The Illuminators: Last Trinity (A Naruto AU)
E1 Postlude: Levity
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
You decide to stop at the settlement. It's relatively small; makeshift structures dot the area and smoke comes from fires inside and outside of homes. Not too many people are milling about, which is sort of expected. You and Hannah take your time walking in and checking for any kind of shops or merchants willing to sell anything.
"Hrm." You catch a rock as it's thrown at your head.
"Stinking ninja dogs! Get outta here!"
A thin child with a brown mop for hair winds up to throw another rock at you before a slightly older girl stops him. She wears a long, orange dress with big pockets on either side.
"Oi! Cut it out! Stupid boy!" She smacks him on the behind a few times and he blows a raspberry at her before running off. Her demeanor changes and she hits the floor as quickly as she can before the both of you, entering dogeza.
"Do what you want with me. If only you could find it in your hearts to spare this aspiring village and its people. I beg you...please."
"We freelance and are on a personal mission," Hannah says elegantly. "Raise your head and stand on your feet, my darling."
"You are...not shinobi?"
"Nor are we hired by the Cloud."
The girl stands up, wiping dirt from her face. She's thin like the boy before her, but tall for what you presume to be a young age. Her hair is a light brown, straight, and only minimally cared for. "Please forgive us regardless. I am Shiina. That was my younger brother, Sora. We haven't had the greatest experience with shinobi lately."
"Or ever," Hannah says.
"Yes, ma'am. Or ever." Shiina looks at you expectantly for a moment before her expression changes again. "What can we help with? If it's a place to stay, I can talk with my mother."
"We just wanted to stop a while and see if you had anything on sale," you reply. "Thinking about getting some extra supplies and food in our bellies before moving on."
"Are you headed to the ruins? Sora and I go up to play sometimes with the other kids, with Momma's permission if we get up early enough."
You think. "Did you guys find anything up there? Anything strange?"
"Yes..." She sighs. "It's not the only reason we have to be paranoid, but it might be one of them. Sora went ducking into a weird place that was like a cave with lots of doors. We found him and told him to get out. He said there was a 'ratty old scroll' that he couldn't open so he left it on the ground."
"So it is there. That's wonderful confirmation," Hannah says. "That ratty looking scroll, was it still there the last time you looked?"
"It should be. We were up there about two days ago, and from what Momma and the others have said, nobody's gone up there other than us. She's scared that the ninja will come for us, though."
"They very well might. Don't tell them that you were up there, and especially not that you found anything of any possible value. Besides, that's my scroll anyways."
Shiina tilts her head, brown eyes blinking. "Did you drop it there?"
"The heavens saw fit to leave it in that very spot, in preparation for my arrival."
You give a shrug to Shiina as she looks to you for understanding.
"I...I see. Um, Momma can make you some food if you'd like, and I think she has some things she wanted to trade. It takes a long while to get what we need to trade with other people, especially if we need to go to Cloud. I don't like it there. It's...not nice."
"My darling, we will be nothing but fair to you and your Momma. Can you trust us, just a tiny bit?" Hannah asks sweetly. Shiina smiles and nods, beckoning you both towards where she lives. Sora is outside of the large tent, a pot over his head.
"Stinking trash ninja scum! I'm gonna-" His older sister quickly puts him over her knee and spanks, loudly and rapidly. Sora cries out for mercy until an older woman appears from inside.
"Shiina, let him be."
"I'm sorry, Momma."
"Sora, stop being a nuisance."
"S-sorry...M-momma..."
She sighs and pulls him to her side, stroking his hair. At the same time, she takes notice of both of you. Her hair is cut short, a bandana around her neck. She wears a ragged sweater and very worn pants, sandals on her feet.
"You look the part of shinobi dogs, but since you haven't beaten Sora to pulp, I can hear you out."
"Your lovely daughter informed us that you have some items available, and food to sell us."
"I don't sell-" She cuts herself off upon realization. "I'm sorry, I forgot my manners. Sachi. I'm one of the so called elders of this little outfit we have going."
"You don't look a day over 25, ma'am."
"Oh, shut up." Her words are contradicted by the satisfied smile on her face. "I'll make you your food, and you can have a look at what we've got for sale. Come on inside."
Hannah winks and nudges you. "25, huh. You honeypot, you."
"What. It's a compliment."
"A compliment that'll get your bones jumped. Single mother...scratching out a life...two kids she has to look after...and a whole lot of stress. Right there. Recipe for getting your bones jumped."
"She's probably twice my age..."
"When a fruit's ripe, it's ripe."
You shudder.
"Relax. I'll protect you when the time comes."
"Reassuring."
Hannah scoffs at you playfully as you both take your seats on the floor cushions, situated on top of wooden blocks. They're well taken care of, considering. Sachi seems to be working hard all around, having carved out proper common and sleeping areas, as much as they could be called that while inside a tent. Buckets and a small self-made water basin hold their water supply. There are two fire pits, one big one presumably for gatherings, and another that looks to be for personal cooking. Shiina is doing vegetable prep on a makeshift countertop, handling her knife skillfully. Sora starts the fire and builds it up underneath the large pot.
"Making stew from scratch," Sachi says as she drags in a large sack. "Some people are gonna file in. I told them about the two travelers who were interested in making deals."
"Wanna see what they've got?" you ask Hannah. She nods and you nod to Sachi.
"Come on in, first up."
Sachi is resourceful; in the time you've spent considering the offers made to you both, she's already hard at work on the stew with her children. Eventually she takes over completely, and the kids get the offer to play but instead stick around and observe you.
Hannah is having a time of it. She's playful and teasing as she haggles the local people up and down the block. Eventually, they start to get the message and play along, so you go into your good cop routine and Hannah plays the miserly bad cop. You buy things with your cash on hand - you don't reveal the amount because you know it would turn this place into a mad house - and flip some of the things you've got at lower prices. Sachi eventually deems her stew ready and shoos everyone out, intending to eat lunch. It's afternoon by now, and you're definitely hungry.
"That was delightful."
"Gotta admit, that was fun," you say in agreement with your friend. "Didn't think you could have such a good time with economics."
"World's strange like that," Sachi says. She puts the hot bowls on slabs of wood and hands them to you one by one. "Shouldn't be too hot by now. Oh, forgot the bread."
"I'll get it, Momma."
"Thank you, honeybear." Sachi watches as Shiina slices the bread with a smile. "She's such a darling. Truth be told, I didn't know how this was going to affect her, but she's pulled through. Sora's too young to care."
"How long have you been out here?" you ask.
"Almost a year. Wasn't really a planned thing, this. We..." She breathes out. "The Cloud shinobi were indiscriminate on their mission, whatever it was. And when we asked them what they'd do about our homes, our lives, they just pulled out some shitty forms and told us to sign them for compensation. You can see how well that went. I mean, they're not absolutely heartless, don't get me wrong."
"Of course. If you have more money, they have more compassion. Such is society," Hannah says.
"Heh. You speak like a blue blood, but everything that comes out of your mouth tells me the opposite."
"I am of the nobility in some way...but my similarities with them end there."
"Clearly." Shiina provides everyone with thick slices of bread, and you're set to start. Everyone clasps their hands in prayer.
"May the love of heaven shine upon us. Our hearts clear, our spirits bright. Love eternal flow through us. Peace be."
"Peace be," you reply in unison. You take a spoonful of the stew and nod your head. Good stuff.
"Simply delicious. How much to part with the recipe?" Hannah asks.
"You people are weird." Sachi rolls her eyes upwards in thought. "1000 ryo."
"That's a horrid offer."
"2000."
"Please stop."
"Yeesh, sorry."
"No less than one million."
Sachi almost fumbled her bowl. "E-excuse me?!"
"I'll chip in one myself," you say. "Two million. Also...what do you know about the ruins north of here?"
She recovers and coughs into her hand. "Rumours about them being Inugami holdings, but that's never been proven. Some tunnels...I had to look over Sora in case he picked up something, since he said he touched an old scroll."
"We're on our way to pick that up," you say. "If there's anything else we scrape up, we should be able to make a few deals with you on the way back. Sound good?"
"Sounds great."
You nod in response. "Cool. We should be able to finish up everything later. It's not that far out from here, so a few hours at most. Back for dinner."
"I'll cook you crazies something else, then. Been saving some steaks for a good occasion, and this seems like one."
"Looking forward to it." You finish up your stew and Shiina obediently takes your dishes away to clean. The excess items from earlier are sealed away, and you unclip your 'money' scroll from your belt in order to access your available cash. Hannah does the same and you produce two million ryo, to the shock of the mother and her children.
"H-holy crap..."
"Should be enough to do some good things, eh?" you ask.
"You don't know the half...ah...I mean, go on and finish your dumb mission thing. Get, get."
"Momma, you shouldn't be rude!" Shiina says.
"It's okay. We really should be going. Take care until we return, won't you?" Hannah says.
You leave the tent and head outside. Sachi just didn't want to let you see her cry...she was grateful, you could tell.
"Oi."
You and Hannah turn back to face her.
"Don't be too late for dinner, you weirdo city slickers." She follows up with a huge, bright grin. "Remember, it's steak night."
"Yup! We won't be long!" you call back.
As you and Hannah finally get towards the edge of the settlement, you hear footsteps behind you.
"Sir. Ma'am."
Shiina stops beside you, catching her breath.
"Shiina. Everything okay?" you ask. She shakes her head. A hand goes into one of the pockets on her dress. She pulls out a small gemstone.
It's a dazzling sapphire blue. Not a sapphire, but-
"Lapis...Lazuli," Hannah mumbles.
Shiina puts the gem into your hand and closes it. "I...have a wish. I wish that we could have peace. I wish that people didn't need the shinobi anymore, that they would go away. I hate what the shinobi are. I hate it so much," she says with tears in her eyes. "But they're people too."
"Shiina, you..."
"My wish is that the age of shinobi end. I want us to live in peace. Hashirama wasn't right. He tried, but he wasn't right..."
Her hand slips away from yours.
"It's only a wish. I want you to carry it as long as you can. I want a lot of things. But that...most of all. If you can't fulfill it, I won't ever hate you. You gave me and Momma and Sora hope. So much hope. Momma doesn't know I talk like this. That I think these things."
"We can tell her together when we get back. After we finish giving you a new life," you say with a smile.
You only get a sad smile in response.
"Yes. I'll wait here...I know you'll come back. I'll see you again. I know it."
"My name's Joshua."
"Mine is Hannah."
She nods. "Thank you...I'll see you both soon." Shiina runs back the way she came. You look at the Lapis Lazuli for a moment before pocketing it.
"Such a valuable stone to give away," Hannah comments. "Perhaps...she sees it too."
"Sees what?"
"The strength that flows from you. I see you're not yet aware, but you will be soon enough."
"Hm." You shrug on your backpack and start down the road. "Let's get going. We promised to be back for dinner."
---
It wasn't what you expected.
The place was thoroughly leveled, with only the trace remains of walls poking up out of the grass. The well nearby was just about gone, reduced to a circle on the ground. Tunnels had collapsed and filled with dirt, which then had layers of grass over it. Decent obstacle course for the kids, but really just a bunch of rocks on a hill as far as anyone else was concerned.
"I really was expecting a bit more," Hannah says. "This place is much older than suggested."
"Yeah."
You locate the place where Sora found the scroll and try to drop in, since the actual entrances were presumably collapsed. But neither your build or Hannah's was small enough to squeeze into the opening.
Someone once said that explosives solved everything. They weren't lying.
A few moderate booms later, you've busted the hole wide open and reinforced things with your earth jutsu. Hannah grabs the scroll and hops out. There's a small red band on it, looking out of place against the worn outer layer of paper.
"It's working as intended. We'll have our expert work on cracking the seal properly. An extra fee, but money is no object." Hannah puts the scroll into her bag. "How much do you have, by the by?"
"Total?"
"Mm-hm."
"Around 63 million total, 25 liquid, 6 on hand after that last transaction."
"Mm. 100 liquid in various places. 5 on hand now."
"100 million liquid?"
"I've limited access to the rest for now."
You let out a low whistle. "Man. Doing well for yourself."
"It can come and go as it pleases. There are far more important things," she says while looking at you. "I'd sign a prenuptual for you, too~"
"I'd slap you in the back of the head if you did."
She gasps happily. "Well! You really are a wonderful, wonderful friend. So understanding and gallant."
"If you're trying to butter me up, it's only slightly working."
"Progress~"
You roll your eyes before they settle on the direction you came from. "Let's head back. I really do like steak."
"You said your grandmother made the most mouthwatering steak in the world."
"Yup. If we can sneak back into town, I'll get her to cook for you."
"And get her blessing?"
You laugh. "You'll be too full to think about anything, much less getting hitched."
---
Dinner's good. Not Grandma West good, because nothing ever was. But really good.
You trade some more and spend the night afterwards. Then wake up, eat breakfast, trade more stuff, and leave. Sora thinks you're still idiots, but you're slightly better in his eyes for not being shinobi dogs and making his mom happy.
Shiina gives you a knowing look before bowing politely, saying nothing else. You forget to tell Sachi about what she said, and she doesn't try to remind you.
With a mutual look, you both leave it alone. This seems to be between the two of you.
"..."
You'd have to think hard about that dream of hers. Hashirama was wrong, huh...
---
You cross down through Cloud in about two weeks and then pass through Frost to get to Hot Water. There's zero fanfare as you take the longer routes around to avoid any trouble. You don't know what exactly that Madara guy told them, but if it got them to pull out that big of a dragnet, it couldn't be anything pleasant.
Once you cross into Hot Water Country, you're free to let your guard down. Peace is an enduring theme here, to the point where even the country's hidden village is pacifist. A good place to hang out if you're weary from being all the run all the time.
You're currently fifty kilometers north of Hot Water Village. There's an incredible amount of hot springs in the country, and to no surprise villages and town take advantage of this for daily living and tourism.
This small town? No exception. Hot Water shinobi are keeping the peace and give you friendly nods, assuming you're from out of town and trying to keep you comfortable. You've got shopping, food, and resorts all in one convenient place.
"Might we stop for a while?" Hannah asks.
"That's the plan. Roughing a few weeks is neat for character, but nobody wants to do that forever. How far's your contact?"
"Just a bit outside of the hidden village itself. I will send them a message to inform them of our arrival."
"In that case, all the better we put it in park for a while and wait to hear back."
"My sentiments exactly. From the guide here...mm. Since we can more than afford it, we shall aim for quality and comfort. There's a good place with fabulous hot springs nearby."
"Let's check in," you say with a smile. She smiles back and follows you.
The inn looks modest from the outside, but inside is a different story. The halls are well and thoroughly decked with traditional flair. Women in elegant kimonos appear to assist and welcome you, and you head to the front desk to book your rooms.
"Welcome," the receptionist says.
"Two rooms for us, the best you have," Hannah says smoothly.
"Long journey from the Cloud?"
"Visiting on business. Long way from the Iron," you reply.
Her demeanor changes ever so slightly as she nods, acknowledging you as a kokoahito and not a Cloud nutbag. Not surprising the pacifists would dislike the war hawks. "I hope your stay is quite relaxing, sir. And as peaceful as possible."
"Thank you."
You feel like you're missing something. Hannah has been too quiet, and you don't like the sound of that.
"Ah, I did neglect to mention one thing, sir. Apologies."
"Not a problem," you say as your turn back. "What was it?"
"While we do have special areas for women to safely gather together, and private baths for our more affluent guests, this onsen is kon'yoku."
"Kon'y-" Your eyes widen and you turn to Hannah. "You slippery little minx...!"
Her lips curl into that oh-so-annoying smile.
"I hope you both enjoy yourselves thoroughly. Thank you for choosing us."
The receptionist is trying her hardest not to smile.
---
[] No, nope, nah. Mixed bathing, out. No sir.
-[] Hang out on dry land. Nothing good will come of entering the water naked.
-[] You're going to bathe, but you're also going to avoid the little devil at all costs.
[] You might as well enjoy your hot springs experience. Besides, what's a little mixed bathing between friends?
[] Write-in.
"Hrm." You catch a rock as it's thrown at your head.
"Stinking ninja dogs! Get outta here!"
A thin child with a brown mop for hair winds up to throw another rock at you before a slightly older girl stops him. She wears a long, orange dress with big pockets on either side.
"Oi! Cut it out! Stupid boy!" She smacks him on the behind a few times and he blows a raspberry at her before running off. Her demeanor changes and she hits the floor as quickly as she can before the both of you, entering dogeza.
"Do what you want with me. If only you could find it in your hearts to spare this aspiring village and its people. I beg you...please."
"We freelance and are on a personal mission," Hannah says elegantly. "Raise your head and stand on your feet, my darling."
"You are...not shinobi?"
"Nor are we hired by the Cloud."
The girl stands up, wiping dirt from her face. She's thin like the boy before her, but tall for what you presume to be a young age. Her hair is a light brown, straight, and only minimally cared for. "Please forgive us regardless. I am Shiina. That was my younger brother, Sora. We haven't had the greatest experience with shinobi lately."
"Or ever," Hannah says.
"Yes, ma'am. Or ever." Shiina looks at you expectantly for a moment before her expression changes again. "What can we help with? If it's a place to stay, I can talk with my mother."
"We just wanted to stop a while and see if you had anything on sale," you reply. "Thinking about getting some extra supplies and food in our bellies before moving on."
"Are you headed to the ruins? Sora and I go up to play sometimes with the other kids, with Momma's permission if we get up early enough."
You think. "Did you guys find anything up there? Anything strange?"
"Yes..." She sighs. "It's not the only reason we have to be paranoid, but it might be one of them. Sora went ducking into a weird place that was like a cave with lots of doors. We found him and told him to get out. He said there was a 'ratty old scroll' that he couldn't open so he left it on the ground."
"So it is there. That's wonderful confirmation," Hannah says. "That ratty looking scroll, was it still there the last time you looked?"
"It should be. We were up there about two days ago, and from what Momma and the others have said, nobody's gone up there other than us. She's scared that the ninja will come for us, though."
"They very well might. Don't tell them that you were up there, and especially not that you found anything of any possible value. Besides, that's my scroll anyways."
Shiina tilts her head, brown eyes blinking. "Did you drop it there?"
"The heavens saw fit to leave it in that very spot, in preparation for my arrival."
You give a shrug to Shiina as she looks to you for understanding.
"I...I see. Um, Momma can make you some food if you'd like, and I think she has some things she wanted to trade. It takes a long while to get what we need to trade with other people, especially if we need to go to Cloud. I don't like it there. It's...not nice."
"My darling, we will be nothing but fair to you and your Momma. Can you trust us, just a tiny bit?" Hannah asks sweetly. Shiina smiles and nods, beckoning you both towards where she lives. Sora is outside of the large tent, a pot over his head.
"Stinking trash ninja scum! I'm gonna-" His older sister quickly puts him over her knee and spanks, loudly and rapidly. Sora cries out for mercy until an older woman appears from inside.
"Shiina, let him be."
"I'm sorry, Momma."
"Sora, stop being a nuisance."
"S-sorry...M-momma..."
She sighs and pulls him to her side, stroking his hair. At the same time, she takes notice of both of you. Her hair is cut short, a bandana around her neck. She wears a ragged sweater and very worn pants, sandals on her feet.
"You look the part of shinobi dogs, but since you haven't beaten Sora to pulp, I can hear you out."
"Your lovely daughter informed us that you have some items available, and food to sell us."
"I don't sell-" She cuts herself off upon realization. "I'm sorry, I forgot my manners. Sachi. I'm one of the so called elders of this little outfit we have going."
"You don't look a day over 25, ma'am."
"Oh, shut up." Her words are contradicted by the satisfied smile on her face. "I'll make you your food, and you can have a look at what we've got for sale. Come on inside."
Hannah winks and nudges you. "25, huh. You honeypot, you."
"What. It's a compliment."
"A compliment that'll get your bones jumped. Single mother...scratching out a life...two kids she has to look after...and a whole lot of stress. Right there. Recipe for getting your bones jumped."
"She's probably twice my age..."
"When a fruit's ripe, it's ripe."
You shudder.
"Relax. I'll protect you when the time comes."
"Reassuring."
Hannah scoffs at you playfully as you both take your seats on the floor cushions, situated on top of wooden blocks. They're well taken care of, considering. Sachi seems to be working hard all around, having carved out proper common and sleeping areas, as much as they could be called that while inside a tent. Buckets and a small self-made water basin hold their water supply. There are two fire pits, one big one presumably for gatherings, and another that looks to be for personal cooking. Shiina is doing vegetable prep on a makeshift countertop, handling her knife skillfully. Sora starts the fire and builds it up underneath the large pot.
"Making stew from scratch," Sachi says as she drags in a large sack. "Some people are gonna file in. I told them about the two travelers who were interested in making deals."
"Wanna see what they've got?" you ask Hannah. She nods and you nod to Sachi.
"Come on in, first up."
Sachi is resourceful; in the time you've spent considering the offers made to you both, she's already hard at work on the stew with her children. Eventually she takes over completely, and the kids get the offer to play but instead stick around and observe you.
Hannah is having a time of it. She's playful and teasing as she haggles the local people up and down the block. Eventually, they start to get the message and play along, so you go into your good cop routine and Hannah plays the miserly bad cop. You buy things with your cash on hand - you don't reveal the amount because you know it would turn this place into a mad house - and flip some of the things you've got at lower prices. Sachi eventually deems her stew ready and shoos everyone out, intending to eat lunch. It's afternoon by now, and you're definitely hungry.
"That was delightful."
"Gotta admit, that was fun," you say in agreement with your friend. "Didn't think you could have such a good time with economics."
"World's strange like that," Sachi says. She puts the hot bowls on slabs of wood and hands them to you one by one. "Shouldn't be too hot by now. Oh, forgot the bread."
"I'll get it, Momma."
"Thank you, honeybear." Sachi watches as Shiina slices the bread with a smile. "She's such a darling. Truth be told, I didn't know how this was going to affect her, but she's pulled through. Sora's too young to care."
"How long have you been out here?" you ask.
"Almost a year. Wasn't really a planned thing, this. We..." She breathes out. "The Cloud shinobi were indiscriminate on their mission, whatever it was. And when we asked them what they'd do about our homes, our lives, they just pulled out some shitty forms and told us to sign them for compensation. You can see how well that went. I mean, they're not absolutely heartless, don't get me wrong."
"Of course. If you have more money, they have more compassion. Such is society," Hannah says.
"Heh. You speak like a blue blood, but everything that comes out of your mouth tells me the opposite."
"I am of the nobility in some way...but my similarities with them end there."
"Clearly." Shiina provides everyone with thick slices of bread, and you're set to start. Everyone clasps their hands in prayer.
"May the love of heaven shine upon us. Our hearts clear, our spirits bright. Love eternal flow through us. Peace be."
"Peace be," you reply in unison. You take a spoonful of the stew and nod your head. Good stuff.
"Simply delicious. How much to part with the recipe?" Hannah asks.
"You people are weird." Sachi rolls her eyes upwards in thought. "1000 ryo."
"That's a horrid offer."
"2000."
"Please stop."
"Yeesh, sorry."
"No less than one million."
Sachi almost fumbled her bowl. "E-excuse me?!"
"I'll chip in one myself," you say. "Two million. Also...what do you know about the ruins north of here?"
She recovers and coughs into her hand. "Rumours about them being Inugami holdings, but that's never been proven. Some tunnels...I had to look over Sora in case he picked up something, since he said he touched an old scroll."
"We're on our way to pick that up," you say. "If there's anything else we scrape up, we should be able to make a few deals with you on the way back. Sound good?"
"Sounds great."
You nod in response. "Cool. We should be able to finish up everything later. It's not that far out from here, so a few hours at most. Back for dinner."
"I'll cook you crazies something else, then. Been saving some steaks for a good occasion, and this seems like one."
"Looking forward to it." You finish up your stew and Shiina obediently takes your dishes away to clean. The excess items from earlier are sealed away, and you unclip your 'money' scroll from your belt in order to access your available cash. Hannah does the same and you produce two million ryo, to the shock of the mother and her children.
"H-holy crap..."
"Should be enough to do some good things, eh?" you ask.
"You don't know the half...ah...I mean, go on and finish your dumb mission thing. Get, get."
"Momma, you shouldn't be rude!" Shiina says.
"It's okay. We really should be going. Take care until we return, won't you?" Hannah says.
You leave the tent and head outside. Sachi just didn't want to let you see her cry...she was grateful, you could tell.
"Oi."
You and Hannah turn back to face her.
"Don't be too late for dinner, you weirdo city slickers." She follows up with a huge, bright grin. "Remember, it's steak night."
"Yup! We won't be long!" you call back.
As you and Hannah finally get towards the edge of the settlement, you hear footsteps behind you.
"Sir. Ma'am."
Shiina stops beside you, catching her breath.
"Shiina. Everything okay?" you ask. She shakes her head. A hand goes into one of the pockets on her dress. She pulls out a small gemstone.
It's a dazzling sapphire blue. Not a sapphire, but-
"Lapis...Lazuli," Hannah mumbles.
Shiina puts the gem into your hand and closes it. "I...have a wish. I wish that we could have peace. I wish that people didn't need the shinobi anymore, that they would go away. I hate what the shinobi are. I hate it so much," she says with tears in her eyes. "But they're people too."
"Shiina, you..."
"My wish is that the age of shinobi end. I want us to live in peace. Hashirama wasn't right. He tried, but he wasn't right..."
Her hand slips away from yours.
"It's only a wish. I want you to carry it as long as you can. I want a lot of things. But that...most of all. If you can't fulfill it, I won't ever hate you. You gave me and Momma and Sora hope. So much hope. Momma doesn't know I talk like this. That I think these things."
"We can tell her together when we get back. After we finish giving you a new life," you say with a smile.
You only get a sad smile in response.
"Yes. I'll wait here...I know you'll come back. I'll see you again. I know it."
"My name's Joshua."
"Mine is Hannah."
She nods. "Thank you...I'll see you both soon." Shiina runs back the way she came. You look at the Lapis Lazuli for a moment before pocketing it.
"Such a valuable stone to give away," Hannah comments. "Perhaps...she sees it too."
"Sees what?"
"The strength that flows from you. I see you're not yet aware, but you will be soon enough."
"Hm." You shrug on your backpack and start down the road. "Let's get going. We promised to be back for dinner."
---
It wasn't what you expected.
The place was thoroughly leveled, with only the trace remains of walls poking up out of the grass. The well nearby was just about gone, reduced to a circle on the ground. Tunnels had collapsed and filled with dirt, which then had layers of grass over it. Decent obstacle course for the kids, but really just a bunch of rocks on a hill as far as anyone else was concerned.
"I really was expecting a bit more," Hannah says. "This place is much older than suggested."
"Yeah."
You locate the place where Sora found the scroll and try to drop in, since the actual entrances were presumably collapsed. But neither your build or Hannah's was small enough to squeeze into the opening.
Someone once said that explosives solved everything. They weren't lying.
A few moderate booms later, you've busted the hole wide open and reinforced things with your earth jutsu. Hannah grabs the scroll and hops out. There's a small red band on it, looking out of place against the worn outer layer of paper.
"It's working as intended. We'll have our expert work on cracking the seal properly. An extra fee, but money is no object." Hannah puts the scroll into her bag. "How much do you have, by the by?"
"Total?"
"Mm-hm."
"Around 63 million total, 25 liquid, 6 on hand after that last transaction."
"Mm. 100 liquid in various places. 5 on hand now."
"100 million liquid?"
"I've limited access to the rest for now."
You let out a low whistle. "Man. Doing well for yourself."
"It can come and go as it pleases. There are far more important things," she says while looking at you. "I'd sign a prenuptual for you, too~"
"I'd slap you in the back of the head if you did."
She gasps happily. "Well! You really are a wonderful, wonderful friend. So understanding and gallant."
"If you're trying to butter me up, it's only slightly working."
"Progress~"
You roll your eyes before they settle on the direction you came from. "Let's head back. I really do like steak."
"You said your grandmother made the most mouthwatering steak in the world."
"Yup. If we can sneak back into town, I'll get her to cook for you."
"And get her blessing?"
You laugh. "You'll be too full to think about anything, much less getting hitched."
---
Dinner's good. Not Grandma West good, because nothing ever was. But really good.
You trade some more and spend the night afterwards. Then wake up, eat breakfast, trade more stuff, and leave. Sora thinks you're still idiots, but you're slightly better in his eyes for not being shinobi dogs and making his mom happy.
Shiina gives you a knowing look before bowing politely, saying nothing else. You forget to tell Sachi about what she said, and she doesn't try to remind you.
With a mutual look, you both leave it alone. This seems to be between the two of you.
"..."
You'd have to think hard about that dream of hers. Hashirama was wrong, huh...
---
You cross down through Cloud in about two weeks and then pass through Frost to get to Hot Water. There's zero fanfare as you take the longer routes around to avoid any trouble. You don't know what exactly that Madara guy told them, but if it got them to pull out that big of a dragnet, it couldn't be anything pleasant.
Once you cross into Hot Water Country, you're free to let your guard down. Peace is an enduring theme here, to the point where even the country's hidden village is pacifist. A good place to hang out if you're weary from being all the run all the time.
You're currently fifty kilometers north of Hot Water Village. There's an incredible amount of hot springs in the country, and to no surprise villages and town take advantage of this for daily living and tourism.
This small town? No exception. Hot Water shinobi are keeping the peace and give you friendly nods, assuming you're from out of town and trying to keep you comfortable. You've got shopping, food, and resorts all in one convenient place.
"Might we stop for a while?" Hannah asks.
"That's the plan. Roughing a few weeks is neat for character, but nobody wants to do that forever. How far's your contact?"
"Just a bit outside of the hidden village itself. I will send them a message to inform them of our arrival."
"In that case, all the better we put it in park for a while and wait to hear back."
"My sentiments exactly. From the guide here...mm. Since we can more than afford it, we shall aim for quality and comfort. There's a good place with fabulous hot springs nearby."
"Let's check in," you say with a smile. She smiles back and follows you.
The inn looks modest from the outside, but inside is a different story. The halls are well and thoroughly decked with traditional flair. Women in elegant kimonos appear to assist and welcome you, and you head to the front desk to book your rooms.
"Welcome," the receptionist says.
"Two rooms for us, the best you have," Hannah says smoothly.
"Long journey from the Cloud?"
"Visiting on business. Long way from the Iron," you reply.
Her demeanor changes ever so slightly as she nods, acknowledging you as a kokoahito and not a Cloud nutbag. Not surprising the pacifists would dislike the war hawks. "I hope your stay is quite relaxing, sir. And as peaceful as possible."
"Thank you."
You feel like you're missing something. Hannah has been too quiet, and you don't like the sound of that.
"Ah, I did neglect to mention one thing, sir. Apologies."
"Not a problem," you say as your turn back. "What was it?"
"While we do have special areas for women to safely gather together, and private baths for our more affluent guests, this onsen is kon'yoku."
"Kon'y-" Your eyes widen and you turn to Hannah. "You slippery little minx...!"
Her lips curl into that oh-so-annoying smile.
"I hope you both enjoy yourselves thoroughly. Thank you for choosing us."
The receptionist is trying her hardest not to smile.
---
[] No, nope, nah. Mixed bathing, out. No sir.
-[] Hang out on dry land. Nothing good will come of entering the water naked.
-[] You're going to bathe, but you're also going to avoid the little devil at all costs.
[] You might as well enjoy your hot springs experience. Besides, what's a little mixed bathing between friends?
[] Write-in.
Last edited:
E1 Postlude: Levity 2
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
You grumbled about it, but it wasn't that bad. As long as you kept to the rules - and both of you would, despite certain appearances - things would be fine. You head to separate rooms on the ground floor, spacious and well furnished. Comforts both traditional and modern greet you; the hostesses bring you tea and are meant to wait on you hand and foot. It's awkward in some ways after wandering for the past few years and just getting used to doing everything yourself. Fortunately, the ladies seem to understand and give you a decent amount of space. On the other hand, you have your own hibachi and a fridge stocked with neat stuff.
Evening comes and after chewing through some of your books, you decide it's time to take your long awaited soak in the spring. A heavy sigh escapes your lips at thoughts of Hannah, who's no doubt anticipating your arrival. Some places in the bigger villages and cities allowed you to wear swimsuits and the like, but here was way too traditional for that. Everything you need is provided for you as part of your luxury pricing, so you take advantage and bring out the provided toiletries with you. You put on a bathrobe to start and head to the baths at last.
"Sir, are you by chance heading to the baths?"
"Hm? Yeah, heading over now." A petite hostess smiles and nods as you answer. Her kimono is painted with warm reds and oranges.
"Your companion is the young blonde miss?"
"Yeah. Is there...?"
"No trouble at all, sir. I simply wanted to guide you to the correct bathing area for your current package. She has already gone ahead of you, so if you would follow me..."
"Great. Lead the way."
She politely nods and you follow her to the common bathing areas, going down a side path. Instead of the neatly structured baths you saw earlier, you're greeted with natural shapes, trees, and partitions of bamboo. Steam wafts upwards from the irregularly shaped pools, some of them having openings that allow them to flow down into each other.
"The male changing area is this way," she says with a gesture.
"Thanks a lot. I appreciate it."
"The pleasure is mine, sir. Do enjoy your bath."
As she leaves, you blink twice before shaking your head. Maybe you mistook that look in her eyes for something else.
In any case...nothing to worry about. You see that nobody else is around in the changing area and take your time, putting your things in a provided wooden bucket and filling another with water. You make sure to thoroughly wash off and clean your hair before grabbing your 'modesty' towel. Apparently there are frequent incidents of foreigners walking around completely in the buff, even women. You didn't want to end up in their company or get yourself kicked out.
You walk along the patchwork design stone paths and to your chosen pool. Looks nice and hot, which is great. Making sure you didn't have any soap on you from earlier, you start to step into the water.
"You're an even finer specimen that I first thought."
"..." You grumble and look up, knowing who it is. Hannah has her long hair tied into a bun as per proper etiquette, and a towel wrapped around her body. "Couldn't find a longer towel?" It's particularly high on her thighs, and wouldn't provide much more coverage once it got wet.
"You could leave it at that, yes."
"Sure." You finish getting into the water and sigh with relief as the warmth hits you. "This is totally awesome."
"It is...mmm, that's so good." Hannah closes her eyes and slips into the water herself, letting out a breath. "Glad we stopped?"
"Yeah. Good call."
"You're welcome. So..."
"So?"
She moves through the water until she's at your side, leaning back against the rocks. "Thoughts?"
"About what?"
"Me, maybe. What do you think?"
"I think...you're physically attractive and in great shape," you say honestly. "That was your question, I'm guessing." The towel doesn't do much to hide her shape; her chest is as big as you thought it would be, and while she doesn't hit the vaunted 'hourglass' shape, she's more than close enough.
"Oh, my. You know me well by now. You're definitely delectable yourself...but I won't tease you too much today."
"Small mercies," you mutter.
"I like you a lot for that. Being honest." She sidles up to you. Her skin is warm and pleasantly soft. "And being honest in a controlled way. What was the word for it...temperance. A balance in all things. Being able to use your words properly."
"I see."
"I'm really only concerned with our friendship. I don't know if being lovers or spouses would change the way I act towards you."
"Why would you say that?" you ask.
"Far as I'm concerned, they're mostly titles. They're not completely without meaning or merit, of course...but when it comes to you and I, even if we didn't ever become physically intimate, I wouldn't mind. Maybe a hug here and there to sate me would do the trick." She looks over at you. "I'm also not opposed to sharing. Or helping you find your love."
"I believe you when you say that."
"Do you? How strange. Those are often talked about as warning flags. Things you shouldn't trip with a woman."
"You're too honest for that. You had your chances to hurt me already. You have one to hurt me right now."
"That almost sounds too pragmatic for you. But you're a child of the battlefield as well."
"I haven't been betrayed by anyone I actually care about," you say. "Not even when I had to leave home. Everyone I loved was fighting for me. I know they still are now, even after I asked them to take it easy."
"Mm..." She raises a hand upwards, watching as water cascades off it. "If I ever ask...for us to become more in the eyes of the world. It won't be without reason. Being by your side is more than enough, but the tides change and shift underneath the moon's pull."
"Some kind of drastic situation?"
"Yes." Her eyes look into yours. "Thank you for looking at me the way you do."
"I don't know if it's anything special I did."
"It is to me." She reaches for your hand underneath the water and squeezes it gently. "You'll understand how much deeper this goes, the more we spend time together."
"Yeah. I understand."
She nods and untangles her fingers from your own. It's silent between you for a while as you rest shoulder to shoulder. Snippets of conversation from other bathers fly through your ears. In the distance, you can hear children playing in the common pools before their parents start to scold them and their voices fade off. The water is still nice and warm, reinvigorating you. The evening sky is darkening, bleeding into night.
"I want to tell you a story."
"What kind?"
"A sad story. A story about myself. About who I was before we met, and who I might still be now."
"Before you start, I want to ask a question. I don't know how cruel it'll sound."
She shifts slightly, her skin rubbing against yours. A breath comes from between her lips. "Of course. Ask anything you desire."
"Am I too pure for you? Is that why you...say the things you sometimes say?"
Hannah turns her head and lifts a hand from the water. She presses it against your cheek and looks into your eyes. "Can you forgive me?"
"I don't want to forgive you. There's nothing to forgive. I know that you're not trying to swallow me up..."
"I treated you like a child."
"You didn't mean it."
"I did. You really are sweet. And I've been used before. Many times before. I know you would never hold that against me, or ever say that I was tainted or impure. I don't believe I am either."
You relax a bit and she smiles.
"You're so grown up. My sweet little boy scout. Thank you for worrying about me...do you see now? Just a little?"
"See what?"
"Why I gravitate to you. I said it before. You're not just some nice guy, or a naive child. You give me kindness, something that I've never known before. Only someone so kind would ask such a question." Her hand pats your cheek before sliding down from it. "Let me tell you my story properly. I want you to hear how I became a woman and a monster all at once. It's been six years since I blossomed into a killer. Four since my innocence was devoured. Three since I grabbed hold of my destiny and become a woman. This year, meeting you, was the first year of the rest of my life."
The words spill from her mouth as she leans back, placing her arms on the edge of the pool behind her. Her profile is visible to you as you soak in her words; the wet towel clinging to her chest while doing a poor job of completely covering it. Her head swivels on occasion to look at you, and you notice how sharp some of her teeth are in comparison to the others. She pauses and licks her lips every so often. Ripples move out in the pool from her occasional movements.
She tells you about how she woke up with no memories and was raised in orphanage after orphanage, then group homes, then single family homes. When she was nine she ran away. When she was ten she came upon a shinobi veteran living out his days in a wood cabin. She enthusiastically learned how to hunt and kill, how to fight, how to use chakra. She was an incredible student, a prodigy. The old man in the forest made her leave him, and they parted amicably. He got her a job as a mercenary. She took work. Good work and bad work. Her killing became better. She grew and changed. She learned about her heritage at eleven and delved into it with off market scrolls and texts. The place she knew - Kuiper House - was long gone, a pile of dirt and rubble.
She grew more and more. More work. More killing. More money. She grasped her heritage with a near-death experience and ran with it. Became a blue-blood in spirit but not in nature. Kept her dark identity secret and continued killing, as a normal prodigy killer would.
At twelve she took the first and last truly wrong mission she would ever take. It was when her innocence was devoured and she woke up in the wrong bed, in her wrong mind, with a wrong person coming out a wrong room to greet her. She went back to killing as she tried to understand what happened, and when she did, she was upset. It hurt. The hurt spilled over until it made her heavy and slow. It wasn't a thing you got over, or just pushed to the side as a small child. An extraordinary killer, but a small child.
At thirteen she felt herself growing and blossoming physically. It was supposed to be filthy, doing the sorts of things with your body that she heard other women did. But killing wasn't just a physical activity. She took up her books and made her observations, learned, experimented. Tried things that a young girl shouldn't try. She gained a taste for the art of seduction, as a tool, and only as a tool. She polished herself into a weapon that would hypnotize each and every target she locked on to. She was still a genius killer, a battlefield demon. It was at that point that relationships were difficult to build and maintain outside of professional capacities. Annoying. Ridiculous. She wasn't a sexpot or some kind of whore. She wanted to be liberated and clever and beautiful. But nobody appreciated her talent in being everything at once. Then there was no need for friends or lovers or husbands or sugar daddies until the promised time.
More bodies. And more bodies. And all the money and prestige that came with it.
Fourteen was when she was gifted the title that made the world tremble. The hypercapable killer with hair that shone like the sun.
Shinigami. Golden Shinigami. Blonde goddess of death.
"We've been in here long enough. Shall we?"
You nod and get out of the water, wrapping your towel securely before extending a hand downwards. Hannah grasps it and you place a hand on her back as she comes up. Her towel is soaked through and leaves little to whatever imagination anyone would have.
But then, you were listening before. This too was bonded to her spirit. She gives you a knowing, trusting look as she stands near you, water dripping from her skin. A slow turn takes her away from you and towards the women's changing area.
You turn and head to the men's area, drying lightly but not washing the helpful minerals from your skin. Your robe goes on and you take your things back to your room.
"My apologies for bothering you again, sir." The same petite hostess from earlier appears.
"Not at all."
"Did you enjoy your bath?"
"It was really nice. I'll have to go back in a few more times, but just today was worth the money. Thanks a lot."
"It's our pleasure, sir. And your companion? Did she enjoy herself?"
"She was really comfortable. It was good for her as well."
"We're pleased to hear that. If you have any questions or desires for your stay, feel free to call on us. My name is Ritsu."
"It's nice meeting you, Ritsu. I really appreciate the hospitality."
"The pleasure is truly mine. Please have a wonderful night." She leaves, but not before casting a look over her shoulder. Her light brown hair is tied into a bow at the back of her head, and there's a sudden intensity in her green eyes. Her walk down the hall is steady and measured.
"Hm." You wonder... "Maybe it's really nothing. But I don't think I have that kind of luck."
You scratch your head and finish the journey back to your room.
---
[] Have breakfast with Hannah.
-[] Talk business for a bit.
-[] Tell her about the weird vibe you're getting from Ritsu.
-[] Write in.
[] Go out for a walk around town in the morning. Might be something to do.
-[] Maybe look for a gift?
-[] Think about gathering info on current world events. Pacifists would definitely be keeping tabs.
-[] Write in.
[] Do something else (write in).
---
[] You should talk about you own past at the next bath session. It's only fair to her.
-[] Basics.
-[] Requisite amount.
-[] Everything. Why not? You're not a weirdo.
[] Let her go back to controlling the conversations. She seems comfortable as is.
Evening comes and after chewing through some of your books, you decide it's time to take your long awaited soak in the spring. A heavy sigh escapes your lips at thoughts of Hannah, who's no doubt anticipating your arrival. Some places in the bigger villages and cities allowed you to wear swimsuits and the like, but here was way too traditional for that. Everything you need is provided for you as part of your luxury pricing, so you take advantage and bring out the provided toiletries with you. You put on a bathrobe to start and head to the baths at last.
"Sir, are you by chance heading to the baths?"
"Hm? Yeah, heading over now." A petite hostess smiles and nods as you answer. Her kimono is painted with warm reds and oranges.
"Your companion is the young blonde miss?"
"Yeah. Is there...?"
"No trouble at all, sir. I simply wanted to guide you to the correct bathing area for your current package. She has already gone ahead of you, so if you would follow me..."
"Great. Lead the way."
She politely nods and you follow her to the common bathing areas, going down a side path. Instead of the neatly structured baths you saw earlier, you're greeted with natural shapes, trees, and partitions of bamboo. Steam wafts upwards from the irregularly shaped pools, some of them having openings that allow them to flow down into each other.
"The male changing area is this way," she says with a gesture.
"Thanks a lot. I appreciate it."
"The pleasure is mine, sir. Do enjoy your bath."
As she leaves, you blink twice before shaking your head. Maybe you mistook that look in her eyes for something else.
In any case...nothing to worry about. You see that nobody else is around in the changing area and take your time, putting your things in a provided wooden bucket and filling another with water. You make sure to thoroughly wash off and clean your hair before grabbing your 'modesty' towel. Apparently there are frequent incidents of foreigners walking around completely in the buff, even women. You didn't want to end up in their company or get yourself kicked out.
You walk along the patchwork design stone paths and to your chosen pool. Looks nice and hot, which is great. Making sure you didn't have any soap on you from earlier, you start to step into the water.
"You're an even finer specimen that I first thought."
"..." You grumble and look up, knowing who it is. Hannah has her long hair tied into a bun as per proper etiquette, and a towel wrapped around her body. "Couldn't find a longer towel?" It's particularly high on her thighs, and wouldn't provide much more coverage once it got wet.
"You could leave it at that, yes."
"Sure." You finish getting into the water and sigh with relief as the warmth hits you. "This is totally awesome."
"It is...mmm, that's so good." Hannah closes her eyes and slips into the water herself, letting out a breath. "Glad we stopped?"
"Yeah. Good call."
"You're welcome. So..."
"So?"
She moves through the water until she's at your side, leaning back against the rocks. "Thoughts?"
"About what?"
"Me, maybe. What do you think?"
"I think...you're physically attractive and in great shape," you say honestly. "That was your question, I'm guessing." The towel doesn't do much to hide her shape; her chest is as big as you thought it would be, and while she doesn't hit the vaunted 'hourglass' shape, she's more than close enough.
"Oh, my. You know me well by now. You're definitely delectable yourself...but I won't tease you too much today."
"Small mercies," you mutter.
"I like you a lot for that. Being honest." She sidles up to you. Her skin is warm and pleasantly soft. "And being honest in a controlled way. What was the word for it...temperance. A balance in all things. Being able to use your words properly."
"I see."
"I'm really only concerned with our friendship. I don't know if being lovers or spouses would change the way I act towards you."
"Why would you say that?" you ask.
"Far as I'm concerned, they're mostly titles. They're not completely without meaning or merit, of course...but when it comes to you and I, even if we didn't ever become physically intimate, I wouldn't mind. Maybe a hug here and there to sate me would do the trick." She looks over at you. "I'm also not opposed to sharing. Or helping you find your love."
"I believe you when you say that."
"Do you? How strange. Those are often talked about as warning flags. Things you shouldn't trip with a woman."
"You're too honest for that. You had your chances to hurt me already. You have one to hurt me right now."
"That almost sounds too pragmatic for you. But you're a child of the battlefield as well."
"I haven't been betrayed by anyone I actually care about," you say. "Not even when I had to leave home. Everyone I loved was fighting for me. I know they still are now, even after I asked them to take it easy."
"Mm..." She raises a hand upwards, watching as water cascades off it. "If I ever ask...for us to become more in the eyes of the world. It won't be without reason. Being by your side is more than enough, but the tides change and shift underneath the moon's pull."
"Some kind of drastic situation?"
"Yes." Her eyes look into yours. "Thank you for looking at me the way you do."
"I don't know if it's anything special I did."
"It is to me." She reaches for your hand underneath the water and squeezes it gently. "You'll understand how much deeper this goes, the more we spend time together."
"Yeah. I understand."
She nods and untangles her fingers from your own. It's silent between you for a while as you rest shoulder to shoulder. Snippets of conversation from other bathers fly through your ears. In the distance, you can hear children playing in the common pools before their parents start to scold them and their voices fade off. The water is still nice and warm, reinvigorating you. The evening sky is darkening, bleeding into night.
"I want to tell you a story."
"What kind?"
"A sad story. A story about myself. About who I was before we met, and who I might still be now."
"Before you start, I want to ask a question. I don't know how cruel it'll sound."
She shifts slightly, her skin rubbing against yours. A breath comes from between her lips. "Of course. Ask anything you desire."
"Am I too pure for you? Is that why you...say the things you sometimes say?"
Hannah turns her head and lifts a hand from the water. She presses it against your cheek and looks into your eyes. "Can you forgive me?"
"I don't want to forgive you. There's nothing to forgive. I know that you're not trying to swallow me up..."
"I treated you like a child."
"You didn't mean it."
"I did. You really are sweet. And I've been used before. Many times before. I know you would never hold that against me, or ever say that I was tainted or impure. I don't believe I am either."
You relax a bit and she smiles.
"You're so grown up. My sweet little boy scout. Thank you for worrying about me...do you see now? Just a little?"
"See what?"
"Why I gravitate to you. I said it before. You're not just some nice guy, or a naive child. You give me kindness, something that I've never known before. Only someone so kind would ask such a question." Her hand pats your cheek before sliding down from it. "Let me tell you my story properly. I want you to hear how I became a woman and a monster all at once. It's been six years since I blossomed into a killer. Four since my innocence was devoured. Three since I grabbed hold of my destiny and become a woman. This year, meeting you, was the first year of the rest of my life."
The words spill from her mouth as she leans back, placing her arms on the edge of the pool behind her. Her profile is visible to you as you soak in her words; the wet towel clinging to her chest while doing a poor job of completely covering it. Her head swivels on occasion to look at you, and you notice how sharp some of her teeth are in comparison to the others. She pauses and licks her lips every so often. Ripples move out in the pool from her occasional movements.
She tells you about how she woke up with no memories and was raised in orphanage after orphanage, then group homes, then single family homes. When she was nine she ran away. When she was ten she came upon a shinobi veteran living out his days in a wood cabin. She enthusiastically learned how to hunt and kill, how to fight, how to use chakra. She was an incredible student, a prodigy. The old man in the forest made her leave him, and they parted amicably. He got her a job as a mercenary. She took work. Good work and bad work. Her killing became better. She grew and changed. She learned about her heritage at eleven and delved into it with off market scrolls and texts. The place she knew - Kuiper House - was long gone, a pile of dirt and rubble.
She grew more and more. More work. More killing. More money. She grasped her heritage with a near-death experience and ran with it. Became a blue-blood in spirit but not in nature. Kept her dark identity secret and continued killing, as a normal prodigy killer would.
At twelve she took the first and last truly wrong mission she would ever take. It was when her innocence was devoured and she woke up in the wrong bed, in her wrong mind, with a wrong person coming out a wrong room to greet her. She went back to killing as she tried to understand what happened, and when she did, she was upset. It hurt. The hurt spilled over until it made her heavy and slow. It wasn't a thing you got over, or just pushed to the side as a small child. An extraordinary killer, but a small child.
At thirteen she felt herself growing and blossoming physically. It was supposed to be filthy, doing the sorts of things with your body that she heard other women did. But killing wasn't just a physical activity. She took up her books and made her observations, learned, experimented. Tried things that a young girl shouldn't try. She gained a taste for the art of seduction, as a tool, and only as a tool. She polished herself into a weapon that would hypnotize each and every target she locked on to. She was still a genius killer, a battlefield demon. It was at that point that relationships were difficult to build and maintain outside of professional capacities. Annoying. Ridiculous. She wasn't a sexpot or some kind of whore. She wanted to be liberated and clever and beautiful. But nobody appreciated her talent in being everything at once. Then there was no need for friends or lovers or husbands or sugar daddies until the promised time.
More bodies. And more bodies. And all the money and prestige that came with it.
Fourteen was when she was gifted the title that made the world tremble. The hypercapable killer with hair that shone like the sun.
Shinigami. Golden Shinigami. Blonde goddess of death.
"We've been in here long enough. Shall we?"
You nod and get out of the water, wrapping your towel securely before extending a hand downwards. Hannah grasps it and you place a hand on her back as she comes up. Her towel is soaked through and leaves little to whatever imagination anyone would have.
But then, you were listening before. This too was bonded to her spirit. She gives you a knowing, trusting look as she stands near you, water dripping from her skin. A slow turn takes her away from you and towards the women's changing area.
You turn and head to the men's area, drying lightly but not washing the helpful minerals from your skin. Your robe goes on and you take your things back to your room.
"My apologies for bothering you again, sir." The same petite hostess from earlier appears.
"Not at all."
"Did you enjoy your bath?"
"It was really nice. I'll have to go back in a few more times, but just today was worth the money. Thanks a lot."
"It's our pleasure, sir. And your companion? Did she enjoy herself?"
"She was really comfortable. It was good for her as well."
"We're pleased to hear that. If you have any questions or desires for your stay, feel free to call on us. My name is Ritsu."
"It's nice meeting you, Ritsu. I really appreciate the hospitality."
"The pleasure is truly mine. Please have a wonderful night." She leaves, but not before casting a look over her shoulder. Her light brown hair is tied into a bow at the back of her head, and there's a sudden intensity in her green eyes. Her walk down the hall is steady and measured.
"Hm." You wonder... "Maybe it's really nothing. But I don't think I have that kind of luck."
You scratch your head and finish the journey back to your room.
---
[] Have breakfast with Hannah.
-[] Talk business for a bit.
-[] Tell her about the weird vibe you're getting from Ritsu.
-[] Write in.
[] Go out for a walk around town in the morning. Might be something to do.
-[] Maybe look for a gift?
-[] Think about gathering info on current world events. Pacifists would definitely be keeping tabs.
-[] Write in.
[] Do something else (write in).
---
[] You should talk about you own past at the next bath session. It's only fair to her.
-[] Basics.
-[] Requisite amount.
-[] Everything. Why not? You're not a weirdo.
[] Let her go back to controlling the conversations. She seems comfortable as is.
Last edited:
E1 Postlude: Levity 3
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
For today's breakfast, you've decided to try both the foreign-style omelette and onsen tamago, which is an egg cooked slowly in hot spring waters. There was probably some section of this onsen that allowed for cooking over or with the water without any interference.
The egg has a unique texture, and a satisfying taste when combined with the provided sauce.
"Mm-mm-mm. That's delicious."
Hannah is enjoying herself. Despite her travels, she doesn't eat out like this much, and if she does, it's hard to enjoy it with all the tension around. Here and now, everything is enjoyable. Your excuse is that you just ate from street vendors so that you wouldn't cause trouble. Not that those were bad, either way. Street food is a bit of a hidden treasure.
The two of you are virtually alone in the dining room, seated at a wooden table and attended to by servers periodically. Your tea is refilled as you give the go ahead and the waitress shuffles away soon after. "Hashirama was wrong...what do you think?" you ask her, continuing some of the earlier conversation.
"I think that girl is insightful and very much correct."
"What makes you feel that way?"
"The wheels of darkness are greased with good will, and the road to hell paved with good intentions," she says as she bites into a piece of toast.
"Harsh, I think."
"But not an uncharitable reading."
"...maybe not."
"Mm." Her gaze falls on you again, light and inquisitive. "Hashirama Senju was an idealist of the highest order, following in line with the teachings of the Sage of Six Paths. He wanted everyone to connect, to come together. It was why he was so adamant on creating alliances in the first place and making peace. Certainly, we live in a far more peaceful era than the times before. Countries are bigger and more stable, people can travel back and forth, and we have proper rules of engagement. But that's not what our sweet Shiina was getting at."
"What's the real disconnect then?"
"Word is bond. And try as they might, word cannot truly be bond when it comes to shinobi loyalties. The shinobi represent their villages and are bound to them on threat of death. Love and patriotism don't override that fact. People are forever divided as we are now. The solution, clear as she and I can see it, is to tear the system down."
"Hm. That means erasing everything that came before," you say.
"Perhaps. But the end of shinobi might very well be the start of a truly peaceful era, one that won't be suddenly threatened by a perceived slight or violation. All of the borders, the alliances, the treaties, they essentially mean nothing if two countries demand blood and don't get it. Further, we have a double-sided ruling structure."
"You think the daimyo are more trouble than they're worth."
"I know it for a fact, my darling. The elite are getting themselves fat off of the current configuration, and while peace is appealing for increased trade, they're in no hurry to even try and help wean the continent off of this steady diet of war. The Kage of the five major nations are chiefly responsible for military matters. The daimyo can wave their hands and say that they like this or dislike that and it won't work. Political and military...things that don't operate in a vacuum."
You rub your chin as you take a sip of tea. "Hashirama didn't think this far out."
"He must have considered it to some degree. But as I said in the beginning, his world was built on idealism and good will. It was built believing that human beings would give their best in the best of times, and everyone would benefit from the prosperity that would result. Or maybe he believed it for Fire Country. Who knows. We saw what came of his experiment, and of his arms control. The sentiment was there, the execution was not." She chews on her omelette a bit before giving you her attention again. "There is a way to make something out of this mess."
"...a common threat."
"Mm-hm."
"Maybe that's what the old man was doing. It seems like it the more I think about it," you say thoughtfully. "Instead of just wiping people out, he was teaching them. Making them think. It was just that because he disappeared, everything got a bit worse...the counterargument to what you and Shiina think is that every step forward is a meaningful step. Hashirama opened the door to a better world even if it isn't perfect, you could say. People came together in the other countries as well, even if it was just in response to the Leaf being built."
"You think that we can come together one day and make things better. It's not such a terrible thought," Hannah says.
"Would you go for it?"
"I would follow you if it was what you wanted. Disagreement need not lead to discord."
"Hm."
"It's not a concession. As you said, every step forward has meaning. If you believe that we have to walk the thorny path to peace, then we will walk forward. But in my eyes, we're better served by burning it all down and starting over. Our acquaintance in Hot Springs has their own thoughts on this. It should make for a lively discussion," she says with a smile. "You haven't exactly decided on anything yet, have you?"
"Not yet," you admit.
"It's not a problem. Decisions should not be made with haste, especially if you're going to change the world."
"You really think I can, huh."
"I think nothing. Shaking the world to its core is something that you carry in your blood," she says confidently. "Even if you deny yourself that power, it will always come back to impact your life. And aside from all of that, the world is heading towards change no matter what we do. Between the secretive arms races and the appearance of that so called Madara..."
"I guess I'll have to make that move soon then."
"Possibly."
"..." You make sure to hold onto that thought. "I wanted to talk about something else that happened. One of our hostesses..."
"Acting strange?"
"Yeah. She's on the smaller side, brown hair, green eyes."
"Her name is Ritsu."
"Yeah. Did she talk to you too?"
"She did. There was something about that gaze of hers. I will take care of the first part...all you have to do is wait for me. Is that fine?"
"That's fine. It's better if it's two women talking, anyways."
"Optics are important, yes. Not to worry...if she wanted our attention, she has it now."
You nod and slice into your omelette.
---
The afternoon passes without incident. You don't see Hannah or Ritsu at all, but trust your friend to take care of it.
"Pardon our intrusion, sir."
You nod absentmindedly before recognizing the voice. Ritsu bows from the room entrance as Hannah slides the door closed behind them. They sit on their knees in front of you, side by side.
"Nice seeing you again," you quip.
"Likewise, sir. I was hoping that I gained your attention...my apologies if you were made uncomfortable by my display. My observations led me to believe that you were not ordinary travelers, and so I..."
"We understand," Hannah assures her. "Services can be provided, if you specify which and they're not too troublesome."
"Yes, I can accept that. Thank you for simply giving me the privilege of your presence. I must speak to you in good faith."
Her eyes start to glow in the same way you remembered last night. Intense...and tinged with some kind of pain.
"My resources are few. My home is a shambles. The most I can offer you in terms of tangible assets is ten thousand ryo at this moment. And with nothing else to my name, I can only offer you myself to meet what I believe would be the minimum for proper compensation. To continue making my plea in good faith...I will show you what you will be accepting."
You sit up once you realize where this is going. "You don't..."
"I must. Forgive my insistence, sir."
Hannah gives you a nod and you back down. Ritsu lets the top part of her kimono slide down, exposing her shoulders and the top of her chest.
"As you can see, the value has diminished-"
"Stop," you say firmly. "Don't...talk about yourself like that."
"I beg your forgiveness, sir. I didn't mean to upset you..." She holds her neutral expression even as you and Hannah look at her. Scars and bruises all across her. Burn marks on the tops of her shoulders.
"May I?" Hannah asks, gesturing to Ritsu's legs. She nods and Hannah pulls back some of the fabric to look. A slow nod confirms what you were thinking.
"How long?" you ask.
"It was two years ago that I ran away. My owner was...is...a ranking member of the yakuza. He tracked me up here a few months ago. I begged him to forgive me, and he did for a price. These blemishes form part of that cost. He has continued to take from me in every possible way. I see no way out other than the obvious. He will consume me until I die. But it was not that which moved me to act. He means to come here and bring the other sisters to ruin."
"What...did you intend to do?" Hannah asks.
"It would be a night where his lust would cloud his judgement. I would use my body as a flashpoint..."
"..."
"The yakuza are dangerous. I know that to be true. They fortunately don't roost in this town, and as I know, this one doesn't make known his trips to see me. He buys off the local shinobi for protection. Some of the...men. They also..."
You shake your head, frustrated.
"I can act on my own. I spent some of my savings for the chance to. But in the midst of all this, both of you came to this very place. I felt hope...I decided that I would give myself one final chance to live. I didn't want to give you details that would influence your decision, but it was insisted upon by the young miss, after asking me to be personally assigned to her for the rest of her stay. Steering you into this...it would make me feel more guilt than anything. Even so, I...I would like your help. I make this plea to you, and offer you my body to do as you please."
"Ritsu..."
"I really do...want to live." She adjusts her kimono and bows low, her head touching the floor mats.
"We will give you our response by the morrow," Hannah says. Ritsu raises her head and nods.
"Thank you for this audience."
"Of course. Return to my room and prepare some tea, then indulge in a cup for yourself. Wait for my return, if you would."
"Yes, of course. Please excuse me, sir."
She bows for you once more before leaving, sliding the door closed gently behind her. You let out a heavy breath and look at the ceiling.
"I'm going for a walk," Hannah says. "Let's have another bath together later, at the same time as before. Is that fine?"
"Yeah. See you then."
She leaves you alone as you flop back onto the mats.
---
"Please enjoy yourself, sir."
Ritsu bows and leaves you alone again as you reach the spring. You sigh and wash off before entering the warm pool. It feels just as good as the last time.
Hannah drops in beside you, towel wrapped around her and clinging to her body as the water soaks into it. She sighs with relief and leans against you.
"You okay?" you ask.
"Yes. Are you?"
"I'm alright."
"If you're not, you can tell me."
"I know. I'm alright."
Her breathing is light as you both sit in relative silence. Not as many people out today, so the surroundings are much quieter. You focus on the sounds of moving water and the fountains in the background.
"It might be a long time before we get to do something like this again."
You nod in response. "That might be it. Regular baths aren't too bad, though."
"They're not. And we don't have to follow modesty rules either." You can feel her laughing softly even if you can't hear it. "I rather enjoy skinship with you."
"I'm not exactly opposed, either...though Mom would say we might as well get married and get over it."
"Traditionalists?"
"Lean towards it, yeah. Pretty...liberal when it comes to physical relationships, my parents. Grams doesn't press the issue too much." You pause. "You've told me a lot about yourself."
"Don't feel like you're obligated."
"I'm not," you counter. "I just want to talk about it some, because you want to hear it. I'm not wrong, am I?"
"Mm, I suppose not." She leans away from you and turns so that her arms are on the outside of the pool, then rests her head on top of them. Her violet eyes are focused on you and glowing brightly. "Tell me a story then, Joshua. Tell me...about yourself."
You start with your sort of humble beginnings. How you used to eat everything in front of you and gained weight. Reading books to the point of possible obsession. Your parents always looked out for you and believed in you. Jonah, your dad, is a former samurai and current politician. Your mom, Condi, is the Iron Country's top diplomat. Your older sister Samantha sails the ocean on business, formerly a naval officer. Your grandmother, Rebecca, runs the local health network and works at different hospitals. Reconfiguring combat medicine for daily use is something she's really good at. Your aunts and uncles are special too, in their own ways. You have a cousin named Mariah who had a crush on you and kept trying to hide it. She probably would have confessed at your trial if she was able to attend.
Your bookworm streak was enabled by your friend Noriko, who you learned languages with just to decipher foreign texts. You decided one day when you were nine that you would get into some sort of shape. On the way you learned about your grandfather. You became inspired by him. You met a blonde girl named Cadence and played together for a few years. She had family problems because she was a Kennedy child, and disappeared for long stretches of time.
The years went on. You got more athletic and continued to read, learning about chakra and jutsu on your own when you were twelve. The pace of your transformation accelerated. You wouldn't accept the title of genius from anyone, including your parents. Cadence would spar with you on her infrequent visits and talk about how awesome you were. You learned more about your grandfather and went around asking about certain books. The adults told you no.
You didn't promise you would stop searching.
The time of relative peace ended when you found a certain book in the library. Noriko testified it was always there, but all the evidence was ignored. You don't even remember what the made up charges were, but it all amounted to some conspiracy to commit treason and to start a world war. A lot of old men with pale skin came down on you hard. Your parents argued on your behalf, even at threat to their careers. Your friends fought for you. In the end it wasn't enough. You were given a choice: leave or face worse punishment from the samurai and the diplomats of the shinobi powers.
You needed to continue living. You left.
Keeping contact with you would amount to treason so you refused it for the sake of your loved ones. The clarion call was made to nearby nations about your exile, and so you were occassionally hunted for the chance to find out where Jacob West was hiding. You kept moving and used your knowledge to get into the mercenary network. You got used to killing, but not used to liking it. Sometimes it was satisfying though, delivering that kind of justice. You weren't a saint. You didn't want to be one, honestly.
You helped a lot of people. You kept up your reading. Stayed in shape. Made money. Rinse, repeat.
Hannah never once took her eyes off you, remaining quiet and attentive.
"There's a lot more about you that I want to know. But that will always be the case. Being closer to you is probably an endless sort of desire," she says.
"That so..."
"Yes. It must be so..." She raises her head to look straight at you. "Thank you. I appreciate you telling me so much."
"It's no problem."
"I know. You always feel it's no hassle. I still appreciate you doing this for me. It's far more than you needed to say...not everything, I can tell. But...it's enough."
She settles back into the water properly, going back to leaning against you. You wonder how her skin is so soft, considering the time she's spent fighting.
"What should we do about Ritsu?" you ask.
"I'm not opposed to taking her up on her offer. If she wants to be a toy, then I can oblige her. And a companion would be nice, even if she isn't like us." She lets out a breath. "I know you're opposed to taking anything from her. Especially that body of hers...there's a jagged sort of beauty in those scars, mixed with her determination."
"Last thing I want to do is take her money. And whatever dignity she has left."
"I know, darling." She pats your hand gently underneath the water. "Tell me what you want to do, and we'll carry it out."
---
[] Help Ritsu. She'll probably snap and do something drastic otherwise.
-[] Take everything she's offering. You can sort it out later.
-[] Take the money, even if it's not much on her end.
-[] You're doing it because it's right. No money or anything else from her.
[] You'll have to pass. It seems too complicated. Though it doesn't exclude Hannah from moving.
[] Write in.
The egg has a unique texture, and a satisfying taste when combined with the provided sauce.
"Mm-mm-mm. That's delicious."
Hannah is enjoying herself. Despite her travels, she doesn't eat out like this much, and if she does, it's hard to enjoy it with all the tension around. Here and now, everything is enjoyable. Your excuse is that you just ate from street vendors so that you wouldn't cause trouble. Not that those were bad, either way. Street food is a bit of a hidden treasure.
The two of you are virtually alone in the dining room, seated at a wooden table and attended to by servers periodically. Your tea is refilled as you give the go ahead and the waitress shuffles away soon after. "Hashirama was wrong...what do you think?" you ask her, continuing some of the earlier conversation.
"I think that girl is insightful and very much correct."
"What makes you feel that way?"
"The wheels of darkness are greased with good will, and the road to hell paved with good intentions," she says as she bites into a piece of toast.
"Harsh, I think."
"But not an uncharitable reading."
"...maybe not."
"Mm." Her gaze falls on you again, light and inquisitive. "Hashirama Senju was an idealist of the highest order, following in line with the teachings of the Sage of Six Paths. He wanted everyone to connect, to come together. It was why he was so adamant on creating alliances in the first place and making peace. Certainly, we live in a far more peaceful era than the times before. Countries are bigger and more stable, people can travel back and forth, and we have proper rules of engagement. But that's not what our sweet Shiina was getting at."
"What's the real disconnect then?"
"Word is bond. And try as they might, word cannot truly be bond when it comes to shinobi loyalties. The shinobi represent their villages and are bound to them on threat of death. Love and patriotism don't override that fact. People are forever divided as we are now. The solution, clear as she and I can see it, is to tear the system down."
"Hm. That means erasing everything that came before," you say.
"Perhaps. But the end of shinobi might very well be the start of a truly peaceful era, one that won't be suddenly threatened by a perceived slight or violation. All of the borders, the alliances, the treaties, they essentially mean nothing if two countries demand blood and don't get it. Further, we have a double-sided ruling structure."
"You think the daimyo are more trouble than they're worth."
"I know it for a fact, my darling. The elite are getting themselves fat off of the current configuration, and while peace is appealing for increased trade, they're in no hurry to even try and help wean the continent off of this steady diet of war. The Kage of the five major nations are chiefly responsible for military matters. The daimyo can wave their hands and say that they like this or dislike that and it won't work. Political and military...things that don't operate in a vacuum."
You rub your chin as you take a sip of tea. "Hashirama didn't think this far out."
"He must have considered it to some degree. But as I said in the beginning, his world was built on idealism and good will. It was built believing that human beings would give their best in the best of times, and everyone would benefit from the prosperity that would result. Or maybe he believed it for Fire Country. Who knows. We saw what came of his experiment, and of his arms control. The sentiment was there, the execution was not." She chews on her omelette a bit before giving you her attention again. "There is a way to make something out of this mess."
"...a common threat."
"Mm-hm."
"Maybe that's what the old man was doing. It seems like it the more I think about it," you say thoughtfully. "Instead of just wiping people out, he was teaching them. Making them think. It was just that because he disappeared, everything got a bit worse...the counterargument to what you and Shiina think is that every step forward is a meaningful step. Hashirama opened the door to a better world even if it isn't perfect, you could say. People came together in the other countries as well, even if it was just in response to the Leaf being built."
"You think that we can come together one day and make things better. It's not such a terrible thought," Hannah says.
"Would you go for it?"
"I would follow you if it was what you wanted. Disagreement need not lead to discord."
"Hm."
"It's not a concession. As you said, every step forward has meaning. If you believe that we have to walk the thorny path to peace, then we will walk forward. But in my eyes, we're better served by burning it all down and starting over. Our acquaintance in Hot Springs has their own thoughts on this. It should make for a lively discussion," she says with a smile. "You haven't exactly decided on anything yet, have you?"
"Not yet," you admit.
"It's not a problem. Decisions should not be made with haste, especially if you're going to change the world."
"You really think I can, huh."
"I think nothing. Shaking the world to its core is something that you carry in your blood," she says confidently. "Even if you deny yourself that power, it will always come back to impact your life. And aside from all of that, the world is heading towards change no matter what we do. Between the secretive arms races and the appearance of that so called Madara..."
"I guess I'll have to make that move soon then."
"Possibly."
"..." You make sure to hold onto that thought. "I wanted to talk about something else that happened. One of our hostesses..."
"Acting strange?"
"Yeah. She's on the smaller side, brown hair, green eyes."
"Her name is Ritsu."
"Yeah. Did she talk to you too?"
"She did. There was something about that gaze of hers. I will take care of the first part...all you have to do is wait for me. Is that fine?"
"That's fine. It's better if it's two women talking, anyways."
"Optics are important, yes. Not to worry...if she wanted our attention, she has it now."
You nod and slice into your omelette.
---
The afternoon passes without incident. You don't see Hannah or Ritsu at all, but trust your friend to take care of it.
"Pardon our intrusion, sir."
You nod absentmindedly before recognizing the voice. Ritsu bows from the room entrance as Hannah slides the door closed behind them. They sit on their knees in front of you, side by side.
"Nice seeing you again," you quip.
"Likewise, sir. I was hoping that I gained your attention...my apologies if you were made uncomfortable by my display. My observations led me to believe that you were not ordinary travelers, and so I..."
"We understand," Hannah assures her. "Services can be provided, if you specify which and they're not too troublesome."
"Yes, I can accept that. Thank you for simply giving me the privilege of your presence. I must speak to you in good faith."
Her eyes start to glow in the same way you remembered last night. Intense...and tinged with some kind of pain.
"My resources are few. My home is a shambles. The most I can offer you in terms of tangible assets is ten thousand ryo at this moment. And with nothing else to my name, I can only offer you myself to meet what I believe would be the minimum for proper compensation. To continue making my plea in good faith...I will show you what you will be accepting."
You sit up once you realize where this is going. "You don't..."
"I must. Forgive my insistence, sir."
Hannah gives you a nod and you back down. Ritsu lets the top part of her kimono slide down, exposing her shoulders and the top of her chest.
"As you can see, the value has diminished-"
"Stop," you say firmly. "Don't...talk about yourself like that."
"I beg your forgiveness, sir. I didn't mean to upset you..." She holds her neutral expression even as you and Hannah look at her. Scars and bruises all across her. Burn marks on the tops of her shoulders.
"May I?" Hannah asks, gesturing to Ritsu's legs. She nods and Hannah pulls back some of the fabric to look. A slow nod confirms what you were thinking.
"How long?" you ask.
"It was two years ago that I ran away. My owner was...is...a ranking member of the yakuza. He tracked me up here a few months ago. I begged him to forgive me, and he did for a price. These blemishes form part of that cost. He has continued to take from me in every possible way. I see no way out other than the obvious. He will consume me until I die. But it was not that which moved me to act. He means to come here and bring the other sisters to ruin."
"What...did you intend to do?" Hannah asks.
"It would be a night where his lust would cloud his judgement. I would use my body as a flashpoint..."
"..."
"The yakuza are dangerous. I know that to be true. They fortunately don't roost in this town, and as I know, this one doesn't make known his trips to see me. He buys off the local shinobi for protection. Some of the...men. They also..."
You shake your head, frustrated.
"I can act on my own. I spent some of my savings for the chance to. But in the midst of all this, both of you came to this very place. I felt hope...I decided that I would give myself one final chance to live. I didn't want to give you details that would influence your decision, but it was insisted upon by the young miss, after asking me to be personally assigned to her for the rest of her stay. Steering you into this...it would make me feel more guilt than anything. Even so, I...I would like your help. I make this plea to you, and offer you my body to do as you please."
"Ritsu..."
"I really do...want to live." She adjusts her kimono and bows low, her head touching the floor mats.
"We will give you our response by the morrow," Hannah says. Ritsu raises her head and nods.
"Thank you for this audience."
"Of course. Return to my room and prepare some tea, then indulge in a cup for yourself. Wait for my return, if you would."
"Yes, of course. Please excuse me, sir."
She bows for you once more before leaving, sliding the door closed gently behind her. You let out a heavy breath and look at the ceiling.
"I'm going for a walk," Hannah says. "Let's have another bath together later, at the same time as before. Is that fine?"
"Yeah. See you then."
She leaves you alone as you flop back onto the mats.
---
"Please enjoy yourself, sir."
Ritsu bows and leaves you alone again as you reach the spring. You sigh and wash off before entering the warm pool. It feels just as good as the last time.
Hannah drops in beside you, towel wrapped around her and clinging to her body as the water soaks into it. She sighs with relief and leans against you.
"You okay?" you ask.
"Yes. Are you?"
"I'm alright."
"If you're not, you can tell me."
"I know. I'm alright."
Her breathing is light as you both sit in relative silence. Not as many people out today, so the surroundings are much quieter. You focus on the sounds of moving water and the fountains in the background.
"It might be a long time before we get to do something like this again."
You nod in response. "That might be it. Regular baths aren't too bad, though."
"They're not. And we don't have to follow modesty rules either." You can feel her laughing softly even if you can't hear it. "I rather enjoy skinship with you."
"I'm not exactly opposed, either...though Mom would say we might as well get married and get over it."
"Traditionalists?"
"Lean towards it, yeah. Pretty...liberal when it comes to physical relationships, my parents. Grams doesn't press the issue too much." You pause. "You've told me a lot about yourself."
"Don't feel like you're obligated."
"I'm not," you counter. "I just want to talk about it some, because you want to hear it. I'm not wrong, am I?"
"Mm, I suppose not." She leans away from you and turns so that her arms are on the outside of the pool, then rests her head on top of them. Her violet eyes are focused on you and glowing brightly. "Tell me a story then, Joshua. Tell me...about yourself."
You start with your sort of humble beginnings. How you used to eat everything in front of you and gained weight. Reading books to the point of possible obsession. Your parents always looked out for you and believed in you. Jonah, your dad, is a former samurai and current politician. Your mom, Condi, is the Iron Country's top diplomat. Your older sister Samantha sails the ocean on business, formerly a naval officer. Your grandmother, Rebecca, runs the local health network and works at different hospitals. Reconfiguring combat medicine for daily use is something she's really good at. Your aunts and uncles are special too, in their own ways. You have a cousin named Mariah who had a crush on you and kept trying to hide it. She probably would have confessed at your trial if she was able to attend.
Your bookworm streak was enabled by your friend Noriko, who you learned languages with just to decipher foreign texts. You decided one day when you were nine that you would get into some sort of shape. On the way you learned about your grandfather. You became inspired by him. You met a blonde girl named Cadence and played together for a few years. She had family problems because she was a Kennedy child, and disappeared for long stretches of time.
The years went on. You got more athletic and continued to read, learning about chakra and jutsu on your own when you were twelve. The pace of your transformation accelerated. You wouldn't accept the title of genius from anyone, including your parents. Cadence would spar with you on her infrequent visits and talk about how awesome you were. You learned more about your grandfather and went around asking about certain books. The adults told you no.
You didn't promise you would stop searching.
The time of relative peace ended when you found a certain book in the library. Noriko testified it was always there, but all the evidence was ignored. You don't even remember what the made up charges were, but it all amounted to some conspiracy to commit treason and to start a world war. A lot of old men with pale skin came down on you hard. Your parents argued on your behalf, even at threat to their careers. Your friends fought for you. In the end it wasn't enough. You were given a choice: leave or face worse punishment from the samurai and the diplomats of the shinobi powers.
You needed to continue living. You left.
Keeping contact with you would amount to treason so you refused it for the sake of your loved ones. The clarion call was made to nearby nations about your exile, and so you were occassionally hunted for the chance to find out where Jacob West was hiding. You kept moving and used your knowledge to get into the mercenary network. You got used to killing, but not used to liking it. Sometimes it was satisfying though, delivering that kind of justice. You weren't a saint. You didn't want to be one, honestly.
You helped a lot of people. You kept up your reading. Stayed in shape. Made money. Rinse, repeat.
Hannah never once took her eyes off you, remaining quiet and attentive.
"There's a lot more about you that I want to know. But that will always be the case. Being closer to you is probably an endless sort of desire," she says.
"That so..."
"Yes. It must be so..." She raises her head to look straight at you. "Thank you. I appreciate you telling me so much."
"It's no problem."
"I know. You always feel it's no hassle. I still appreciate you doing this for me. It's far more than you needed to say...not everything, I can tell. But...it's enough."
She settles back into the water properly, going back to leaning against you. You wonder how her skin is so soft, considering the time she's spent fighting.
"What should we do about Ritsu?" you ask.
"I'm not opposed to taking her up on her offer. If she wants to be a toy, then I can oblige her. And a companion would be nice, even if she isn't like us." She lets out a breath. "I know you're opposed to taking anything from her. Especially that body of hers...there's a jagged sort of beauty in those scars, mixed with her determination."
"Last thing I want to do is take her money. And whatever dignity she has left."
"I know, darling." She pats your hand gently underneath the water. "Tell me what you want to do, and we'll carry it out."
---
[] Help Ritsu. She'll probably snap and do something drastic otherwise.
-[] Take everything she's offering. You can sort it out later.
-[] Take the money, even if it's not much on her end.
-[] You're doing it because it's right. No money or anything else from her.
[] You'll have to pass. It seems too complicated. Though it doesn't exclude Hannah from moving.
[] Write in.
Last edited:
[X] Help Ritsu. She'll probably snap and do something drastic otherwise.
-[X] Take everything she's offering. You can sort it out later.
-[X] Take everything she's offering. You can sort it out later.
Episode 2.0: Word And Bond
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"Let's get ourselves out of here first off," you say. You climb out of the water, secure your towel, and take Hannah's extended hand to help her up.
"I do wonder about you sometimes."
"What? You mean the fact that I'm not ogling you?"
"Something like that."
You snort. "I'm smarter than that." She looks confused for a moment before blushing.
"I see. Hm." She brushes back a strand of hair. You note Ritsu walk up the path towards you both, giving her customary bow as she stops. An appraising look crosses her face as she stares at you for a moment.
"Sir, madam."
"Ritsu. Please prepare a snack for me."
"Yes, madam. Preferences?"
"Surprise me."
"Understood. I will be off." She gives you another lingering look, eyes shifting up and down, before leaving.
"..." You wonder what that's about. Then again, you'd have some time to figure it out, maybe.
"Hopefully my decision isn't too out of character for you," you say without turning.
"Oh? So you've decided to take her on."
"Ten thousand on completion. When you have time, write a contract for her to sign..."
Hannah walks in front of you to get your attention. "You're taking all of her."
"Yeah."
You watch as her face radiates amusement. "Well. Not completely unexpected. I know I tease you, but I also know you're not soft by any means. Although, I wonder if you...worry."
"Nothing's figured out yet. After we take care of the yakuza, we'll have to see what really happens. I'm not too worried about anything, even if you're intent on winding her up."
"I see. Then we'll have our meeting in the morning, with all of the proper arrangements. Good night, Joshua."
"Night, Hannah."
You part ways. As you head back to your room, you notice Ritsu is waiting outside.
"Night. Anything you need help with?" you ask her.
"Nothing, sir. I wanted to ask if you needed anything before I returned to the young madam."
"Nothing for me. Thanks, I appreciate it."
"Understood. Good night, sir."
"Good night." She quietly moves down the hall and out of view as she rounds a corner.
---
It's the next morning. You decide on a late breakfast, settling for tea in your room as you wait for the moment to arrive.
"Pardon the intrusion."
The familiar, unchanging voice of Ritsu reaches your ears. You sit cross legged in front of your table, while Hannah sits beside you with a scroll after your hostess secures the front entrance in a way only she knew. She sits on her knees directly in front of you both; it's still early morning and the light coming into the room is soft and dim. Ritsu's eyes glow ever so slightly, to the point where it feels like your eyes are playing tricks on you. She lets down her hair and you watch as it falls around her shoulders.
Hannah doesn't say a word, instead handing a scroll to Ritsu, who graciously takes it. She opens it up and reads. No questions come from her lips, and she finishes, looking up at you.
"Ten thousand on mission completion," you say precisely.
"I understand."
"And the contract. We're taking your offer. It's only right and fair to put it in writing, no matter how simple the mechanics might be."
"I understand. I accept these terms."
"Once you sign, the contract will be enforced," you reply.
"Yes."
You nod to Hannah, and she presents Ritsu with a self-contained pen. The petite woman tips the pen over and waits for the nib to fill slightly before signing her name on the line provided. Her hand trembles a while after she finishes, and she hands the pen back to Hannah gently.
"It's done," Hannah says. "You belong to us. Every part of you belongs to us."
"Yes."
"My name is Joshua West," you say.
"My name is Hannah Kuiper," Hannah follows.
"Lord Joshua and Lady Hannah. My will is yours. My mind is yours. My body is yours. Everything about me on this mortal plane...now belongs to you. I made the offer, and I will keep my promise. My body is yours to use as you wish."
"Joshua. May I?"
You think for a moment and nod slowly.
"Thank you. Name," she orders.
"Ritsu Tanaka, milady."
"Age."
"Nineteen, milady."
"Stand." Ritsu stands. "Undress." She undoes the sash on her yukata and lets it fall around her.
"..." You find yourself staring, for reasons that you already understand. Ritsu stands at attention, looking back at you. The hurried breathing from before slows. Her body unwinds ever so slightly.
And then, her eyes fill with tears.
"Milord? Do you not...?"
"You're not ugly. Was this...was all of it because of that man?" you ask.
"Yes. It was all because of him. All of this...because of him. My family abandoned me out of fear."
"For their lives?"
"No."
You let out a frustrated breath. "We might have to pay them a visit too...when this is all over. Right now, we're going to end the burden that's almost crushed your soul."
"Milord, I...I...these scars...don't you see them?" The mask you saw, the one you kept seeing before. It was helping her stay above water. "Do you not see...?"
"I see. And I accept," you say. "Your value is not diminished."
"Those scars will be part of your story," Hannah says.
She wraps her arms around herself and slides to the floor. You close your eyes and listen to her crying. It's painful. Her sobs aren't loud. They don't shake her to the ground. But they're soulful whimpers and whispers to herself. They're expressions of pain that she held in. She was close to dying. Close to killing herself. Right on the very edge.
A week later. Just a week and a few days and she would have been erased, scars and all.
"This child was meant for something. Only she can realize what it is now," Hannah says quietly.
You nod in agreement. "The ninja enabled this. They took part."
"This world isn't all darkness on their side," she says, playing devil's advocate.
"Maybe not. I might not have been forthcoming with you, Hannah." You fish the Lapis Lazuli from your pocket and look at it. "Shiina always had a point. My grandfather wanted to believe otherwise. I did too."
"Do you still?"
"I want to."
You leave your position on the mat, and Hannah follows. Ritsu looks up with confusion as you both draw closer.
You both hold her against your bodies. She doesn't resume her crying, instead snuggling closer and closing her eyes.
"Brunch sounds better anyways," you mumble.
---
It's the following day. Ritsu is coming off work at 1pm for the start of her off days. She dresses in a skirt with black leggings and a sweater, taking care to hide the scars and bruises from her encounters.
"Any ideas on how we should do this?" you ask Hannah.
"I think stealth is out. We'll end up fighting shinobi at some point," she says. You're both across the street, enjoying takoyaki on a bench as you watch Ritsu. "It all depends on how much of a mess we want to make."
"We have ownership of Ritsu, but that doesn't mean she can't be hurt further."
"Point made. Hmm...she did say she lived in a dump earlier, if I'm not mistaken."
"Slum village, huh. Nothing of value lost if we trash somewhere like that," you muse. "It's also a sort of secure position if we need to guard her, and we probably will in the end. Yakuza might be punks, but they're well connected punks. Need to make sure they can't trace it back to Ritsu or us. This guy has a disconnect with his detail, you think?"
Hannah pops a fried ball into her mouth and chews a bit before answering. "Maybe I was hasty in thinking stealth was out. Couple of options. Get information on his security detail and infiltrate that way, maybe impersonate someone. I can also...be a honey trap."
"Sensing ulterior motives," you quip, rolling your eyes.
"I didn't think I was so transparent." She licks her lips slowly. "Exploitable excuse to get my first taste of little Ritsu. By the by...she's itching to take a ride on your pocket rocket, milord~"
"Shut up. Don't establish things so early. She might see me as some kind of dad figure or whatever."
"She's three years older than us."
"That hasn't stopped anyone and you know it."
"Well...not that much changes. The sweet and pure daughter wanting a moonlight ride on daddy's magical pony isn't a rare occurrence either."
"Aren't we well-read?" you tease. A shinobi from the Hot Springs approaches and talks to Ritsu, or at least gestures something. Ritsu nods and starts away from the inn as he leaves, making sure not to give your positions away.
"Good girl," Hannah says. "So, what shall we do, O peerless leader?"
"Like you said, we've got options."
---
[] Follow Ritsu to her destination and just let things play out. You'll figure out something.
[] Start your operations.
-[] Hannah can set up her honey trap, eliminate the target, and then you can worry about extraction.
-[] Working your way into things with a disguise as one of the Hot Springs shinobi might work.
-[] Write in.
[] Follow Ritsu to her destination and
-[] Use her apartment as a safe zone for the inevitable retaliation.
-[] Forego stealth completely and crush anything that attacks you two.
[] Other option (write in).
"I do wonder about you sometimes."
"What? You mean the fact that I'm not ogling you?"
"Something like that."
You snort. "I'm smarter than that." She looks confused for a moment before blushing.
"I see. Hm." She brushes back a strand of hair. You note Ritsu walk up the path towards you both, giving her customary bow as she stops. An appraising look crosses her face as she stares at you for a moment.
"Sir, madam."
"Ritsu. Please prepare a snack for me."
"Yes, madam. Preferences?"
"Surprise me."
"Understood. I will be off." She gives you another lingering look, eyes shifting up and down, before leaving.
"..." You wonder what that's about. Then again, you'd have some time to figure it out, maybe.
"Hopefully my decision isn't too out of character for you," you say without turning.
"Oh? So you've decided to take her on."
"Ten thousand on completion. When you have time, write a contract for her to sign..."
Hannah walks in front of you to get your attention. "You're taking all of her."
"Yeah."
You watch as her face radiates amusement. "Well. Not completely unexpected. I know I tease you, but I also know you're not soft by any means. Although, I wonder if you...worry."
"Nothing's figured out yet. After we take care of the yakuza, we'll have to see what really happens. I'm not too worried about anything, even if you're intent on winding her up."
"I see. Then we'll have our meeting in the morning, with all of the proper arrangements. Good night, Joshua."
"Night, Hannah."
You part ways. As you head back to your room, you notice Ritsu is waiting outside.
"Night. Anything you need help with?" you ask her.
"Nothing, sir. I wanted to ask if you needed anything before I returned to the young madam."
"Nothing for me. Thanks, I appreciate it."
"Understood. Good night, sir."
"Good night." She quietly moves down the hall and out of view as she rounds a corner.
---
It's the next morning. You decide on a late breakfast, settling for tea in your room as you wait for the moment to arrive.
"Pardon the intrusion."
The familiar, unchanging voice of Ritsu reaches your ears. You sit cross legged in front of your table, while Hannah sits beside you with a scroll after your hostess secures the front entrance in a way only she knew. She sits on her knees directly in front of you both; it's still early morning and the light coming into the room is soft and dim. Ritsu's eyes glow ever so slightly, to the point where it feels like your eyes are playing tricks on you. She lets down her hair and you watch as it falls around her shoulders.
Hannah doesn't say a word, instead handing a scroll to Ritsu, who graciously takes it. She opens it up and reads. No questions come from her lips, and she finishes, looking up at you.
"Ten thousand on mission completion," you say precisely.
"I understand."
"And the contract. We're taking your offer. It's only right and fair to put it in writing, no matter how simple the mechanics might be."
"I understand. I accept these terms."
"Once you sign, the contract will be enforced," you reply.
"Yes."
You nod to Hannah, and she presents Ritsu with a self-contained pen. The petite woman tips the pen over and waits for the nib to fill slightly before signing her name on the line provided. Her hand trembles a while after she finishes, and she hands the pen back to Hannah gently.
"It's done," Hannah says. "You belong to us. Every part of you belongs to us."
"Yes."
"My name is Joshua West," you say.
"My name is Hannah Kuiper," Hannah follows.
"Lord Joshua and Lady Hannah. My will is yours. My mind is yours. My body is yours. Everything about me on this mortal plane...now belongs to you. I made the offer, and I will keep my promise. My body is yours to use as you wish."
"Joshua. May I?"
You think for a moment and nod slowly.
"Thank you. Name," she orders.
"Ritsu Tanaka, milady."
"Age."
"Nineteen, milady."
"Stand." Ritsu stands. "Undress." She undoes the sash on her yukata and lets it fall around her.
"..." You find yourself staring, for reasons that you already understand. Ritsu stands at attention, looking back at you. The hurried breathing from before slows. Her body unwinds ever so slightly.
And then, her eyes fill with tears.
"Milord? Do you not...?"
"You're not ugly. Was this...was all of it because of that man?" you ask.
"Yes. It was all because of him. All of this...because of him. My family abandoned me out of fear."
"For their lives?"
"No."
You let out a frustrated breath. "We might have to pay them a visit too...when this is all over. Right now, we're going to end the burden that's almost crushed your soul."
"Milord, I...I...these scars...don't you see them?" The mask you saw, the one you kept seeing before. It was helping her stay above water. "Do you not see...?"
"I see. And I accept," you say. "Your value is not diminished."
"Those scars will be part of your story," Hannah says.
She wraps her arms around herself and slides to the floor. You close your eyes and listen to her crying. It's painful. Her sobs aren't loud. They don't shake her to the ground. But they're soulful whimpers and whispers to herself. They're expressions of pain that she held in. She was close to dying. Close to killing herself. Right on the very edge.
A week later. Just a week and a few days and she would have been erased, scars and all.
"This child was meant for something. Only she can realize what it is now," Hannah says quietly.
You nod in agreement. "The ninja enabled this. They took part."
"This world isn't all darkness on their side," she says, playing devil's advocate.
"Maybe not. I might not have been forthcoming with you, Hannah." You fish the Lapis Lazuli from your pocket and look at it. "Shiina always had a point. My grandfather wanted to believe otherwise. I did too."
"Do you still?"
"I want to."
You leave your position on the mat, and Hannah follows. Ritsu looks up with confusion as you both draw closer.
You both hold her against your bodies. She doesn't resume her crying, instead snuggling closer and closing her eyes.
"Brunch sounds better anyways," you mumble.
---
It's the following day. Ritsu is coming off work at 1pm for the start of her off days. She dresses in a skirt with black leggings and a sweater, taking care to hide the scars and bruises from her encounters.
"Any ideas on how we should do this?" you ask Hannah.
"I think stealth is out. We'll end up fighting shinobi at some point," she says. You're both across the street, enjoying takoyaki on a bench as you watch Ritsu. "It all depends on how much of a mess we want to make."
"We have ownership of Ritsu, but that doesn't mean she can't be hurt further."
"Point made. Hmm...she did say she lived in a dump earlier, if I'm not mistaken."
"Slum village, huh. Nothing of value lost if we trash somewhere like that," you muse. "It's also a sort of secure position if we need to guard her, and we probably will in the end. Yakuza might be punks, but they're well connected punks. Need to make sure they can't trace it back to Ritsu or us. This guy has a disconnect with his detail, you think?"
Hannah pops a fried ball into her mouth and chews a bit before answering. "Maybe I was hasty in thinking stealth was out. Couple of options. Get information on his security detail and infiltrate that way, maybe impersonate someone. I can also...be a honey trap."
"Sensing ulterior motives," you quip, rolling your eyes.
"I didn't think I was so transparent." She licks her lips slowly. "Exploitable excuse to get my first taste of little Ritsu. By the by...she's itching to take a ride on your pocket rocket, milord~"
"Shut up. Don't establish things so early. She might see me as some kind of dad figure or whatever."
"She's three years older than us."
"That hasn't stopped anyone and you know it."
"Well...not that much changes. The sweet and pure daughter wanting a moonlight ride on daddy's magical pony isn't a rare occurrence either."
"Aren't we well-read?" you tease. A shinobi from the Hot Springs approaches and talks to Ritsu, or at least gestures something. Ritsu nods and starts away from the inn as he leaves, making sure not to give your positions away.
"Good girl," Hannah says. "So, what shall we do, O peerless leader?"
"Like you said, we've got options."
---
[] Follow Ritsu to her destination and just let things play out. You'll figure out something.
[] Start your operations.
-[] Hannah can set up her honey trap, eliminate the target, and then you can worry about extraction.
-[] Working your way into things with a disguise as one of the Hot Springs shinobi might work.
-[] Write in.
[] Follow Ritsu to her destination and
-[] Use her apartment as a safe zone for the inevitable retaliation.
-[] Forego stealth completely and crush anything that attacks you two.
[] Other option (write in).
Last edited:
[X] Start your operations.
-[X] Hannah can set up her honey trap, eliminate the target, and then you can worry about extraction.
-[X] Hannah can set up her honey trap, eliminate the target, and then you can worry about extraction.
Episode 2.1: Word And Bond
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hannah went as far as believing that she didn't need a real disguise, and ran with that idea. She went with something outrageous; a pink miniskirt that rode dangerously, mysteriously low on her hips, a short white jacket with a fake fur-lined hood, and underneath it a fishnet shirt with gaps wide enough to shove a dinner table through. Her lips were coated in a sparking pink, pressing together as she chewed bubblegum.
It toed the line between "obvious streetwalker" and "fun time party gal". Tiptoed, to be accurate. Joshua made a face at the preview, and she couldn't decide whether it was supposed to represent horror, confusion, or some wonky mix of both. But the important thing was that he found it repulsive.
That meant it was officially "sleazy criminal approved".
Some of the yakuza had free time on their hands and liked to bulk up in order to look tougher and more intimidating. They had their elaborate tattoos, but for some it wasn't nearly enough. This prick was no exception to that little rule.
Ritsu had almost reached her apartment when the man of the hour approached from up ahead, his bodyguards following some distance behind. Hannah observed from her spot in front of the building, keeping quiet, watching, and listening as closely as she could. Joshua was on standby, waiting on the roof and getting visuals. The plan was simple enough. Hannah linked up with Ritsu, made it into her apartment with the yakuza target, erased him, and then the rest would be taken care of. A fight was inevitable with shinobi on duty, and Hannah had already picked out six from her quick sweep. There were probably more around, as much as one man could reasonably afford. It was only a small core of bodyguards with the rest supplemented by shinobi risking their careers for a quick extra buck.
Not just for money, she remembered. Hannah breathed in and out slowly to calm herself down. Wouldn't do to leak a murderous aura and ruin everything before it began.
"If it isn't my little honeypot..."
"Lord Tetsuda...I...I am relieved to see you," Ritsu replied shakily. The man was a giant compared to her at over six feet tall. He flaunted his muscles with a tight, half opened shirt that revealed part of his yakuza tattoos. His hair was dyed sandy blonde, some of his black roots showing at the top of his head. White alligator shoes, a watch jammed with diamonds, and gold rings on his fingers.
He grabbed her by the chin and shook her gently for a moment. Hannah tensed as she saw what was coming next, but couldn't stop it. His open palm sailed through the air and slapped her to the ground.
Ritsu slowly got to her feet and bowed her head low, apologizing for whatever imaginary slight she had committed.
"You ungrateful little bitch. C'mere," he growled, grabbing a fistful of hair and dragging her into him. "You think I'm over being pissed at you?! After what you did?! Huh?!" He yanked at her hair and she yelped. "Answer me!"
"I-I'm sorry...I'm sorry, I don't have any more money, I'm sorry that I ran, I'm sorry..."
"Forcing me to come up here and deal with you...it's so that you don't fucking squeal on me."
"I would n-never-" She screamed as he yanked at her hair. "Please, my lord...! I would never say...anything..."
"I don't fucking believe you. I'm going to make you pay for almost humiliating me. You should thank every god in the sky that I haven't pumped you full of drugs already...you're a pain in the ass. The only good thing about you is your-"
Hannah closed her eyes, wanting to run up and bash the sick bastard's head in. But it wasn't the time. Not yet.
"...and you know it," he growled. Ritsu sniffled.
"I know. I'm only good for my body. I'm only good as a sex doll. Please...let me do my best to satisfy you. I know I'm only...only as..."
"Only difference between you and a sex doll is that you have a heartbeat."
"I...yes. You're right. You're always..."
"Get your ass into your ratty old house and clear out a seat. You get to prove your worth to me. And if the other guys get bored, I'll be counting on you to keep them company."
"Yes, sir. I'll be good, sir. I'll do my best, please believe me."
It was becoming unbearable. Hannah seethed inside of herself, never letting it through to the surface. She shifted into her persona and let the other thoughts melt away.
"Well, hello there! What's a fancy looking group of guys doing out here?" she asked in a bubbly tone as she approached. "Oh, don't mind me just popping up and stuff. I was coming outside for some air, but I found something way way better..."
Tetsuda - it probably wasn't his real name - eyed Hannah suspiciously at first, then so hungrily she could swear she heard his stomach growling. His eyes roamed her body and undressed her over and over; she could feel his slimy gaze and didn't think any amount of baths could rid her of the filthy sensation. "I was just talking to my woman here. It's been such a long time since we last saw each other, and...you know how it is. Oh, she had an accident earlier, hit her face against a wall. Clumsy sometimes."
"Oh, don't I know it. I keep like, rolling my ankle if my heels are too high. So I went with lower ones today. They still work super well for giving your butt a bit of lift, though! See..." She turned and posed for her audience. "Nice, right?"
"Very," Tetsuda said with a nod. "What are you up to, miss...?"
"Dani. I'm just traveling the land and junk, bouncing from place to place...and from man to woman to man," she said with a saucy wink. "Tourist towns like this are super great to just unwind and have some fun...oh, I noticed your tattoo. You're, um...am I allowed to say?" she asked innocently.
Tetsuda chuckled. "Relax, toots. You're allowed to speak of the yakuza. Just not anything bad about 'em, yeah?"
"Yeah, alright. So you guys are yakuza and stuff...you got any...you know."
"Always. The old timers don't like it, but times are changing. Gotta get with the new types of trade."
Used to be that drugs and the like weren't welcome in yakuza circles, much like the mafioso banned such items...hopefully your garbage organization will follow your morals down the drain soon.
"Psh, like yeah. Old people are so lame. But, um...mm. I don't wanna party too hard just yet. I feel like I should be clear headed..."
"We're not opposed to having more company, she and I. Though some of the ninja...they might get jealous. They're on duty but not really on duty, you know what I'm saying? I got 15 of them out here for cheap. Sometimes, they uh...get a little something extra from the missus. She doesn't mind, though. One of her kinks."
"That's super spicy," Hannah said, making a show of biting her lower lip. "You couldn't tell by looking at her...mm-mm. I'm thinking..."
Hannah strode over to Ritsu, who had clearly recognized her by now in that appalling outfit.
"Relax...this will be the last time he gets to hurt you. Think you can trust me for the next little while?"
"Yes...I trust you with everything."
"Good girl. Steady your heart, now." Hannah went back to her stage voice. "You ever kissed a girl before?"
Ritsu slowly shook her head. Hannah smiled and licked her lips sensually.
"Let's change that..."
For a moment, Ritsu was shocked at what was happening. Another girl, kissing her. Not just any girl, the one who was in disguise and about to assassinate her old slaver - ex-boyfriend didn't come close to capturing any part of their so called relationship - and the one who had quite literally taken ownership of her jointly with her kokoahito boyfriend...husband...fiancee...friend? They insisted they were friends, but that didn't-
And then all the moments after that were a blur as her brain melted. All she could think about and focus on was trying to savour every bit of the kiss from her mistress - she had never been kissed like that before. She had never been loved like that before. This was incredibly lewd, but also so incredibly comforting and warm and safe at the same time, a brain scrambling kiss from her mistress who was three years younger than her but age was no substitute for experience-
And then the moments ended and she felt cool air against her warm lips. Ritsu stood in a daze, flushed with heat all over and yearning badly for Hannah to come back to her to do that for just a moment longer.
Hannah stepped back and ran a hand through her blonde hair, a lustful look radiating from her eyes as she locked down her prey, the audience of men around her who just had to be at full mast after that demonstration.
"What a delicious little treat," she said with a breathy tone. "I really am looking forward to more, if she's as...liberated as you say she is."
"You and me both," Tetsuda mumbled.
"Shall we?" Hannah asked gently.
"You heard her," the yakuza boss said to Ritsu. She nodded and ran to her ground floor apartment, opening the door and starting to make the place look presentable - which meant making it look fuller than it actually was. The bodyguards followed her in a few minutes later, and then two shinobi appeared to give the place a proper scan, wearing non-descriptive black uniforms so that they wouldn't be identified as Hot Springs operatives.
"Make yourselves at home as always," Tetsuda said to his associates. "And don't mind the noise either, since you'll be in there once I'm done."
"Don't you worry about sloppy seconds, boys. I like to keep it consistent," Hannah said with a wink before disappearing into the bedroom. Ritsu followed and Tetsuda closed the door behind them.
"This is the only fucking place we can get some privacy, and that's a sad thing," he groaned. "But no need to bring down the mood..."
"Totally." Hannah tossed her jacket into a corner, followed by her heels. She wiggled out of the miniskirt, leaving herself with the thin fishnet shirt and panties. "Like it?"
"Damn. I'm in heaven already." He glared at Ritsu. "Gonna follow her lead, or what?"
"Easy, now. I know you said she's pretty freaky on her own, but it's different when people are watching. I know that from experience, ehehe. I'll guide you through the motions..."
Ritsu nodded and let herself drift away to the sound of Hannah's voice. She pulled the sweater over her head, and the leggings down past her feet. The skirt fell around her as she unbuttoned it.
She was in the same position as a day before, almost naked in front of two people. But things had changed.
Things had changed a whole lot.
"Do you want it?" Hannah asked with a whisper. "I can let you take it. Just tell me and I'll give you the chance to go further than you've ever dreamed."
Ritsu licked her lips. Tetsuda smirked, thinking she was in heat. There was a burning inside of her...but it wasn't one he could understand. Only experience.
"Tell me what you want. I'll give you that deep desire. I'm here," the whisper said. "Show me your heart, Ritsu."
---
[] Ritsu shakes herself free. Hannah takes control at her wish and delivers vengeance.
[] Ritsu grabs hold of the heat inside of her. Hannah guides her to the burning desire. Tetsuda is oblivious.
[] Write in.
It toed the line between "obvious streetwalker" and "fun time party gal". Tiptoed, to be accurate. Joshua made a face at the preview, and she couldn't decide whether it was supposed to represent horror, confusion, or some wonky mix of both. But the important thing was that he found it repulsive.
That meant it was officially "sleazy criminal approved".
Some of the yakuza had free time on their hands and liked to bulk up in order to look tougher and more intimidating. They had their elaborate tattoos, but for some it wasn't nearly enough. This prick was no exception to that little rule.
Ritsu had almost reached her apartment when the man of the hour approached from up ahead, his bodyguards following some distance behind. Hannah observed from her spot in front of the building, keeping quiet, watching, and listening as closely as she could. Joshua was on standby, waiting on the roof and getting visuals. The plan was simple enough. Hannah linked up with Ritsu, made it into her apartment with the yakuza target, erased him, and then the rest would be taken care of. A fight was inevitable with shinobi on duty, and Hannah had already picked out six from her quick sweep. There were probably more around, as much as one man could reasonably afford. It was only a small core of bodyguards with the rest supplemented by shinobi risking their careers for a quick extra buck.
Not just for money, she remembered. Hannah breathed in and out slowly to calm herself down. Wouldn't do to leak a murderous aura and ruin everything before it began.
"If it isn't my little honeypot..."
"Lord Tetsuda...I...I am relieved to see you," Ritsu replied shakily. The man was a giant compared to her at over six feet tall. He flaunted his muscles with a tight, half opened shirt that revealed part of his yakuza tattoos. His hair was dyed sandy blonde, some of his black roots showing at the top of his head. White alligator shoes, a watch jammed with diamonds, and gold rings on his fingers.
He grabbed her by the chin and shook her gently for a moment. Hannah tensed as she saw what was coming next, but couldn't stop it. His open palm sailed through the air and slapped her to the ground.
Ritsu slowly got to her feet and bowed her head low, apologizing for whatever imaginary slight she had committed.
"You ungrateful little bitch. C'mere," he growled, grabbing a fistful of hair and dragging her into him. "You think I'm over being pissed at you?! After what you did?! Huh?!" He yanked at her hair and she yelped. "Answer me!"
"I-I'm sorry...I'm sorry, I don't have any more money, I'm sorry that I ran, I'm sorry..."
"Forcing me to come up here and deal with you...it's so that you don't fucking squeal on me."
"I would n-never-" She screamed as he yanked at her hair. "Please, my lord...! I would never say...anything..."
"I don't fucking believe you. I'm going to make you pay for almost humiliating me. You should thank every god in the sky that I haven't pumped you full of drugs already...you're a pain in the ass. The only good thing about you is your-"
Hannah closed her eyes, wanting to run up and bash the sick bastard's head in. But it wasn't the time. Not yet.
"...and you know it," he growled. Ritsu sniffled.
"I know. I'm only good for my body. I'm only good as a sex doll. Please...let me do my best to satisfy you. I know I'm only...only as..."
"Only difference between you and a sex doll is that you have a heartbeat."
"I...yes. You're right. You're always..."
"Get your ass into your ratty old house and clear out a seat. You get to prove your worth to me. And if the other guys get bored, I'll be counting on you to keep them company."
"Yes, sir. I'll be good, sir. I'll do my best, please believe me."
It was becoming unbearable. Hannah seethed inside of herself, never letting it through to the surface. She shifted into her persona and let the other thoughts melt away.
"Well, hello there! What's a fancy looking group of guys doing out here?" she asked in a bubbly tone as she approached. "Oh, don't mind me just popping up and stuff. I was coming outside for some air, but I found something way way better..."
Tetsuda - it probably wasn't his real name - eyed Hannah suspiciously at first, then so hungrily she could swear she heard his stomach growling. His eyes roamed her body and undressed her over and over; she could feel his slimy gaze and didn't think any amount of baths could rid her of the filthy sensation. "I was just talking to my woman here. It's been such a long time since we last saw each other, and...you know how it is. Oh, she had an accident earlier, hit her face against a wall. Clumsy sometimes."
"Oh, don't I know it. I keep like, rolling my ankle if my heels are too high. So I went with lower ones today. They still work super well for giving your butt a bit of lift, though! See..." She turned and posed for her audience. "Nice, right?"
"Very," Tetsuda said with a nod. "What are you up to, miss...?"
"Dani. I'm just traveling the land and junk, bouncing from place to place...and from man to woman to man," she said with a saucy wink. "Tourist towns like this are super great to just unwind and have some fun...oh, I noticed your tattoo. You're, um...am I allowed to say?" she asked innocently.
Tetsuda chuckled. "Relax, toots. You're allowed to speak of the yakuza. Just not anything bad about 'em, yeah?"
"Yeah, alright. So you guys are yakuza and stuff...you got any...you know."
"Always. The old timers don't like it, but times are changing. Gotta get with the new types of trade."
Used to be that drugs and the like weren't welcome in yakuza circles, much like the mafioso banned such items...hopefully your garbage organization will follow your morals down the drain soon.
"Psh, like yeah. Old people are so lame. But, um...mm. I don't wanna party too hard just yet. I feel like I should be clear headed..."
"We're not opposed to having more company, she and I. Though some of the ninja...they might get jealous. They're on duty but not really on duty, you know what I'm saying? I got 15 of them out here for cheap. Sometimes, they uh...get a little something extra from the missus. She doesn't mind, though. One of her kinks."
"That's super spicy," Hannah said, making a show of biting her lower lip. "You couldn't tell by looking at her...mm-mm. I'm thinking..."
Hannah strode over to Ritsu, who had clearly recognized her by now in that appalling outfit.
"Relax...this will be the last time he gets to hurt you. Think you can trust me for the next little while?"
"Yes...I trust you with everything."
"Good girl. Steady your heart, now." Hannah went back to her stage voice. "You ever kissed a girl before?"
Ritsu slowly shook her head. Hannah smiled and licked her lips sensually.
"Let's change that..."
For a moment, Ritsu was shocked at what was happening. Another girl, kissing her. Not just any girl, the one who was in disguise and about to assassinate her old slaver - ex-boyfriend didn't come close to capturing any part of their so called relationship - and the one who had quite literally taken ownership of her jointly with her kokoahito boyfriend...husband...fiancee...friend? They insisted they were friends, but that didn't-
And then all the moments after that were a blur as her brain melted. All she could think about and focus on was trying to savour every bit of the kiss from her mistress - she had never been kissed like that before. She had never been loved like that before. This was incredibly lewd, but also so incredibly comforting and warm and safe at the same time, a brain scrambling kiss from her mistress who was three years younger than her but age was no substitute for experience-
And then the moments ended and she felt cool air against her warm lips. Ritsu stood in a daze, flushed with heat all over and yearning badly for Hannah to come back to her to do that for just a moment longer.
Hannah stepped back and ran a hand through her blonde hair, a lustful look radiating from her eyes as she locked down her prey, the audience of men around her who just had to be at full mast after that demonstration.
"What a delicious little treat," she said with a breathy tone. "I really am looking forward to more, if she's as...liberated as you say she is."
"You and me both," Tetsuda mumbled.
"Shall we?" Hannah asked gently.
"You heard her," the yakuza boss said to Ritsu. She nodded and ran to her ground floor apartment, opening the door and starting to make the place look presentable - which meant making it look fuller than it actually was. The bodyguards followed her in a few minutes later, and then two shinobi appeared to give the place a proper scan, wearing non-descriptive black uniforms so that they wouldn't be identified as Hot Springs operatives.
"Make yourselves at home as always," Tetsuda said to his associates. "And don't mind the noise either, since you'll be in there once I'm done."
"Don't you worry about sloppy seconds, boys. I like to keep it consistent," Hannah said with a wink before disappearing into the bedroom. Ritsu followed and Tetsuda closed the door behind them.
"This is the only fucking place we can get some privacy, and that's a sad thing," he groaned. "But no need to bring down the mood..."
"Totally." Hannah tossed her jacket into a corner, followed by her heels. She wiggled out of the miniskirt, leaving herself with the thin fishnet shirt and panties. "Like it?"
"Damn. I'm in heaven already." He glared at Ritsu. "Gonna follow her lead, or what?"
"Easy, now. I know you said she's pretty freaky on her own, but it's different when people are watching. I know that from experience, ehehe. I'll guide you through the motions..."
Ritsu nodded and let herself drift away to the sound of Hannah's voice. She pulled the sweater over her head, and the leggings down past her feet. The skirt fell around her as she unbuttoned it.
She was in the same position as a day before, almost naked in front of two people. But things had changed.
Things had changed a whole lot.
"Do you want it?" Hannah asked with a whisper. "I can let you take it. Just tell me and I'll give you the chance to go further than you've ever dreamed."
Ritsu licked her lips. Tetsuda smirked, thinking she was in heat. There was a burning inside of her...but it wasn't one he could understand. Only experience.
"Tell me what you want. I'll give you that deep desire. I'm here," the whisper said. "Show me your heart, Ritsu."
---
[] Ritsu shakes herself free. Hannah takes control at her wish and delivers vengeance.
[] Ritsu grabs hold of the heat inside of her. Hannah guides her to the burning desire. Tetsuda is oblivious.
[] Write in.
Episode 2.2: Word And Bond
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
She realized that she wanted it...but want and desire were different from need. Ritsu felt herself shaken out of the overwhelming heat. She was still burning up, but...it wasn't her place to move forward. It wasn't her place to take it from him. It wasn't her place to throw away everything she was and could be for this one moment. She turned her head to face the woman beside her, the one with the glowing violet eyes that swallowed her up like the ocean.
Hannah immediately understood.
"There's something our little cutie-pie wants to say to you, mister handsome yakuza. I can kinda sense it," she said playfully as she climbed onto the bed. Her hands went to Tetsuda's back and gently rubbed it, before she helped him strip off his shirt. The tattoo covering his back gave her pause before she resumed her touching, making him grunt with satisfaction. Slowly, her hands worked upwards.
"Spit it out then," he mumbled.
Ritsu slowly raised her head. "You have been a part of my life for so long. You've been in my mind all of this time. You are so much...a part of who I am. You are why I exist."
"The fuck..."
"Shhh," Hannah breathed out gently. "Let her finish..." Her hands were working on his upper back.
"I mean it when I say this. I really mean it..." Ritsu felt her heart start to race. She was tense, starting to sweat. Her arms trembled as she held them against her chest. Hannah slowly worked with her massage, peeking over the yakuza's shoulder.
I am your angel of death. I am your blade.
The black wings spread from Hannah's back.
I will take away your fear. I will deliver vengeance upon him. Such is the will of Almighty God.
She could hear Hannah's voice in her head. Forceful and clear.
She knew it was time.
"I forgive you."
"Hah?"
"I forgive you," Ritsu repeated. "I forgive you for what you did to me. For what you made of me. I pray that your sins are forgiven. I pray that you see the doors of heaven. I forgive you of your sins against me."
Hannah's hands were on his shoulders.
"Please...I wish peace upon your soul. Peace be. Peace...be."
"Raise your head, my love."
Hannah's hands caressed his neck. Her face was like a stone mask, her eyes solid slates of violet.
"You are beauty. You are strength. Praise be to you...you have given this unworthy one his final rites."
Her fingers pressed into the flesh of his neck.
"What the fuck are you banging on about?" Tetsuda said, about to turn his head.
"Tetsuda."
He turned his head back towards Ritsu, furious. In her place was someone else, a woman he didn't recognize.
Petite. With glowing green eyes.
Ritsu and Hannah parted their lips in sync.
"Fare thee well."
Hannah squeezed with terrifying strength. There was a loud snap.
Ritsu watched the light drain from his eyes. Hannah let go and he fell forward, landing on the floor head first in a crumpled heap at Ritsu's side.
Everything was a haze, moving in slow motion. The smaller girl watched the scene in her head a thousand times over before feeling a whisper in her ear.
She went into autopilot mode and ran to the bathroom, locking the door behind her before she sat in the bathtub and hugged her knees. The world came back into focus and she was shivering against the cold floor.
A moment later there was a loud pounding at the bedroom entrance.
"Open the fucking door, you whores! We need to check on the boss!" a voice yelled. Hannah cast a casual glance at the dead body and ignored the repeated warnings, waiting for them to get tired of waiting.
The door was eventually pried open with the help of a shuriken against the lock. Hannah remained on top of the bed as the yakuza members took note of their young boss' predicament.
"Fucking shit! Get the ninja-"
"We've got another problem outside!"
Five...ten...thirteen. Two unaccounted for, then. Did they run off to get help? Hopefully not. She wanted to believe that Joshua had found the extras and taken care of them beforehand...but he was coming off the roof now, so it wasn't an immediate problem.
The three yakuza and one ninja started to crowd the room. Hannah wasn't going to let them past her to Ritsu, so the new wrinkle was this: would she spare these lives or not? Killing was efficient, but less ideal for the purposes of this mission. But she wasn't in full disguise, and they had seen too much.
Joshua, bless his heart, had given her the green light if she felt things were compromised.
---
Pick an option for each character.
--
[] Hannah
-[] End them. They know what you look like, and you don't want any of them squealing, especially the shinobi. Joshua had control of the rest outside. The sensor is conveniently in the room.
--[] Taijutsu. Nice and bloodless for the most part.
--[] Ninjutsu. Your little go-to is Chidori...it's nice and quick.
--[] Write-in.
-[] Fight to subdue. It might be best if you knocked them out...plus an interrogation later could be very helpful.
-[] Write in.
---
[] Joshua
-[] Go for the knockout. You have the speed and power advantage, so you can conceal your identity while fixing this problem.
-[] Lethal option. You're not sure you want to take the chance of leaving them alive, especially the shinobi...
-[] Write in.
---
[] Ritsu
-[] Do as your mistress said. Stay in the tub.
-[] You're frightened. The window is close by, you can get up and reach it...
-[] Write in.
Hannah immediately understood.
"There's something our little cutie-pie wants to say to you, mister handsome yakuza. I can kinda sense it," she said playfully as she climbed onto the bed. Her hands went to Tetsuda's back and gently rubbed it, before she helped him strip off his shirt. The tattoo covering his back gave her pause before she resumed her touching, making him grunt with satisfaction. Slowly, her hands worked upwards.
"Spit it out then," he mumbled.
Ritsu slowly raised her head. "You have been a part of my life for so long. You've been in my mind all of this time. You are so much...a part of who I am. You are why I exist."
"The fuck..."
"Shhh," Hannah breathed out gently. "Let her finish..." Her hands were working on his upper back.
"I mean it when I say this. I really mean it..." Ritsu felt her heart start to race. She was tense, starting to sweat. Her arms trembled as she held them against her chest. Hannah slowly worked with her massage, peeking over the yakuza's shoulder.
I am your angel of death. I am your blade.
The black wings spread from Hannah's back.
I will take away your fear. I will deliver vengeance upon him. Such is the will of Almighty God.
She could hear Hannah's voice in her head. Forceful and clear.
She knew it was time.
"I forgive you."
"Hah?"
"I forgive you," Ritsu repeated. "I forgive you for what you did to me. For what you made of me. I pray that your sins are forgiven. I pray that you see the doors of heaven. I forgive you of your sins against me."
Hannah's hands were on his shoulders.
"Please...I wish peace upon your soul. Peace be. Peace...be."
"Raise your head, my love."
Hannah's hands caressed his neck. Her face was like a stone mask, her eyes solid slates of violet.
"You are beauty. You are strength. Praise be to you...you have given this unworthy one his final rites."
Her fingers pressed into the flesh of his neck.
"What the fuck are you banging on about?" Tetsuda said, about to turn his head.
"Tetsuda."
He turned his head back towards Ritsu, furious. In her place was someone else, a woman he didn't recognize.
Petite. With glowing green eyes.
Ritsu and Hannah parted their lips in sync.
"Fare thee well."
Hannah squeezed with terrifying strength. There was a loud snap.
Ritsu watched the light drain from his eyes. Hannah let go and he fell forward, landing on the floor head first in a crumpled heap at Ritsu's side.
Everything was a haze, moving in slow motion. The smaller girl watched the scene in her head a thousand times over before feeling a whisper in her ear.
She went into autopilot mode and ran to the bathroom, locking the door behind her before she sat in the bathtub and hugged her knees. The world came back into focus and she was shivering against the cold floor.
A moment later there was a loud pounding at the bedroom entrance.
"Open the fucking door, you whores! We need to check on the boss!" a voice yelled. Hannah cast a casual glance at the dead body and ignored the repeated warnings, waiting for them to get tired of waiting.
The door was eventually pried open with the help of a shuriken against the lock. Hannah remained on top of the bed as the yakuza members took note of their young boss' predicament.
"Fucking shit! Get the ninja-"
"We've got another problem outside!"
Five...ten...thirteen. Two unaccounted for, then. Did they run off to get help? Hopefully not. She wanted to believe that Joshua had found the extras and taken care of them beforehand...but he was coming off the roof now, so it wasn't an immediate problem.
The three yakuza and one ninja started to crowd the room. Hannah wasn't going to let them past her to Ritsu, so the new wrinkle was this: would she spare these lives or not? Killing was efficient, but less ideal for the purposes of this mission. But she wasn't in full disguise, and they had seen too much.
Joshua, bless his heart, had given her the green light if she felt things were compromised.
---
Pick an option for each character.
--
[] Hannah
-[] End them. They know what you look like, and you don't want any of them squealing, especially the shinobi. Joshua had control of the rest outside. The sensor is conveniently in the room.
--[] Taijutsu. Nice and bloodless for the most part.
--[] Ninjutsu. Your little go-to is Chidori...it's nice and quick.
--[] Write-in.
-[] Fight to subdue. It might be best if you knocked them out...plus an interrogation later could be very helpful.
-[] Write in.
---
[] Joshua
-[] Go for the knockout. You have the speed and power advantage, so you can conceal your identity while fixing this problem.
-[] Lethal option. You're not sure you want to take the chance of leaving them alive, especially the shinobi...
-[] Write in.
---
[] Ritsu
-[] Do as your mistress said. Stay in the tub.
-[] You're frightened. The window is close by, you can get up and reach it...
-[] Write in.
Last edited:
[X] Hannah
-[X] End them. They know what you look like, and you don't want any of them squealing, especially the shinobi. Joshua had control of the rest outside. The sensor is conveniently in the room.
--[X] Taijutsu. Nice and bloodless for the most part.
[X] Joshua
-[X] Go for the knockout. You have the speed and power advantage, so you can conceal your identity while fixing this problem.
[X] Ritsu
-[X] Do as your mistress said. Stay in the tub.
-[X] End them. They know what you look like, and you don't want any of them squealing, especially the shinobi. Joshua had control of the rest outside. The sensor is conveniently in the room.
--[X] Taijutsu. Nice and bloodless for the most part.
[X] Joshua
-[X] Go for the knockout. You have the speed and power advantage, so you can conceal your identity while fixing this problem.
[X] Ritsu
-[X] Do as your mistress said. Stay in the tub.
[X] Hannah
-[X] End them. They know what you look like, and you don't want any of them squealing, especially the shinobi. Joshua had control of the rest outside. The sensor is conveniently in the room.
--[X] Taijutsu. Nice and bloodless for the most part.
[X] Joshua
-[X] Go for the knockout. You have the speed and power advantage, so you can conceal your identity while fixing this problem.
[X] Ritsu
-[X] Do as your mistress said. Stay in the tub.
No trace eh?
-[X] End them. They know what you look like, and you don't want any of them squealing, especially the shinobi. Joshua had control of the rest outside. The sensor is conveniently in the room.
--[X] Taijutsu. Nice and bloodless for the most part.
[X] Joshua
-[X] Go for the knockout. You have the speed and power advantage, so you can conceal your identity while fixing this problem.
[X] Ritsu
-[X] Do as your mistress said. Stay in the tub.
No trace eh?
Episode 2.3: Word And Bond
FortePlus
The THRILL from Green Hill
- Location
- Toronto
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hannah sighed. Events were in motion, then. Poor things...the last sensation they would experience was blinding pain at her hands. Not the worst way to go, but not terribly pleasant either.
She watched as the yakuza unsheathed their long swords, and the lone shinobi prepared shuriken. The room was small enough that four people crowding around the bed took up a notable amount of space.
"Hm." The blonde considered the situation, then reached up to tie her hair quickly.
"What the fuck did you do?" one of the yakuza roared. "What happened?"
"He's dead," the shinobi said. "She must have killed him with her bare hands."
"Oh, perceptive of you. I suppose that intellect of yours wasn't enough to secure a proper promotion, though. Shame." Hannah stood up on the bed, making the four men flinch. "It's not like you can do much as you are. If you turn tail and run, I won't bother with you."
"You sniveling little bitch...we'll teach you to fuck with the yakuza."
"Will you?" Hannah became indifferent to them. "Unfortunately for you, I have a perfect success rate against you trash. That will continue."
One of the thugs started to swing at her legs from behind. Hannah bounced once on the bed, the blade passing harmlessly under her feet as she rose into the air. She came down a moment later and bounced towards the shinobi who threw his shuriken only to completely miss as she bounded past him. Her feet hit the wall and she shot towards him from behind, landing a knee that crumpled the back of his skull and sent him sliding into the wall ahead. Hannah dashed to her right and to the goon in front of the door, faking a high kick and then ducking low as he swung and missed. She swept him off of his feet and stomped down on his groin as he landed on his back, then raised the same foot up and forward to crush his throat, making him flail as he asphyxiated.
The next one frantically scrambled across the bed, but Hannah pulled the sheets from under him and made him slip. He bounced once on his back, intending to right himself.
He was out of time.
Hannah front-flipped in the air above him and came down with a vicious two-footed stomp, driving him into the mattress and the bed down into the floor. She pulverized his ribs and the fragments tore through his heart and lungs on the inside.
The last one swung wildly at her, catching nothing but air each time as she expertly dodged. Her hand shot forward to catch his wrist and crush it, making him drop his sword and scream out in pain. She used the same hand to grab him by the throat, lifting him off his feet as he flailed wildly.
"Guess what?"
He went still as she stared into his soul.
"I fucked with the yakuza. Again."
His scream was cut off as Hannah squeezed down and snapped his neck. She let him drop to the floor like a wet sack and undid her hair a moment later.
"That's that." She heard something like an explosion outside, and saw dust clouding the room nearby.
---
Ninety seconds earlier, Joshua had dragged two unconscious bodies up to the roof and dropped them there. He shook his head.
"Close call, I guess."
He then became aware of movement, and peered down from his perch to see about a dozen shinobi rushing towards the apartment.
"So they've started. Alright, guess I'm on." Joshua skipped down the side of the building and ran around the outside of the lot at full speed before ducking behind the moving shinobi. He hoped that there wasn't a sensor there, and that hope was granted as he noticed none of them turning as he advanced.
Perfect. Pacifist run was a go.
He accelerated towards the first one with pure foot speed and unloaded a left cross to the head of the woman dressed in black. She had only started her unconscious flight through the air when he burst ahead with a body flicker and landed a double neck chop on the two shinobi advancing together. He had counted exactly twelve moving in, and that took care of three.
Another body flicker and he clothes-lined one more from the side before knocking another away with a straight punch. Down to seven.
Now they were just starting to take note, and one stopped to look back. He ate a fist to the face, Joshua holding back power as blood flew from his nose in an arc. The shinobi plowed into the dirt just ahead of the others, who were definitely aware of the interloper now. Three moved ahead; the other three turned and started to prepare jutsu.
Not today.
Joshua accelerated again and hit the shinobi to his left with a slicing right hook to the head, making him crumple. The woman ahead started to orient herself but ate a punch to the gut, puking harshly before folding over and hitting the dirt. The last man turned to run but found himself knocked out as his head was driven straight into the ground.
"Three," Joshua said to himself. He burst ahead as the shinobi reached inside and left his feet, drawing back a fist as he flew through the air. His well-timed leap had him in line with the shinobi at the door, who had a shocking realization that he wasn't going to be able to react in time.
He chewed on a knuckle sandwich for his trouble, sailing into the far wall and making himself a crater. With two left, Joshua stepped ahead and telegraphed a punch. The shinobi drew a kunai and reflexively stabbed ahead.
She missed as Joshua spun in the air and rattled her skull with a kick, sending her bouncing off the wall and to the ground, motionless.
He landed and chambered a punch, then unloaded on the last, wide-eyed shinobi.
---
Ninety seconds later, Hannah waved dust away from her face as she checked the room for chakra signatures. Just one active one remained, and it was the one she wanted to see.
"Hey. Things okay?" Joshua asked.
"Yes, love. You did an amazing job."
"I tried," he said with a shrug. "Hopefully I moved quickly enough that they couldn't get a good description of me."
"A concussion and short term memory loss are blessings as far as they're concerned."
"Hm." He stepped into the bedroom behind Hannah and noted the bodies on the floor. "Couldn't spare 'em, huh."
"I'm sorry, darling."
"Don't be. Like you said, leaving them alive is a courtesy. This might even give us some breathing room, since only a few are dead and the rest are just zonked out."
"Speaking of," Hannah said casually, "did you notice that there were two missing? Of the shinobi, I mean."
"I got two on the roof. Dunno when they'll be up."
"Really, now. Where were they?"
"Far side of the building, like way out. I noticed 'em from the roof but they didn't see me, so I decided not to take any chances. Made me just a bit late getting back though, so sorry about that."
"As if you have anything to apologize for."
"Heh." His smile faded as he looked at the dead yakuza on the floor. "So...what'd he end up doing to you two?"
"Nothing but dying. We gave him a bit of a tease, so he got to see something good before he went. Even that was an ending far, far too good for scum like him."
"I guess after all that he did, maybe it's fitting that he died nameless to me," Joshua said. "I know you're the 'angel of death' and all that...but..."
"I know. I could feel the rage inside of you, Joshua. But leave the dark side of the world to me. I trust you to handle the rest."
"Can't run away from it forever, can I..."
"You can't. But you're above this. Leave burnable trash and the like to me."
"Hannah..."
"Don't argue," she said as she kicked her gaudy miniskirt into a corner. "I already said it once. You're meant for greater things. Let me clear the way for you."
"Fine, fine. I get it."
"Thank you. I'm...just being selfish, is all." She let out a breath. "Let's collect our little Ritsu and get out of here."
"Yeah."
Joshua pried the bathroom door off of its hinges and set it down on the floor. Hannah walked in behind him, and they both looked into the tub to find Ritsu, laid out on the bottom with a shower brush in hand.
She trembled and gulped once, looking up at the two people above her head.
"Ah...how foolish of me. Stupid. I forgot to establish a safety code," Hannah grumbled.
"T...T-Tuesday..."
Joshua and Hannah blinked.
Ritsu sniffled. "Tues...day...dinner feature..."
"Tuesday dinner feature...?" Joshua scrunched up his face for a moment before understanding. "Right. Suzuki tempura. The tea of the day is gyokuro."
Ritsu jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck, showering him with kisses before pressing her head against his shoulder.
"Good work, Ritsu. Proud of you."
She nodded furiously as he scooped her up into his arms.
"Normally we should burn the place to the ground, but I'll settle for blowing the wall open so we can evade possible detection," Hannah said. "Where are your explosive tags, love?"
"Bottom left pocket. Very bottom. I said bottom, not back. Woman..."
She stuck her tongue out at him before sticking the tag to the wall with chakra. The three backed out of the bathroom and waited, hearing a boom and the wall falling to pieces.
"Smoke should be clearing now. Grab what you need, ladies."
Hannah borrowed a pair of shorts to cover her lower half, while Ritsu put on another sweater and dark sweatpants. She went through her drawers and pulled out a small metal container, filling it with a few precious items before closing it again, holding it tightly against her chest.
"Nothing else?" Joshua asked.
"I have everything that matters. In my hands...and in front of me."
Joshua and Hannah blushed at the same time.
"We should go...before more ninja come," Ritsu said gently.
"R-right," Joshua said. Hannah coughed once and nodded. They left through the new entrance, stealthily heading back towards the onsen.
---
"A-as promised."
Ritsu opened her metal box and handed a stack of bills to Hannah. They sat on a bench near the same same takoyaki stand as before, Hannah between Joshua and Ritsu.
"Ten thousand ryo upon completion of assignment. Thanks for doing business with us," Joshua said with a smile.
"You saved my life. That's the very least I could do, milord."
"Well, you already went the extra mile by selling yourself to us," he pointed out. Hannah counted the bills and gave him a nod to indicate everything was there. With that, Joshua took out his own stack of bills and added it to the existing pile. Ritsu tilted her head, confused.
"That'll cover more than a few nights, and the necessary comforts."
"...haven't you already paid for your stay at the inn?" Ritsu asked.
"Oh, this isn't for us," Hannah said with a smile. Ritsu was confused again until it clicked, her eyes widening.
"No! You can't-" She came to a stop, remembering her situation.
She wasn't allowed to refuse anything her master and mistress ordered.
"You silly girl." Hannah chopped her on the head lightly. "You're not going homeless, or staying in a crummy shelter if I can help it."
"But...but the money-"
"Is ours to use as we please. The transaction is completed. You have no further input, my darling."
Ritsu cursed herself. She should have figured that people kind enough to save her life on a dime would also be this stubborn. "Yes, Lady Hannah. I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for, darling. Now go check yourself in. We'll see you in a few days. Don't come out until you're back on duty. Promise me."
"Yes, Lady Hannah. I promise I'll be good."
"Good girl. Be safe."
"I will be...I...when we see each other next," she said quickly, giving her benefactors a deep bow as she stood up. She took the generous gift from Hannah - knowing it was for far more than a hotel stay - and headed on her way.
Joshua and Hannah turned as she disappeared into the crowd, heading for the inn and their rooms.
A hot bath later was going to be the perfect end to an already good day.
---
---
A few days have passed since you and Hannah knocked off the yakuza boss. There was all kinds of excitement, but nothing connecting it to you two. Hannah coached Ritsu on everything she needed to say, and the interrogations - all three of them, talk about excessive - went off without a hitch. Ritsu was incredibly obedient and receptive to instruction; you wondered if it was because of the previous three years of trauma or if it was pure affection for the two of you. The contract was irrelevant at this point.
Speaking of said contract, you decide to talk it over with Hannah over lunch. Today is tonkatsu, and it's delicious. Not as good as - well, it doesn't need repeating. But it's great stuff. Hannah is savoring every bite.
"I can only think of one piece of meat currently more desirable than this."
You sigh and shake your head as she wiggles her eyebrows. "Lewdness aside, this is great. We're definitely swinging through here again sometime."
"Mm-hm." She takes another bite of the breaded fried pork and nods with satisfaction. "So. Ritsu."
"Yeah. What's our plan for her? I mean, we want to let her decide ultimately, but she's pretty receptive to what we ask of her."
"It's almost shocking. She has the disposition of a seasoned soldier already...I can't tell what caused it, but I know that our little show with the yakuza definitely solidified something in her mind."
"She's a civilian in every sense of the word..."
"I think if we wanted to, we could mold her properly. The two of us without shinobi bloodlines learned jutsu and all sorts of shinobi techniques all on our own, so it stands to reason that she could too. Then again," Hannah says thoughtfully, "the kind of life we live isn't for everyone."
"Yeah, that much is true. If we push her, she'll go through whatever hoops we ask. But that just might break her into a million pieces, and even if we put her back together, she would never be the same again."
You both quietly contemplate Ritsu as a mercenary, trying to go through what she would need to do in order to carry herself through the world. All of it looks tough on her end.
"If we leave her here...do we still keep her under the contract?" Hannah asks, snapping you out of your thoughts. "I mean, we won't be around to guide her, and we don't yet have the technology to provide her means of keeping in regular contact. My acquaintance has been working on such solutions, so they say...we'll see at that point in time."
"Thinking about tearing up the contract?" you ask. "I wouldn't object. Accepting that deal was about her more than anything. We could keep a proper eye on her, and it was symbolic in a lot ways. Showing her that she wasn't some broken, useless thing with no value, respecting her willingness to risk everything for a chance at freedom...we don't need a slave or anything like that. And maybe she just needs a fresh start here. Or wherever. I don't know for sure."
"Hm. Much to be decided." Hannah picks up another piece of breaded pork with her chopsticks, and slowly takes a bite out of it before chewing slowly.
"Pardon my interruption, milord, milady."
"Ritsu, good afternoon. What can we do for you?" Hannah asks.
"It's a question that has been bothering me lately...I know that you both are set to leave in a few days, you said towards the Hot Springs Village."
"Yeah. Hannah has a contact we wanted to see. Actually, we were talking about you earlier. Contract and everything."
"I understand. It was on my mind since that 'incident' we experienced together. I wanted to ask...if I could come with you."
You and Hannah pause at that.
"I know it's...risky. It will be dangerous. There will be pain, and suffering, and all sorts of horrors that I might be better off not knowing. And death would be all around me. Even so...I want to experience a new life. I want a new start...to truly become a different person in every way. I think that doing this, trying this, even if I fail miserably and you have to put me somewhere safe...it will bring meaning to my life. I know that I am nowhere near strong enough to be an asset to you. This...it's selfish of me. But I want to try. I won't resent you if you shoot me down. I promise you I won't. I love you both...so much. You saved me. Not just my life, but my very soul."
"Ritsu..."
"Master. Please...give me your answer. Tell me what is in your heart. I will accept your decision. Not for the sake of the contract...but because you loved me when nobody else could."
Her eyes are shining bright, ready to accept whatever verdict you deliver.
---
[] She's expressed her desire to become more than what she was before. Take Ritsu with you.
-[] Go to Hot Springs proper first. You've got something to say to her 'family'.
-[] Head to Hannah's contact directly. Finally time to get things started.
[] As much as she wants to try, you can't let her. Ritsu has to find a new, normal life. She's been through enough.
[] Write in.
---
[] Leave the contract attached as you move on. She doesn't mind.
[] Set her free at last. She deserves it.
She watched as the yakuza unsheathed their long swords, and the lone shinobi prepared shuriken. The room was small enough that four people crowding around the bed took up a notable amount of space.
"Hm." The blonde considered the situation, then reached up to tie her hair quickly.
"What the fuck did you do?" one of the yakuza roared. "What happened?"
"He's dead," the shinobi said. "She must have killed him with her bare hands."
"Oh, perceptive of you. I suppose that intellect of yours wasn't enough to secure a proper promotion, though. Shame." Hannah stood up on the bed, making the four men flinch. "It's not like you can do much as you are. If you turn tail and run, I won't bother with you."
"You sniveling little bitch...we'll teach you to fuck with the yakuza."
"Will you?" Hannah became indifferent to them. "Unfortunately for you, I have a perfect success rate against you trash. That will continue."
One of the thugs started to swing at her legs from behind. Hannah bounced once on the bed, the blade passing harmlessly under her feet as she rose into the air. She came down a moment later and bounced towards the shinobi who threw his shuriken only to completely miss as she bounded past him. Her feet hit the wall and she shot towards him from behind, landing a knee that crumpled the back of his skull and sent him sliding into the wall ahead. Hannah dashed to her right and to the goon in front of the door, faking a high kick and then ducking low as he swung and missed. She swept him off of his feet and stomped down on his groin as he landed on his back, then raised the same foot up and forward to crush his throat, making him flail as he asphyxiated.
The next one frantically scrambled across the bed, but Hannah pulled the sheets from under him and made him slip. He bounced once on his back, intending to right himself.
He was out of time.
Hannah front-flipped in the air above him and came down with a vicious two-footed stomp, driving him into the mattress and the bed down into the floor. She pulverized his ribs and the fragments tore through his heart and lungs on the inside.
The last one swung wildly at her, catching nothing but air each time as she expertly dodged. Her hand shot forward to catch his wrist and crush it, making him drop his sword and scream out in pain. She used the same hand to grab him by the throat, lifting him off his feet as he flailed wildly.
"Guess what?"
He went still as she stared into his soul.
"I fucked with the yakuza. Again."
His scream was cut off as Hannah squeezed down and snapped his neck. She let him drop to the floor like a wet sack and undid her hair a moment later.
"That's that." She heard something like an explosion outside, and saw dust clouding the room nearby.
---
Ninety seconds earlier, Joshua had dragged two unconscious bodies up to the roof and dropped them there. He shook his head.
"Close call, I guess."
He then became aware of movement, and peered down from his perch to see about a dozen shinobi rushing towards the apartment.
"So they've started. Alright, guess I'm on." Joshua skipped down the side of the building and ran around the outside of the lot at full speed before ducking behind the moving shinobi. He hoped that there wasn't a sensor there, and that hope was granted as he noticed none of them turning as he advanced.
Perfect. Pacifist run was a go.
He accelerated towards the first one with pure foot speed and unloaded a left cross to the head of the woman dressed in black. She had only started her unconscious flight through the air when he burst ahead with a body flicker and landed a double neck chop on the two shinobi advancing together. He had counted exactly twelve moving in, and that took care of three.
Another body flicker and he clothes-lined one more from the side before knocking another away with a straight punch. Down to seven.
Now they were just starting to take note, and one stopped to look back. He ate a fist to the face, Joshua holding back power as blood flew from his nose in an arc. The shinobi plowed into the dirt just ahead of the others, who were definitely aware of the interloper now. Three moved ahead; the other three turned and started to prepare jutsu.
Not today.
Joshua accelerated again and hit the shinobi to his left with a slicing right hook to the head, making him crumple. The woman ahead started to orient herself but ate a punch to the gut, puking harshly before folding over and hitting the dirt. The last man turned to run but found himself knocked out as his head was driven straight into the ground.
"Three," Joshua said to himself. He burst ahead as the shinobi reached inside and left his feet, drawing back a fist as he flew through the air. His well-timed leap had him in line with the shinobi at the door, who had a shocking realization that he wasn't going to be able to react in time.
He chewed on a knuckle sandwich for his trouble, sailing into the far wall and making himself a crater. With two left, Joshua stepped ahead and telegraphed a punch. The shinobi drew a kunai and reflexively stabbed ahead.
She missed as Joshua spun in the air and rattled her skull with a kick, sending her bouncing off the wall and to the ground, motionless.
He landed and chambered a punch, then unloaded on the last, wide-eyed shinobi.
---
Ninety seconds later, Hannah waved dust away from her face as she checked the room for chakra signatures. Just one active one remained, and it was the one she wanted to see.
"Hey. Things okay?" Joshua asked.
"Yes, love. You did an amazing job."
"I tried," he said with a shrug. "Hopefully I moved quickly enough that they couldn't get a good description of me."
"A concussion and short term memory loss are blessings as far as they're concerned."
"Hm." He stepped into the bedroom behind Hannah and noted the bodies on the floor. "Couldn't spare 'em, huh."
"I'm sorry, darling."
"Don't be. Like you said, leaving them alive is a courtesy. This might even give us some breathing room, since only a few are dead and the rest are just zonked out."
"Speaking of," Hannah said casually, "did you notice that there were two missing? Of the shinobi, I mean."
"I got two on the roof. Dunno when they'll be up."
"Really, now. Where were they?"
"Far side of the building, like way out. I noticed 'em from the roof but they didn't see me, so I decided not to take any chances. Made me just a bit late getting back though, so sorry about that."
"As if you have anything to apologize for."
"Heh." His smile faded as he looked at the dead yakuza on the floor. "So...what'd he end up doing to you two?"
"Nothing but dying. We gave him a bit of a tease, so he got to see something good before he went. Even that was an ending far, far too good for scum like him."
"I guess after all that he did, maybe it's fitting that he died nameless to me," Joshua said. "I know you're the 'angel of death' and all that...but..."
"I know. I could feel the rage inside of you, Joshua. But leave the dark side of the world to me. I trust you to handle the rest."
"Can't run away from it forever, can I..."
"You can't. But you're above this. Leave burnable trash and the like to me."
"Hannah..."
"Don't argue," she said as she kicked her gaudy miniskirt into a corner. "I already said it once. You're meant for greater things. Let me clear the way for you."
"Fine, fine. I get it."
"Thank you. I'm...just being selfish, is all." She let out a breath. "Let's collect our little Ritsu and get out of here."
"Yeah."
Joshua pried the bathroom door off of its hinges and set it down on the floor. Hannah walked in behind him, and they both looked into the tub to find Ritsu, laid out on the bottom with a shower brush in hand.
She trembled and gulped once, looking up at the two people above her head.
"Ah...how foolish of me. Stupid. I forgot to establish a safety code," Hannah grumbled.
"T...T-Tuesday..."
Joshua and Hannah blinked.
Ritsu sniffled. "Tues...day...dinner feature..."
"Tuesday dinner feature...?" Joshua scrunched up his face for a moment before understanding. "Right. Suzuki tempura. The tea of the day is gyokuro."
Ritsu jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck, showering him with kisses before pressing her head against his shoulder.
"Good work, Ritsu. Proud of you."
She nodded furiously as he scooped her up into his arms.
"Normally we should burn the place to the ground, but I'll settle for blowing the wall open so we can evade possible detection," Hannah said. "Where are your explosive tags, love?"
"Bottom left pocket. Very bottom. I said bottom, not back. Woman..."
She stuck her tongue out at him before sticking the tag to the wall with chakra. The three backed out of the bathroom and waited, hearing a boom and the wall falling to pieces.
"Smoke should be clearing now. Grab what you need, ladies."
Hannah borrowed a pair of shorts to cover her lower half, while Ritsu put on another sweater and dark sweatpants. She went through her drawers and pulled out a small metal container, filling it with a few precious items before closing it again, holding it tightly against her chest.
"Nothing else?" Joshua asked.
"I have everything that matters. In my hands...and in front of me."
Joshua and Hannah blushed at the same time.
"We should go...before more ninja come," Ritsu said gently.
"R-right," Joshua said. Hannah coughed once and nodded. They left through the new entrance, stealthily heading back towards the onsen.
---
"A-as promised."
Ritsu opened her metal box and handed a stack of bills to Hannah. They sat on a bench near the same same takoyaki stand as before, Hannah between Joshua and Ritsu.
"Ten thousand ryo upon completion of assignment. Thanks for doing business with us," Joshua said with a smile.
"You saved my life. That's the very least I could do, milord."
"Well, you already went the extra mile by selling yourself to us," he pointed out. Hannah counted the bills and gave him a nod to indicate everything was there. With that, Joshua took out his own stack of bills and added it to the existing pile. Ritsu tilted her head, confused.
"That'll cover more than a few nights, and the necessary comforts."
"...haven't you already paid for your stay at the inn?" Ritsu asked.
"Oh, this isn't for us," Hannah said with a smile. Ritsu was confused again until it clicked, her eyes widening.
"No! You can't-" She came to a stop, remembering her situation.
She wasn't allowed to refuse anything her master and mistress ordered.
"You silly girl." Hannah chopped her on the head lightly. "You're not going homeless, or staying in a crummy shelter if I can help it."
"But...but the money-"
"Is ours to use as we please. The transaction is completed. You have no further input, my darling."
Ritsu cursed herself. She should have figured that people kind enough to save her life on a dime would also be this stubborn. "Yes, Lady Hannah. I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for, darling. Now go check yourself in. We'll see you in a few days. Don't come out until you're back on duty. Promise me."
"Yes, Lady Hannah. I promise I'll be good."
"Good girl. Be safe."
"I will be...I...when we see each other next," she said quickly, giving her benefactors a deep bow as she stood up. She took the generous gift from Hannah - knowing it was for far more than a hotel stay - and headed on her way.
Joshua and Hannah turned as she disappeared into the crowd, heading for the inn and their rooms.
A hot bath later was going to be the perfect end to an already good day.
---
---
A few days have passed since you and Hannah knocked off the yakuza boss. There was all kinds of excitement, but nothing connecting it to you two. Hannah coached Ritsu on everything she needed to say, and the interrogations - all three of them, talk about excessive - went off without a hitch. Ritsu was incredibly obedient and receptive to instruction; you wondered if it was because of the previous three years of trauma or if it was pure affection for the two of you. The contract was irrelevant at this point.
Speaking of said contract, you decide to talk it over with Hannah over lunch. Today is tonkatsu, and it's delicious. Not as good as - well, it doesn't need repeating. But it's great stuff. Hannah is savoring every bite.
"I can only think of one piece of meat currently more desirable than this."
You sigh and shake your head as she wiggles her eyebrows. "Lewdness aside, this is great. We're definitely swinging through here again sometime."
"Mm-hm." She takes another bite of the breaded fried pork and nods with satisfaction. "So. Ritsu."
"Yeah. What's our plan for her? I mean, we want to let her decide ultimately, but she's pretty receptive to what we ask of her."
"It's almost shocking. She has the disposition of a seasoned soldier already...I can't tell what caused it, but I know that our little show with the yakuza definitely solidified something in her mind."
"She's a civilian in every sense of the word..."
"I think if we wanted to, we could mold her properly. The two of us without shinobi bloodlines learned jutsu and all sorts of shinobi techniques all on our own, so it stands to reason that she could too. Then again," Hannah says thoughtfully, "the kind of life we live isn't for everyone."
"Yeah, that much is true. If we push her, she'll go through whatever hoops we ask. But that just might break her into a million pieces, and even if we put her back together, she would never be the same again."
You both quietly contemplate Ritsu as a mercenary, trying to go through what she would need to do in order to carry herself through the world. All of it looks tough on her end.
"If we leave her here...do we still keep her under the contract?" Hannah asks, snapping you out of your thoughts. "I mean, we won't be around to guide her, and we don't yet have the technology to provide her means of keeping in regular contact. My acquaintance has been working on such solutions, so they say...we'll see at that point in time."
"Thinking about tearing up the contract?" you ask. "I wouldn't object. Accepting that deal was about her more than anything. We could keep a proper eye on her, and it was symbolic in a lot ways. Showing her that she wasn't some broken, useless thing with no value, respecting her willingness to risk everything for a chance at freedom...we don't need a slave or anything like that. And maybe she just needs a fresh start here. Or wherever. I don't know for sure."
"Hm. Much to be decided." Hannah picks up another piece of breaded pork with her chopsticks, and slowly takes a bite out of it before chewing slowly.
"Pardon my interruption, milord, milady."
"Ritsu, good afternoon. What can we do for you?" Hannah asks.
"It's a question that has been bothering me lately...I know that you both are set to leave in a few days, you said towards the Hot Springs Village."
"Yeah. Hannah has a contact we wanted to see. Actually, we were talking about you earlier. Contract and everything."
"I understand. It was on my mind since that 'incident' we experienced together. I wanted to ask...if I could come with you."
You and Hannah pause at that.
"I know it's...risky. It will be dangerous. There will be pain, and suffering, and all sorts of horrors that I might be better off not knowing. And death would be all around me. Even so...I want to experience a new life. I want a new start...to truly become a different person in every way. I think that doing this, trying this, even if I fail miserably and you have to put me somewhere safe...it will bring meaning to my life. I know that I am nowhere near strong enough to be an asset to you. This...it's selfish of me. But I want to try. I won't resent you if you shoot me down. I promise you I won't. I love you both...so much. You saved me. Not just my life, but my very soul."
"Ritsu..."
"Master. Please...give me your answer. Tell me what is in your heart. I will accept your decision. Not for the sake of the contract...but because you loved me when nobody else could."
Her eyes are shining bright, ready to accept whatever verdict you deliver.
---
[] She's expressed her desire to become more than what she was before. Take Ritsu with you.
-[] Go to Hot Springs proper first. You've got something to say to her 'family'.
-[] Head to Hannah's contact directly. Finally time to get things started.
[] As much as she wants to try, you can't let her. Ritsu has to find a new, normal life. She's been through enough.
[] Write in.
---
[] Leave the contract attached as you move on. She doesn't mind.
[] Set her free at last. She deserves it.
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