the fact that the silver-fox had even considered him a possible courter of Tsu. But that quickly died when his companion crushed that option with her vibrant denial.

Then the older fox-woman approached, and Lee sensed that he was in the presence of a powerful Magikan. So, he raised his hand to salute her like he did Tsu, but he also inclined his head in the first tier of bowing. Once the older woman proved that she was worthy of the respect of a good Magikan, she would be deserving of a bow of the second tier.

“I’ll have you know that I am no longer a Hatchling!� Cael objected before guiding Lee’s choice of words; if Tsu had thought that Cael’s accent was rough, she would barely understand the Fire Gaeling

“Thank ye for yer hospitality, ma’am. Tsu,� struggling with the name, Lee decided to call her by the nickname, “Helped me out of a tough situation involving a half-dozen or more bandits.� Here he had to pause as he felt himself become slightly dizzy, “I’m sorry for the trouble, but could I have some hard liquor. Whisky would be the best.�

[Tsukiko]

Tsukiko was glad that her mother intervened and stopped the teasing of the youngest daughter. It was a sigh of relief that things were getting civil. "Oh, I'm sorry master dragon." Tsukiko bowed her apology. "I just assumed and I shouldn't have. I won't make that mistake again I swear it." The gold tailed fox swished her tail nervously.

Thankfully Lee interrupted with his thanks that brought a smile to Ki's face. "I think some magics are involved that's not mine." The eldest vixen laughed and bowed as a host to a guest. "I'm glad my daughter was able to help." She smiled and winked at Tsukiko. "See you've already helped someone out, i knew you could do it."

Tsukiko smiled and blushed. "Thanks mom."

Ki then turned to her new guest. "It seems odd that you want drink that's not water, you're a bit young and you just got here."

"Mom, i think it's a custom of his people to drink when they first arrive, it might be holy to them." Tsukiko seemed to assume and Ki nodded.

"I only have sake' it's fairly strong and I don't want you drinking too much. If you make a mess you're cleaning it up." The nine tails shrugged and looked to Tsu. "You'll be his host, I have to get ready to teach some of the village men with swordsmanship. I have to make a little coin." The nine tails bowed farewell and left to her room.

Tsukiko bowed as well and went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of sake and some cups. "Hey follow me Lee." She nodded to the door to the spring and slid it open with her foot before setting the cups on a small table with a little tree and then went to spring and warmed the sake and then hurried to sit down and pour the warm drink into the cups. "I don't drink much. I can only have one cup before I feel funny. Ki never really lets me drink." she giggled but then looked around, where did Chiyo and Ryo go, didn't they want to drink too. Guess it was better since they were in a mood for teasing. "I hope I'm being a good hostess."

[SunDancer]

Oh, come now, Cael, ye have her all flustered.

But I’m not a Hatchling!

She danna call ye a Hatchling, she called you a baby, an’ ye are only a Yearling!

Cael refused to answer that statement; but Lee was preoccupied by why these folks were bowing to him. It wasn’t as if he earned their respect. Actually, if he had done anything it was to earn the title of a weakling. If he didn’t get any liquor in him soon, he was pretty sure he’s black out from the lack of strength in his inner fire. What he found odd was that Tsu thought it was a custom to drink when visiting a new house. Ha! What a laugh, if it was that minor of an issue, he wouldn’t be pressing it as much.

Lee bowed his head as the elder fox-woman, Ki, left before following Tsu. Cael decided to follow on foot instead of flying before slipping into the hot pool. Following suit, Lee took of his boots before stepping onto the elevated floor. They weren’t inside, but the small hot pool was surrounded by wooden walls. What the wood was, he didn’t know; something oddly warped and lightly colored. On the short table was a tiny evergreen tree that looked as if it was over a century old! The area was filled with a thin mist that must be steam from the hot pool and spring. Boy that looked like it would ease the aches!

When Tsu poured the drinks, Lee looked around for chairs and was perplexed by the scarcity. Not wanting to lean against the wall, for fear the wood was as weak as it looked, Lee stayed standing as he accepted the cup of…did Ki call it sake? Odd name.

After one taste, it proved to be of a high enough proof to be effective, so he tossed the rest back in a gulp. The change was almost instant. The color came back into his cheeks, his eyes brightened as if a candle had been lit behind them. Letting the sake take its full effect, Lee smiled to his hostess and replied as best he could with Cael’s somewhat distracted help.

“I danna drink much either, but alcohol is oft used by Fire Gaelings to help liven our inner fire after its over use. Food invigorates the body, alcohol invigorates the fire. Both are connected to the point where the body cannae function without the fire.” He smiled, “An’ ye’r a wonderful hostess.”

Not satisfied with the strength of his fire, Lee poured himself another cup and tossed it back. This worked perfectly. His eyes now had the appearance of amber and gold stained glass windows with a fire lit behind them. His skin, if touched by anyone who wasn’t a Fire Gaeling, was just barely scalding. One could almost feel the energy radiating off him. With a grin, Lee unfurled his wings from their pouch on his uncovered back and stretched them.

Cael gaily shouted something, but his call was muffled by the steam. Lee’s grin widened before he nodded to Tsu, partially out of an apology, and almost ran to the side of the pool, slipping out of his kilt as he went along. Not thinking about Tsu’s habits of modesty, he didn’t try to cover as he dove into the warm waters collected from the hot spring.

Careful, this isnae as big as we’re used to! Cael warned, a bit too late.

For, mere seconds later, Lee had already used his wings to propel himself through the water…and right smack dab into the side, head first. Fighting unconsciousness, Lee broke surface and struggled to keep his head above water. Cussing like the Devil was around, Lee rubbed his head and grabbed onto the side.

[Tsukiko]

Tsukiko was stunned when she saw the boy dive into the spring. The fact that he would just rip off his clothing and dive in seemed beyond foolishness. Also she had no clue how she could stop the naked boy as he moved so quickly and landed in the water safely. The vixen sighed with relief as she saw the kid slick through the water then yelped as he hit the edge. "Are you OK?" Tsukiko was up and heading towards the pool but Lee surfaces and was ranting in his mother tongue. "You had me worried!" Tsu giggled at the foolishness of the boy and then smiled at him. "So I take it you want to bathe?"

There was two things a good hostess would do. One was to to simply leave him some privacy and the other was to keep him from getting lonely. The fox girl undid the tie that held her swords on and placed the blades neatly on a blade rack at the door. The girl then approached the pool and slipped off her armor and set it on a rock next the pool. Tsukiko wasn't too nervous since she had seen Ryo nude before.

Slowly the girl went into the seaming pool and let the heat caress her body and soak her tail's fur. Tsu smiled and waded her way towards Lee. "Good idea, I was feeling really tense." The vixen relaxed and sat on a stone next to her new friend and closed her eyes while her tail swished through the water. After a few moments of thought Tsukiko had thought to ask something of Lee. "Umm Lee?" The Girl turned to her friend and waited until she had His and Cael's attention. "Is it alright that I..." She blushed a little. "Is it Alright if I call you little brother?" the Vixen asked as she leaned on the side showing more of her shoulder and breast than she thought.

But it seemed that someone didn't want to hear the answer for the pool started to turn red and the bamboo walls turned to the bones of humans. Tsu yelped and hopped out of the pool before she started to yell. "Hey! You shouldn't play with mom's ball like this!" The youngest Doji's face was flushed as the place where she was standing rose up and it had shackles that took her wrists. She was chained to a slab on her tipy toes and her face was angry. Ki must have left and one of the Twins had taken her orb.

Then Ryo's voice echoed throughout the entire den. "In the Lair of the Oni lord." Tsukiko struggled as a huge one eyed ogre jumped down onto her platform. "Princess Tsuki was captured and tormented in preparation for the sacrifice."

"No! You know how much I hate being the captive!" Tsukiko yelled as the monster then started to tickle the helpless girl. "Stop!" She yelped between giggling and squirming. "Mo, Mom's not going to... like... this." Tsu was helpless and very ticklish. She was feeling very vulnerable now that she was stuck in this game without her clothes.

Ryo laughed and Chiyo giggled. Of Course Chiyo was involved. Even with Ki's Kitsune ball Ryo wasn't capable of such a grand illusion. But then Ryo was the narrator and he loved that part. "Is there any hero brave enough to rescue the fair princess."

[SunDancer]

After his vision had cleared Lee realized that Tsu was in the pool with him. She was asking him something, but there was a disturbance so he couldn’t hear Cael’s translation clearly. Did she say something about a little brother? However, he did notice the pale cleavage pillowing above the water as she leaned towards him. Feeling his heat rise, Lee ducked back under water, hoping it would help regulate his inner temperature.

When Lee resurfaced, he was standing in red water inside of a demonic cavern. With a small laugh about stupid demons, Lee leapt out of the pool and tumbled past the Cyclops thing before grabbing his sword and standing up into a defensive stance. Cael was sunning on a large stone in the midst of a garden near by. Seeing this, Lee frowned. However, he quickly realized that this was a prank being pulled by Tsu’s two siblings. Lee rolled his eyes, sheathed his sword before pulling his kilt and belt back on, and leaning against the supposed skeleton behind him. Looking around and sensing with his inner fire, Lee discovered where the source of the illusion was coming from: just outside the entrance that he had originally entered the garden through.

With a yawn and a stretch, Lee placed the sake and cups back on the wooden tray that Tsu had used before casually strolling out of the now prank-room. At the entrance, he pretended to trip, falling onto Tsu’s big sister who was bent over a crystal ball. She yelped, especially when the sake was poured down her chest. Continuing the charade, Lee floundered as he tried to get up, knocking the crystal into a near by hedge and out of sight. Cael relayed that the illusion had collapsed when the sister had lost concentration.

Apologizing in Latin, Celtic, and Elvish, Lee continued the charade long enough for him to get out of the sister’s reach, grab the sake and serving utensils, and flee to the house where he had seen Tsu fetch the drink earlier. Now it was time for the siblings to work things out their own way. With five brothers, three sisters, and about twenty cousins of various ages, Lee knew better than to get in the middle of a conflict between siblings…unless of course he initiated it, which only meant it could be worse or better depending on how things panned out.

Inside the house was quite odd. The doors and walls were made of a thin papyrus-like material and the odd bamboo the wall about the garden was constructed out of. Just inside the door was a place where the odd wooden platforms that these people kept on their feet were kept. Then just after that was an elevated floor. There were no chairs. The only furniture that he saw was a low wooden table. The elevated floor was covered with mats made out of some kind of reed. The ceiling was so low, that even in his partially-grown state Lee had to duck in order to avoid hitting his head.

Where was he? Who are these people? How did he get here? How can he get back home? A feeling of isolation filled him and made him pause. Trying to shake the lonely feeling off, Lee looked around but couldn’t find what looked like an appropriate place to put the sake tray, so he placed it on the low table instead. That is when he heard the voice calling from outside.

Sliding open the outside door, Lee smiled at the newcomer as he called for Cael to get off his lazy belly and help him great this stranger. Grudgingly, the yearling Dragon complied. The newcomer was male, had a sharp looking mustache and goatee and his somewhat long dark silky hair was pulled back into an oddly shaped bun on the top of his head. He was also wearing the odd robes, thick sash, and wooden foot protection. Stuck into his sash was a small scroll. The newcomer had bowed deeply upon seeing Lee, which made him wonder about the lack of pride in these people. Why did they always bow to him? What a strange custom. He was just a kid, how did he deserve such respect?

Thankfully, Cael arrived just as the man started speaking. Thinking it wise not to interrupt the fellow, Cael stayed behind the newcomer, perched on a stone statue of a seated and happy fat man. From there, he was easily able to translate and guide Lee’s conversation.

“Greetings, Sir, I have a missive for Madam Doji Ki requesting her assistance in a matter of security for our village.�

Carefully repeating what Cael told him to say, Lee answered, “I’m afraid that Mrs. Doji Ki is currently unavailable, so how about I go find her children.�

With a salute, Lee ran off to the garden in search of Tsu.

[Tsukiko]

Tsukiko hardly could believe her eyes as she saw Lee just walk away leaving her strung up and naked at the mercy of the illusionary ogre to tickle her until the game ended. Two things would have ended the game. Lee could play the hero and save her like it was intended or the youngest vixen could humiliate herself. “Lee, What are you doing?” She whined and flicked her tail as was jealous, for she would have liked to just up and leave the immature act as well. Tsu was mad and thought she had to help herself. Closing her eyes she tried to meditate and disbelieve the illusion that her siblings made but it was no good the spell was reinforced by her mother’s power and it was too much for the young fox.

But the whole dark demon world flickered and then faded away violently setting the girl to fall back into the pool with a large splash. The warmth felt good but the water in the ears did not. Tsukiko cursed as she pulled herself out and shook her hair before putting on her kimono. The girl looked awful in the reflection of the pool, like a drowned fox. “Lee, I’m really sorry!” Tsukiko yelled feeling bad for the game and embarrassed at being strung up like that. But it seemed like Lee was gone, offended by the prank.

Tsukiko was going to leave the garden but she saw her sister block her way. The older vixen looked angry and her kimono was wet so it didn’t hide her feminine features well but most of all she smelled of sake. “Tsukiko! Your guest just dumped sake on me.” Ryo appeared as well with a smirk and laughing.

Tsu clenched her hands into fists and shuddered with anger. “And he had all right to! How dare you interrupt us while I was entertaining him. If you wanted to play that stupid game then you could ask. You had me strung naked in front of him getting tickled by a purple ogre.” The girl’s tail tried to puff up but it gave it a spiked look instead. “How could you two do this to me?”

Chiyo’s tail did puff up though. “How dare you come home like it’s nothing and bring a friend and keep him to your self. You know Me and Ryo have as much right to the guests as you!” The older vixen easy got jealous if Tsu got attention since it wasn't uncommon for their mother to give the youngest more attention. Ki did try to be equal with the three, but Tsu often stole her attention.

Tsu gasped as she really couldn’t stand her sister, how could she be jealous like that. The youngest fox let her angry glare wander and then come to Ryo. The boy was snickering and tried to keep from breaking out in laughter. “It was your Idea wasn’t it!” Tsu yelled as she charged the male kitsune. The vixen tackled the fox boy and tried to pin him down. If she was thinking clearly she could have beat the kid but she was angry and didn’t think to use her training or skills and instead just used her rage. Ryo was a bit stronger than the vixen and easily tossed her over and pinned her down. Tsu tried to spit but Ryo simply smiled and moved his mouth to her neck and lightly bit down.

Tsu’s Eyes went wide and then closed for a moment with some tears. Ryo grinned widely as he got up. “You need to take a joke sis.”

But Tsu was shamed, she couldn’t stand it anymore. “I hate you! You never give me a break! I make a friend and you chase him off with your jokes!” She was in tears and ran away, unable to take it anymore and wanting to hide from her shame and anger. She went to her room and shut the sliding door and laid in bed hugging a black plush toy fox with two different buttons for eyes. She just wanted this to be a bad dream. She was supposed to be an adventurer and here she was acting like a baby.

[SunDancer]

On his way to the garden, Tsu dashed by before Lee could detain her. Ok, thanks to his three sisters, he knew when to leave a girl alone. Maybe the other two could help with the official. He saw them laughing at the entrance to the garden and waved. The guy was too hysterical to notice, but the girl immediately beamed and waved back. He ran up to them, shook the guy’s hand off his shoulder, and pointed to the front of their house. The guy seemed miffed by the shrug, but the girl looked confused as she glanced from Lee to the house.

With help from Cael, Lee said, “Visitor. Come. Important.”

Before she could comment, Lee grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the house at a quick trot. The official seemed still confused, standing there as he approached. She immediately greeted the visitor, bowing deeply. Then the two started talking to fast for Cael to translate word for word. But the visitor handed her the scroll, and it seemed to be a missive for her mother, who was currently in the city giving sword fighting lessons.

And that’s when Cael stopped caring. He would be able to continue his education until he was able to figure out a way to get back home! Plus, there had to be different techniques here! Think of how jealous the others would be when he showed them what he learned while on his travels!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Later that evening the family and Lee were seated on cushions on the floor around the low table. The family was seated on their knees, sitting back on their heels, but Lee had decided that was uncomfortable and decided to sit cross legged. The dinner was a somewhat sweet, white grain that seemed to be the base and take the place of bread. On top of this were some fresh vegetables lightly sautéed in a salty, sweet, and syrupy sauce.

But the oddest thing was that they ate their food with a pair beautifully carved sticks each! After a few embarrassingly disastrous tries (one ended up in his cup of a weak tea, another plopped into his lap, and the third thankfully fell onto his plate), Lee put his pair aside, drew his dirk, and used that to scoop the food into his mouth as neatly as he could. Cael, however, seemed to be able to handle the sticks quite well and was enjoying the food immensely. Lee tried not to grudgingly wonder how the dragon’s claws could handle the sticks better than his fingers.

Doing his best to remember the words from previous uses, Lee asked the mother, “Ma’am...are ye...Sword Master?”

[Tsukiko]

Tsu normally enjoyed dinner with her family and it should have been even better with her new friend there but she just didn’t feel like it was right. Sure the food was Ki’s best, the udon noodle soup with cloudy broth was truly good and the rice was perfect. The scent of tea was also good for the soul. But Tsukiko was still upset even though her tears were dried and the twins were punished with a week of chores and no hanging out with the village youths. Even the sword fish dish just couldn’t please her.

No Tsu simply stared at the neatly placed meal though she would occasionally prod it with her sticks for no reason. Normally Tsu would have devoured the dish and enjoy each bite but she just felt horrible. She had embarrassed herself in front of a guest and her new friend. She just felt so stupid.

Ki hated to see her children like this though she wasn’t terribly sure what else she could do. For now she would ignore her youngest, If she wanted to stew then let her. It would have been rude to the guest not to answer his question. “I wouldn’t call myself a master, though I can teach someone to use a sword. I taught my kits everything and Tsu’s very good.” Ki hoped that making her daughter feel a sense of pride would help. The mother looked at her twins who ate quietly and not said a word. “I’m terribly sorry for the rudeness of my kits.” Ki bowed to her guest and then took a sip of tea. Tsu’s tea was cold and gave off no steam. “Tsukiko. You should eat something. I made this dinner special.”

Tsukiko let her tail flip once but said nothing and only looked at her reflection in the cold tea. She was so stupid to come back here. She was a coward to run home so quickly and to not have accomplished anything at all, some warrior she was to come home after one day in the wilderness. Sure there was Lee to think about but he could have gone to an inn with her. Maybe then she wouldn’t have been shamed like her siblings did to her.

“Tsu, stop it. moping’s not going to help.” Ki glared at the red-tailed girl. “You have to eat because you’re going on an adventure tomorrow.” Ki swished all of her nine tails as her scowl turned to a smile. “I got a message that the bandits are getting uppity and they need a swordsman to put them in their place.” The vixen mother was grinning at her daughter. “I think you could show those thieves whose boss.”

Tsu looked up at her mother and noticed that Ki was looking extra beautiful with the ebon hair framing her face as pale as the moon. The nice jet tails writhed and danced in front of her child. The youngest vixen felt entranced as the dance of the tails comforted her. “Please eat for me.” The nine tailed goddess asked her child.

Doji Tsukiko felt her face well up with tears but she found her self eating. She didn’t want to disappoint her mother, the one that she loved more than anything in the world. The mother kitsune magic had hold over her daughter and caused the love that Tsu had toward her to amplify. It was risky to use such magic on a family member for it often caused arousal but at least it would make her child eat.

Tsukiko went at the cold food quickly, using the sticks more like shovels as she raised the bowls to her mouth and devour everything. The food would have tasted very good hot but since she let the dishes grow cold it was barely tolerable. “You always make a great meal mom.” Tsu said when she finished her meal to look at her mother and let her eyes wander over the older vixen’s curves but then the child’s cheeks started to flush red. “M, Mom!” Tsu stammered as she looked down. “How could you use that spell on me?”

“Tsu . . . ” Ki got up and moved to her daughter and hugged her. “I’m sorry but I couldn’t stand seeing you not eat like this. It’s not like you to get so bitter. I’m sorry for doing that and what Chiyo and Ryo did. But I love you and I want you to be fine. Please promise me you’ll eat when you’re hungry and take care of yourself.”

Tsu wiggled and hugged her mother back. “I promise . . . ” Tsu whispered. She felt a little better but there was still was a bit of discontent in her heart. She loved her mother and her siblings even though those two were such boneheads.

Once that scene was done, Ki bowed low to Lee and Cael. “I’m so terribly sorry you had to see that. I really hope it didn’t disturb your digestion.” Ki then sat down where she was at the stone table and took another sip of her tea.

[SunDancer]

Lee was confused throughout the rest of the dinner, and, considering how disgusted Cael was about something that passed between Ki and Tsu, Lee wasn't sure if he wanted to understand. However, the food was good once he figured out how to eat it - foregoing the sticks, of course. One thing he did latch on to, however, was the fact that it sounded like Ki would be sending Tsu and him after the bandits that attacked them earlier.


~*~*~

The next morning, Lee was satisfied to learn that they were indeed to go after the bandit group in order to neutralized it. So as the two were walking along, with the dragon keeping himself ammused by flying circles around them and investigating basically everything around them, Lee was going through his warm ups, which made it look like he was dacing in step.

Since Tsu was looking at him oddly*, Lee did his best to explain the Gaeling philosophy of dancing and combat with Cael's help: "To Gaelings face-to-face combat is a form of dance. When younglings, we are orriginally taught basic dance techniques along with basic hand-to-hand and staff combat skills, mostly as if they are one and the same."

[Tsukiko]

The morning was so peaceful for a day that promised bloodshed. The forest was nice and quiet with the pleasant exception of birdsongs. The pace was rather slow and Tsu enjoyed it since it gave her time to think and Lee must not mind for he kept practicing his odd way of fighting.

The kid saw the vixen’s curious looks and explained his style. “Don’t you find it tiring?” The fox girl asked as she saw the beautiful flourishes of the stance. Few Akashima fighters move that much. The samurai fighting style was to keep moves slow and focused until the right moment to strike or dodge. It made them seem slow but really it was much like how a viper strikes, still until the right moment then to strike. But then again Akashiman dancing was slow and focused too, except for festival dancing which often was random.

“Well either way I hope you’re ready.” The vixen smiled to the little swordsman. “We’re going to where we met the bandits and see if we can track them from there. I’ll probably not be as easy as it was. We’re taking their leader and there will be a lot of them in the camp.” The girl’s tail wagged but it was a little nervous and not as confident as she was trying to sound. “And be sure to pace yourself. If one of us collapses like that then we’ll either be captured or killed.”

Soon the trio found the minor scorch marks in the grass where Lee and Cael pulled their little stunt. “I don’t suppose that either of you two are trackers?” Tsu asked as she looked the place over for footprints but had trouble seeing any.

[SunDancer]

"The exercises are designed to build endurance, flexability, awareness, and strength of both mind and body," Lee replied as he completed one lest movement before kneeling down and placing the palm of his hand on the ground where they had fought the bandits earlier.

Cael, a little help...

The dragon yearling landed next to Lee. Lee nodded once, and they both closed their eyes, heads bent. Lee's whole body clench as if he was pushing against something, but it didn't appear to be the ground. Cael's scales started to vibrate, and that, along with a low trill in his throat, caused a musical humming sound.

If one was aware of the energies, she could feel the ground warm and vibrate slightly. However, the only effect in the physical world was the absolute silence that desended as the animals around them sensed the searching power, unsure if they should hide from it. The only movement was caused by a slight cool breeze waifting down from the peaks of the mountians surrounding them.

In order to conserve their energies, Lee and Cael combined their own and the heat of the Earth below. Then, using that they searched for the residue of the bandits fire of life, which is represented in all lifeforms. Thankfully, the comander that they had met before was greatly aligned with the element of fire, which made lighting his trail all the more easier.

"Their camp is just up ahead!" Cael called as he lept into the air and flew on ahead of them.

Gesturing to Tsu to follow, Lee ran after the Dragon yearling. As he ran, he let his wings out of their pouch and used them to help propell him faster. But then, he realised that Tsu didn't have that help and slowed down some so she could catch up. Then he matched his pace to hers, settling into a run-trot that he would be able to keep going for a while if need be. Thankfully, the bandits were camped only a bit further ahead.

Cael let Lee know when they got close, so he slowed and guestured to Tsu to do the same. Seeing a prime place to hide for a bit, Lee ducked into a nich in the cliffside that was covered by a brush. Cael slipped in right after them and caught them up on what he had scouted out.

"They're a disorgansed mess. There seems to be some type of celebration going on, and they're all crowed into a small area hosting some sort of ruckus. Their lookouts are inexperienced and were able to sneek some drinks, so they're not prepared for anything. They also don't know how to store their loot. There are some explosive items near their food and luxury goods as well as their weapon hord. So, if we take that out with a few well placed fireballs, they'll be stuck with what they have on them, which seems to be mainly short swords."

[Tsukiko]

The way that Lee and Cael had tracks the bandits was awe inspiring. It was as if they had simply felt the warmth of the bandits. The Vixen might be able to smell them if the wind was right and there wasn’t anything with a heavy scent nearby but even then her nose was blunt when compared to her mother.

The pair also found a great vantage point to view the whole bandit camp. They were in a clearing next to a steep cliff that normally would add to the defense but was giving Tsu and company a place to hide and make tactics, though one idea had raised Tsu’s fur.

How could they do a plan like that? Their greatest asset was the fact that the bandits didn’t know they were there; an Explosion would kill the surprise. Also the explosion they planned would destroy the prize too. “No, we can’t do that yet. They’ll hear us and we’ll lose surprise and be horridly out numbered.”

Sure that the bigger weapons were in the tent but most if not all the bandits had a wakizashi at their sides and while short those blades were deadly. They were blades well crafted and had weight to them that might break through the guard of her friend’s fencing blade if he wasn’t careful. “And the treasure will be destroyed too. We can’t blow up the prize.” Perhaps Tsu was being greedy but she really wanted to have a prize to take home and show her siblings. She would prove to them she wasn’t worthless and that she was better than their pranks. Maybe they would stop the tricks if they saw Tsu as a hero that was much like their mother.

Tsu wanted some treasure to prove that she was more than a silly girl out for adventure only to come running home. The vixen’s tail wagged as she started to make her own plan. “We sneak in and take some choice items then we can lure some bandits close before we destroy the barrels. That way we get the prize and cut their numbers at the same time.”

The vixen smiled as she felt pride in her plan. It seemed so easy and would keep the bandits a bit more manageable. After that they would have to make it through the surviving bandits and kill the leader.

[SunDancer]

While Lee disagreed a couple small points, the plan as a whole was a sound one. Cael just had two questions, and he ticked them off on the claws of his forepaws.

"We're doing this for the loot? How are we going to lure some of them into the blast zone?"

"Well...we could always see if there are any goods that the locals might want back, plus I could use a cloak just in case of cold weather."

Almost eerily on cue, a brisk gust of wind zipped by; the suddenness of it raised goosebumps on Lee's skin before his inner fire was able to chase them away.

"Also, we could have me wander in pretending like I'm still lost before pretending tae realize who's camp I just wandered intae an' dashing away. Let's see how many o' them are able tae follow me. We're just going tae have tae time it just right. Hopefully the celebration lasts late intae the night so we can able tae set things up."

With that settled, the three of them settled down in their nook till nightfall. Every now and then, Cael flew off to make check on the ongoings though out the camp since they could only see a limited section of it from their cranny. As the deep darkness of the mountain night descended upon them, Lee opened what his kind call Dragon Eyes. Which is basically letting small sparks grow around their eyes so that they can see in darkness; this makes it seem as if they're eyes have small flames in their pupils.

Thankfully the celebrations did in deed continue into the night, and Cael was able to gather that the celebration was because of a highly successfully raid of a local shrine that had turned up many different religiously and historically important figurines, scrolls, and other such items. Because of this, Cael asked Tsu if she thought she would be able to move at at least some of the goods out of the range of the blast. Even if they were only able to save the loot from the shrine, it would be worth loosing a fighter if it drained that much of her energy.

[Tsukiko]

She was being greedy, wasn’t she? Tsu felt herself flush as she heard the questions. “Well, Umm, not really. It’s just that blowing up the loot would be wasteful . . . ” The Vixen was trying to explain herself but Lee answered her question for her though his idea of luring them wasn’t a wise idea to the fox girl. “Don’t you worry Lee. I’ll lure them in with some illusions. They won’t notice until it’s too late.” Doji Tsukiko winked before taking her position to watch the camp celebrate.

The haul must have been a king’s ransom for the thieves to party into the night like this. It must have been a wealthy shrine and those shrines had guards. The Sohei were warrior monks that made samurai quake in their armor. If these bandits were able to pull that off then they must be powerful.

Night had fallen and it was time to move out. The pair requested that she carry some of the goods into safety from the blast. “Ok, but I can’t take anything too heavy. Scrolls and maybe smaller figurines if they aren’t too heavy. But I have to be unseen so I can only take certain light stuff.”

Ki bowed to her friends as she began her transformation into a hawk. No one would care about the presence of a night hawk. Her body glowed slightly and shifted to the raptor. Silently the bird took flight and swooped into the great red tent where the treasure was kept. Tsu could see that the bandits did have a good haul. Many people suffered and died for this stolen treasure and some of it was to be stolen again by the fox. There was a twinge of guilt in her soul but it soon faded.

This was going to be her reward for stopping the bandits from future heists. One problem was that there was something missing. The bandits from yesterday were simple and easy; they could not have stolen this stuff. There had to be some tough guys and clever strategists here. They had to be careful. Tsu then transformed back into her normal form of a girl with fox ears and tail.

“Hey, did you hear that?”

Damn she had been caught. Tsu quickly darted under a table and focused her fox magic to hide her form. The two grizzled guards looked around and shook there heads. “Nope, there’s nothing.”

Tsu held her breath until they had left then she slowly left her hiding place and went about pocketing a few jade figurines and wearing some talisman on her neck. She couldn’t carry much but at least the shrine would get a few little things back. When Tsu was about to leave, she saw something catch her ruby eyes. A silver glint of a naginata made with Damascus and redwood and lined with jade and gold. It must have been used by the head of the shrines Sohei. It was a weapon that seemed to be calling to her. That blade was the last item that Tsu took as she exited the tent and stalked away.

There was one guard in the way. He had a sharp eyes on his grizzled face and he quickly saw Tsu. “Hey what are you doing?” He asked and drew a wakizashi but Tsu was quick and rushed forward with her new weapon ready to strike. Tsu whirled the naginata over her head and before the bandit could get in range he was smacked in head with the shaft and fell down unconscious. Tsu fled back to some bushes in hopes she would meet Lee and Cael. “Aright, I got some items away. If you want, I can lead them away so you can see if you can find anything.” Tsu offered as she looked at the kid with a smile. “Then I can lead them to gunpowder.”

[Taskmienster]

Torn


I’m sorry that this wasn’t completed; it was turning out to be rather interesting. Since it was not finished, and you wish for just the exp but don’t need full comments I’ll just do numbers for this one. If you have any questions feel free to PM or IM me and I’ll gladly help. :)

STORY (16/30)

~ Continuity ~ 6

~ Setting ~ 5

~ Pacing ~ 5



CHARACTER (18/30)

~ Dialogue ~ 7

~ Action~ 5

~ Persona ~ 6



WRITING STYLE (20/30)

~ Technique ~ 5

~ Mechanics ~ 8

~ Clarity ~ 7


WILD CARD!!! 6


General Notes




TOTAL

(60/100)


GAINS/REWARDS!

Tsukiko gains 2400 exp and 215 gold
SunDancer gains 625 exp and 215 gold

[Taskmienster]

Exp and GP added