Tell Me A Story [SL]

[Hermit]

The sun and the wind, acting in tandem, were oppressing every living thing that moved throughout Kaze no Kuni. The heat from the first was stirred, not abated, by the second and the whole of the outdoors seemed like a sweltering vortex. Kiri nin were often depressed because of the rain but no shinobi could out drink a native of the Hidden Sand. The environment and the attitudes it manufactured made the body long for something to provide relief and escape. Born from this liver rotting scenario, several taverns had sprouted up within the borders of the Wind Country and their doors were open day and night. There was a particular establishment nearly thirty kilometers from Sunagakure no Sato that rested in the center of a crossroad. The famous land mark was known simply as Chuggers and it served a variety of clientele with the only discriminating factor being the ability to pay. Often times, the doormen would allow people who were not of age to enter just so that they could toss them out after they had paid for a drink.

One such teenager, who went by the name of Sangai, had been admitted with his false ID escorting a working girl who was fresh off the end of her shift. The red light district ladies had an understanding with the management of Chuggers; for every underage customer they brought in there would be a previously arranged amount of alcohol set aside for them at the bar. Some of the more aggressive strumpets never had to pay for a drink, like the one who'd brought Sangai, and due to their lucrative arrangement with the tavern they were allowed to ply their trade inside the parlor area near the rear of the building. Time had run out for Sangai, the bartender had pocketed the young man's ryo and gone away- supposedly to fetch his drink- but a large bouncer type goon was the only thing that returned. A brief explanation was attempted but the thug had little time to waste, he was planning to make arrangements with one of the fresh girls in the back, so he decided to make short work of kid. A choke hold was applied and utilized masterfully to hoist the boy from his seat at the bar and raise him, gurgling and squirming, into the air then carry him toward the door.

[Hermit]

As Sangai was hefted and dragged through the bar there were many who turned their heads away from the spectacle. Many of the patrons knew of what was going on; some had even come of age after being put through the charade and still chose to make Chuggers the normal watering hole. But since the manager had hired new security to work the place it became inextricably clear that the "game" had turned ugly. Not only were the young people manhandled but the regulars as well, no one was safe. What might have resulted in a stern warning before now ended with broken bones and other severe trauma. Those who had not yet felt the crushing blows sought to merely disregard the level of brutality, and the management kept things as they were for two reasons. First and foremost, having over-eager, muscle bound thugs cut down on nasty occurrences (theirs excluded). Ronin, ne'er-do-wells and even nukenin could be discouraged from making a scene provided the right conditions were met and amoral goons sometimes fit that bill. Secondly, and more important, the management was quite frightened of reprisals if they were to terminate the new staff members.

So, the beatings and borderline assaults continued to play out night after night and no one really said anything about it. This evening was no different and no one objected or so much as batted an eyelash as the boy was dragged toward the door. The look of helplessness and fear in his eyes elicited no response, except from one man, as the others sought to ignore what was happening in their presence. But Sangai saw someone glaring intently at him from a table near the edge of the room, in the direction he was being carried, and the man seemed to fuming with anger. Still, he remained motionless until he finally took two cashews from the bowl next to his glass and smashed them both. Sangai didn't comprehend the gesture until the man then motioned toward the waitress who, like everyone else, what trying her damnedest not to look in the direction of the suffering child. Sangai's view honed in on the tray she was holding and the dark, amber colored bottles that rested atop it. As soon as the brutish goon brought him within reaching distance, the boy strained his arm outward to grasp one of the bottles before sending it directly into the bouncer's groin with all the force he could muster.

[Katsumaru]

The man groaned as he was struck, plummeting forward, holding the crotch. Writing on the grounds the bouncer glanced upwards, lips feebly moving in an attempt to speak. Not a single word was spoken. An intense pain filled his senses for he was hit in a spot most sensitive. With the crude assault, a silence spread through the bar, but it was short-lasting. The foolishness of the intoxicated reached its height as rambunctious roars. Men stood, bottles clenched and fists cuffed. Violence was but moments for erupting, and the bouncer could not act to halt this riot for still he was on the ground, the groan shifted to quiet weeps.

Numerous men began to strike at one another using anything in reach. Bottles, chairs, plates, swung as the growing mob engaged in the purest of reckless, hedonist urges, the thrill of battles. Several of the bulkier women even partook in the fighting, their skills no less efficient than the men’s. The barkeep and several of the working girls shouted for the crowd to calm, the fighting to end, but the frustrated cries were of no use. The melody of breaking bottles and bones rang through the bar, the tune forever a reminder of the ease with which these folks broke into combat.

The man Sangai spotted not long ago, who had smashed bottle, stood and pushed through the muffled crowd. His step was quick and fluid, avoiding the occasional fist thrown at him with swift slips. From his pouch he pulled forth a thin knife, metal gleaming in the light. While the other men reached for whatever improvised weapon to be found, none of them had grabbed anything lethal. This man, truly, had the intent to kill, it would seem. The crowd simply fought, relished in the joy of adrenaline, but none used the slightest energy to kill a man. This one, on the other hand, burned with an unmatched fury and a narrow, murderous gaze.

Skulking over the writhing bouncer, he leaned downwards and thrust the knife forward in the blink of an eye. The blade impaled the bouncer’s throat, tip penetrating an artery. Blood began to flow, a torrent of crimson staining the wooden floor. Upon this act most ruthless, the bar once again fell silent, not a single punch thrown. Aghast, with eyes wide and mouths open they stared at the vile scene that had unfolded. But none moved to act as the culprit stepped through the door, quick on his feet.

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[Hermit]

The man had barely made it out of the establishment before he was greeted by the sound of mild applause. If he looked to his right, he would see hands clapping before his eyes traveled upward to the face of the behemoth congratulating him. The face held no celebratory enthusiasms, but unless the man was crazy and just clapping to himself then it had to be for the murderer.

"As brilliant as that was, getting the kid everyone secretly felt sorry for to start a riot, you played your hand a bit too openly there at the end. Why not hurl the knife from a unseen vantage point? You must have known people were still aware of the bouncer's condition right?"

The man pushed himself away from the corner of the building, where he stood, and faced the man who had been attempting to make his escape. The larger of the two stood perfectly still as sounds of shuffling and muffled cries came from within the bar.

"You should probably be thinking of getting the fuck outta here. Mind if I tag along? You seem like an interesting person."

[Katsumaru]

The murderers escape was quick, his movement quick as he darted through the door, wasting to a single moment to relish in the macabre victory. He gave no reply to the Hikari as he exited, knife still dripping with blood. The bouncer’s eyes remained open as he lied on the grounds, breathing no more. Horrified gazes lingered on the corpse. One man walked over and knelt, sighing quietly as his hand moved over the eyes, shutting them.

Turning to the Hyuuga, the man spoke,”Seems as if you are a bit at ease at the murder. Even agree with the murder. We’ve got brutal men in here, but they do not kill. We want at least some order in here. So, I will give you a choice. The man who killed Gedzau right here has a bounty on his head. He was a shinobi once, left his village. Kill him, bring him to me.” he muttered with a glance at Hikari.

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[Messatsu!]

+15 @ Katsu!

[Apple]

[/b][/color] recieves an additional +15 EXP for being Kage of the month![/ul]