Akuma
08-16-2005, 04:31 PM
"Sit down, sit down! Sit down, dear child," the eccentric old woman commanded the quiet boy.
"You look like the type who could use a drink and a story after a hard days travel, yes...
yes? I have both for you. But please, sit down!"
She began to rummage around under the counter for a moment. Shortly after she revealed a
tall bottle of sake and a mug that was filled the brim shortly thereafter. The boy, soaked
and shivering looked up at the woman warily. She returned the expression with a wide grin.
"What's the charge?" The boy murmured without emotion.
"Charge? Charge! Who said anything about a charge? Can't an old woman parcel out some good
old-fashioned hospitality now and again? You look like you came here dragged behind a horse
in the mud. Just relax, boy! Relax!"
The boy lowered his eyes and took a seat at the bar. "Very well...if you insist." He picked
up the mug and drank at a rather hastened pace. The woman cupped her hands together and
watched him quietly.
"How is it?" She inquired.
He closed his eyes and set it down. A small smile passed onto his sullen face. "I must say
it's quite good. I..I thank you."
"No need for any formalities, boy. I can see you needed it." She produced a small washrag
from one of the cabinets and began to scrub the bar. "This whole village used to be known
for hospitality...but as of late they're all pretty morose. Many of them bitter as well."
"W-Why? What happened around here?" He said, taking her bait for the story.
"A demon came through here." She whispered, her tone undergoing a dramatic change from
excited and cheerful and dark and foreboding.
"A demon? What kind of a demon?"
"The kind that can bring calamity and woe to an entire village in just one night." She swallowed
a lump in her throat before continuing. "He had a human's body but the soul of a monster."
"What was his name? What did he do?" He questioned, his tone raising and his voice becoming
filled with righteous fervor."
"Hang on, boy! Hang on. You're getting too excited...I'm not sure if I should tell you this.
You might do something reckless!"
"No, please. Go on. I apologize for my interruption." He lowered his head.
"This boy was apparantly training under a local swordsman near this area. As the story goes
the swordsman was coming into town on one of his regular trips. He had to get food and daily
goods because he lived in a somewhat remote area of the woods. Now, one day...this swordsman
was found dead in a restaurant. It was witnessed by several citizens as an attack by some
local thugs. But...his student did not believe this tale. He came into village, filled with
ire and looking for the killers of his master. When the villagers told him the truth he
retorted with cruel ferocity that his master would never be bested by common thugs. He
blamed it on one man...a man who became the pillar of our community as a dedicated and
peaceful leader. EVERYONE said this was a ridiculous charge! But the boy wouldn't listen to
reason. He said he KNEW that this man was responsible! It was simply preposterous! The boy
was mad! He said...that the two of them had been rivals. And that he KNEW that his master
was a victim of some dirty trick by our leader. How ridiculous! How nonsensical! Our leader
was a good and respected man of this community. It was simply not true!" The woman stopped
to calm herself and take a few deep breaths.
The boy remained quiet as he looked up at the woman attentively with firm dedication in his
eyes. The old woman nodded slightly and continued her tale. "Unfortunately not only was this
boy mad...he was also an excellent swordsman himself. He took up the blade of his master and
personally killed the man he accused in public. Some guards tried to stop him...he killed
them too. But ohh...no! No he didn't stop there!" The woman's eyes had become moist as she
spoke with false, but very well performed tribulation. "He started killing anyone in his
line of sight! Innocent civilians were slaughtered like animals! At least fifteen of them
before the rest had all fled. There was no one left to stand up to him...and the monster
left without knowing justice. To think of the things he said about our village! That we were
just common thieves and murderers...to think! What a demon he was..."
The boy slammed his empty mug down on the table. "There is never any justice done for those
who suffer. I will take this upon myself to find and kill this man! What is his name?"
A slight glint sparkled in the old woman's eye as he spoke. "He has no name anymore...he
only answers to the nickname this village gave him. 'Akuma.'"
"Demon or not...he will not harm any innocents after I find him!" The boy ran out, his blood
boiling from the tale. The old woman smirked to herself as he stormed out the door.
She was the wife of a notorious criminal who had this town in his palm and slowly squeezed
the life from it day by day. However, he kept a perfect public image and manipulated the
villagers into believing he was working to help them. That man's blood was the first Akuma's
blade had a taste of. The boy was the fifth to vow to bring back Akuma's head this evening
alone.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________
Meanwhile...in the next town over...
A tall, spindly frame of a man made his way through the throngs of people. He looked up
from under his midnight-black conical sun hat as his eye scrutinized the crowd.
He lowered his head and his face was shrouded in shadow once more. Onlookers who had
caught a glance at him would have noticed a somewhat pale complexion to his face. His
features were small and delicate - yet this would be ignored due to the most distinct
aspect of his face. That would be the black eyepatch worn over his right. Sinuous black
hair flowed down to the middle of his back. His clothing was traditional - a short kimono
worn with a black hakama skirt with a pair of black sandals. However, the hue of his short
kimono was a unique, mystifying shade of red. Gazing into it created the illusion of
sinking into a blood sea of unfathomable depth. It was devoid of any markings or patterns.
The last item was the crowning piece in any warrior's ensemble - the sword. His blade was
a full length katana sheathed at his side. The saya was no work of art - it was simple,
black and served it's purpose. Nothing more.
EDIT: (again) I changed my mind. I'd rather start roleplaying in my family thread than here. So now it's just my random bad intro.
And yes I was too lazy to write a new appearance for my character so it's the same one from Sykoi's bar - if anyone paid attention to that.
"You look like the type who could use a drink and a story after a hard days travel, yes...
yes? I have both for you. But please, sit down!"
She began to rummage around under the counter for a moment. Shortly after she revealed a
tall bottle of sake and a mug that was filled the brim shortly thereafter. The boy, soaked
and shivering looked up at the woman warily. She returned the expression with a wide grin.
"What's the charge?" The boy murmured without emotion.
"Charge? Charge! Who said anything about a charge? Can't an old woman parcel out some good
old-fashioned hospitality now and again? You look like you came here dragged behind a horse
in the mud. Just relax, boy! Relax!"
The boy lowered his eyes and took a seat at the bar. "Very well...if you insist." He picked
up the mug and drank at a rather hastened pace. The woman cupped her hands together and
watched him quietly.
"How is it?" She inquired.
He closed his eyes and set it down. A small smile passed onto his sullen face. "I must say
it's quite good. I..I thank you."
"No need for any formalities, boy. I can see you needed it." She produced a small washrag
from one of the cabinets and began to scrub the bar. "This whole village used to be known
for hospitality...but as of late they're all pretty morose. Many of them bitter as well."
"W-Why? What happened around here?" He said, taking her bait for the story.
"A demon came through here." She whispered, her tone undergoing a dramatic change from
excited and cheerful and dark and foreboding.
"A demon? What kind of a demon?"
"The kind that can bring calamity and woe to an entire village in just one night." She swallowed
a lump in her throat before continuing. "He had a human's body but the soul of a monster."
"What was his name? What did he do?" He questioned, his tone raising and his voice becoming
filled with righteous fervor."
"Hang on, boy! Hang on. You're getting too excited...I'm not sure if I should tell you this.
You might do something reckless!"
"No, please. Go on. I apologize for my interruption." He lowered his head.
"This boy was apparantly training under a local swordsman near this area. As the story goes
the swordsman was coming into town on one of his regular trips. He had to get food and daily
goods because he lived in a somewhat remote area of the woods. Now, one day...this swordsman
was found dead in a restaurant. It was witnessed by several citizens as an attack by some
local thugs. But...his student did not believe this tale. He came into village, filled with
ire and looking for the killers of his master. When the villagers told him the truth he
retorted with cruel ferocity that his master would never be bested by common thugs. He
blamed it on one man...a man who became the pillar of our community as a dedicated and
peaceful leader. EVERYONE said this was a ridiculous charge! But the boy wouldn't listen to
reason. He said he KNEW that this man was responsible! It was simply preposterous! The boy
was mad! He said...that the two of them had been rivals. And that he KNEW that his master
was a victim of some dirty trick by our leader. How ridiculous! How nonsensical! Our leader
was a good and respected man of this community. It was simply not true!" The woman stopped
to calm herself and take a few deep breaths.
The boy remained quiet as he looked up at the woman attentively with firm dedication in his
eyes. The old woman nodded slightly and continued her tale. "Unfortunately not only was this
boy mad...he was also an excellent swordsman himself. He took up the blade of his master and
personally killed the man he accused in public. Some guards tried to stop him...he killed
them too. But ohh...no! No he didn't stop there!" The woman's eyes had become moist as she
spoke with false, but very well performed tribulation. "He started killing anyone in his
line of sight! Innocent civilians were slaughtered like animals! At least fifteen of them
before the rest had all fled. There was no one left to stand up to him...and the monster
left without knowing justice. To think of the things he said about our village! That we were
just common thieves and murderers...to think! What a demon he was..."
The boy slammed his empty mug down on the table. "There is never any justice done for those
who suffer. I will take this upon myself to find and kill this man! What is his name?"
A slight glint sparkled in the old woman's eye as he spoke. "He has no name anymore...he
only answers to the nickname this village gave him. 'Akuma.'"
"Demon or not...he will not harm any innocents after I find him!" The boy ran out, his blood
boiling from the tale. The old woman smirked to herself as he stormed out the door.
She was the wife of a notorious criminal who had this town in his palm and slowly squeezed
the life from it day by day. However, he kept a perfect public image and manipulated the
villagers into believing he was working to help them. That man's blood was the first Akuma's
blade had a taste of. The boy was the fifth to vow to bring back Akuma's head this evening
alone.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________
Meanwhile...in the next town over...
A tall, spindly frame of a man made his way through the throngs of people. He looked up
from under his midnight-black conical sun hat as his eye scrutinized the crowd.
He lowered his head and his face was shrouded in shadow once more. Onlookers who had
caught a glance at him would have noticed a somewhat pale complexion to his face. His
features were small and delicate - yet this would be ignored due to the most distinct
aspect of his face. That would be the black eyepatch worn over his right. Sinuous black
hair flowed down to the middle of his back. His clothing was traditional - a short kimono
worn with a black hakama skirt with a pair of black sandals. However, the hue of his short
kimono was a unique, mystifying shade of red. Gazing into it created the illusion of
sinking into a blood sea of unfathomable depth. It was devoid of any markings or patterns.
The last item was the crowning piece in any warrior's ensemble - the sword. His blade was
a full length katana sheathed at his side. The saya was no work of art - it was simple,
black and served it's purpose. Nothing more.
EDIT: (again) I changed my mind. I'd rather start roleplaying in my family thread than here. So now it's just my random bad intro.
And yes I was too lazy to write a new appearance for my character so it's the same one from Sykoi's bar - if anyone paid attention to that.