Open Chronicles Memories Yearning To Be Forgotten

[Wakasugi Touma]

Prayer in the context in Touma's home was a matter of seeing the deceased off to the afterlife, praying for their safe journey, for even in death their were still many perils that would endanger the soil. Praying after battle and after death had always been somthing taught to Touma as a matter of courtesy, at least when he was a child. As he grew, what little grasp on spirituality had gradually slipped from consciousness, even forgotten...a condemnation of himself...and those whom he slain...

Too many bodies, too little time...at least, once upon a time....

"Yeah..." Touma nodded, his eyes were blank without much of expression, as he got up from his knees. A part of the ronin wanted to give the bodies a proper burial...even if it was an animal. Yet they hardly possessed the tools to accomplish such task...and even if they did...the more paranoid side of Touma wanted to keep moving.

No telling what else was around here...better keep moving....

Standing up stright, his eyes hidden behind his faded red bangs, the ronin turned to look at Zafira. She was hurt, no doubt about it...wasn't the first time Touma had seen that look. Those whom's lives didn't see them interact with life and death constantly were always so shocked...an unfamiliar notion, death was...an even more unsettling matter to get used to.

But what was there to say? They'd have to get over it....least, that had always been his mindset when dealing with such people. Always, always, he had bigger problems to deal with. The ronin didn't have the time...no, the experience, to deal with such a thing "properly".

Perhaps that was why he traveled alone.

Without another word, the swordsmen wandered forth, expecting the girl to follow close behind. They would soon make it back onto the main road...Touma remaining as quiet as he did the previous day...

 

[ZafiraJade]

Zafira tore her gaze away from the ronin. She felt too vulnerable like he'd be able to read every emotion on her face. He probably could, and Zafira loathed that.

Despite her more flirtatious nature, Zafira hated showing anything but amusement. It bothered her immensely, and this man had seen her in about ten different moods since they'd met. She ignored the feeling, and stood up, hands still lightly covered in dirt.

As the ronin turned away, Zafira couldn't help herself. Maybe it was her morbid curiosity that forced her to look back at the creature, head sliced clean from Touma's sword. Revulsion coursed through Zafira's body before she came closer to it. Quietly, Zafira bent down towards the animal who didn't look at all terrifying anymore.

She couldn't bury him. She didn't have the means to. But an altering spell took almost no energy from her, having practiced it since she was a child in her father's home. Zafira's pale hand rose up and quickly, the creature's head stitched itself onto his body.

If anyone ever asked her later on as to why she did what she did, Zafira would not have an answer. It just felt like the right thing to do - like the only sign of respect and acknowledgment she could give to the creature who she had so unknowingly tortured.

"Zanis fre Turn," Zafira murmured in her tongue, before standing up and joining Touma.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Wasn't much more to say...not for the rest of the morning. It obviously had much to do with the run in with that thing...but it didn't seem like she wanted to talk about it...which worked for Touma.

Not many people would have known...or even realized...but it had been ages since Touma had felt that sympathetic to the ones he ended with the mere stroke of his blade. Once upon a time he might have done so for everyone of his victims...but...eventually...it felt like a moot point...

Up until then...

The two would continue on their journey, covering a fair amount of distance in the time they were on the move. It would soon reach midday, to which the ronin had quietly suggested that they take a break from their travels...although he did not say nothing more after that.

They were resting along the edges of a stream; from it, Touma had retrieved some water for himself...dipping his hand into the cool water, before bring some of it up in his palm...and eventually to his lips. When he had gotten his fill, he'd splash some water on his face as a means to refresh himself.

When he was finished with the water, Touma would stand...though his expression remaind serious, his eye gazed upon the water, as it rushed by to wherever it went...coupled with it's steady sound, it might have been mesmerizing to watch. He might have even set up to fish, had this been a happier day.

Instead, he turned around...looking to see what his charge was up to....

 

[ZafiraJade]

Thinking of the creature made Zafira's heart hurt. She concentrated on pretending that the morning did not happen. Instead, she focused on her breath. She forced herself to be aware of how her chest rose and fell, how the leaves crunched beneath her fingertips, how the energy in her body was low. She identified every ache and pain, and while she could have healed it, Zafira opted not to.

It gave her something to focus on. So focused on her physical body and surroundings - the light breeze in the air, the soft rustling of the trees, twigs, and sticks snapping every now and then, and pebbles created nubs under her boots - Zafira hadn't noticed that they had walked for a time that was unhealthy.

She nodded, perching herself onto the stone and letting her feet rest in front of her. Grabbing the map in her cloak, Zafira examined the trail, groaning when she realized all the time the pair had lost. She hadn't wanted to end up in one of the villages that they would now be forced to stay at. They were traditional int he worst sense possible - judging a person from the way they carried themselves to how modestly they dressed.

Zafira rolled her eyes and looked up at the sky. She wanted nothing to do with the people there, but Zafira was hellbent on finding her friends' murderer. Asshole was probably trying to scam other folks.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Touma's eyes fell upon her...she seemed rather solemn...which made sense, considering what had transpired earlier in the day. But there was somthing more to her expression...concentrated...focused...perhaps she was looking at the road ahead. Maybe a good mindset to have...nothing more you could do with the past...the only thing you can do was keeping moving forward...towards whatever obstacles now stood in your way...

With a sigh, the ronin's hand found the grip of his katana...before idly sauntering up the rock face that she sat upon. It took him a good minute for him to make it up to where she sat, been when he arrived, he took a quiet seat next to her.

Legs now dangling along the edge of the rock, he looked on...not addressing her at first, as to not disturb her. His gaze would fall upon the gentle landscape in front of him...his was not filled with dread, nor was it filled with peace neither. A rather melancholy mood, so to say...wondering where they were heading...

"How much further is our destination for today..." The ronin quietly wondered outloud, continuing to star forward. Perhaps he was speaking more to himself...but the only one that really knew of their grim job was the women sitting next to him...

 

[ZafiraJade]

"We're going to have to stop at a village in about an hour. There are no other villages nearby and the coming forests are too dangerous to walk or sleep in," Zafira ran a frustrated hand through her hair before taking a deep breath to calm herself down. She was not naturally a pessimistic person. The struggle now would not matter in even a few months.

With that thought in mind, Zafira offered the ronin a smile, stretching her arms over her head. "You're going to seriously hate me once you meet the folks there," Zafira grinned, grabbing the ronin's hand and pulling him forward.

"Come on, we have to go now if we want to get a place to stay tonight," And with that Zafira and Touma walked to the village, treading for another hour.

Just as they got to the village, Zafira stopped Touma. "You're going to have to be less....scary, okay? The people in this village aren't as welcoming to newcomers as most are," the reason other villages were welcoming was because of the profit they made from tourists and the like.

This specific one hated newcomers.

They found them intrusive, called them barbarians, and did everything to protect themselves from people who were new. If it were up to Zafira, she would have never picked this place, but she would have to adjust.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

"I'm almost afraid to ask..." Touma huffed as she pulled him up, thinking on the words she had just spoken. She was surprisingly strong to have been able to lift him up...somthing that Touma subconsciously noted for future reference. She seemed to be doing better, at least that was a thing...and for the time being, it allowed the ronin's mind to settle a bit.

Keep moving forward, right?

Still, he didn't know where they were going, even as they traveled. It was sort of hard to keep track of these things, especially when someplace seemed rather...similar...to a point where they may start blending together.

Regardless, when she did stop him, he raised an eyebrow at her. It was not the first time the ronin had encounter such a sentiment, weather it was here or even back in the motherland. Those who are approached by the unknown often projected the worst of their thoughts...

"If no one starts anything...I will not either..." An advocacy for self-defense, and nothing more. Any other day, and he wouldn't have been this "scary"...

"How about you?..." It was almost out of character for him to ask...but after the morning...and contemplation on what his friend might do in the same scenerio...he decided to push forth on the question. "...How are you feeling about this...the village?"

 

[ZafiraJade]

It wasn't that Zafira did not feel pain. She couldn't get the beasts' screams from out of her head no matter how hard she tried to meditate. It was just that Zafira was a master at hiding what she truly felt. Let people think she was just some gullible, flirtatious woman. She cared less what they thought, and more of what she could accomplish. Plus, something about revealing to another person that they cared so deeply about anything made Zafira feel like there was nothing keeping her steady - as if she had willingly given somebody a blade to her throat.

At Touma' s confession, Zafira chuckled slightly. Maybe she was making it worse than it was, but she really hated how traditional they were, especially considering that practically everything Zafira did was unorthodox and unconventional. At first, it stemmed from rebellion. Later on, she had just figured out that the traditional was like a chain that just dragged her back.

When she saw Touma's hands go to his sword subconsciously, Zafira rolled her eyes.

"Not your sword, darling," Zafira grinned, a teasing smile on her face. If the ronin thought the sword was what made him threatening, he had another thing coming for him. It was the way he held himself - eyes always intense. "Just smile a bit," Zafira offered lightly.

Zafira was unable to keep the surprise from her face when Touma asked her the question. Maybe he didn't hate her as much as she thought he did. "It's truly terrible, but I'd prefer it over getting eaten by werewolves," Zafira lips pressed for a moment in thought. "Barely though,"

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Touma responded with an indifferent but firm gaze, borderline glaring at her, a hand adjusting the sword on his hip. Touma was more then aware of how people could perceive him, especially when he was like this...which usually worked out fine when he wanted people to leave him alone...maybe it would be a good thing at keeping this lot at arms length.

"Don't bet on it..." Touma grunted, his eyes drifted across her face as he said that. What was he looking for? Touma couldn't really say for certain. Her answer felt like somthing he'd give...sounded a lot like how someone else in particular...as he tightened his right hand around the white ribbon...wrapped along his arm...

"If we're this close to a village...it wouldn't be that bad..." Touma said, his expression remained muted, save for a raised eyebrow...a part of him truly wondered... "...Was there a particular place you had in mind for lounging tonight?"

 

[ZafiraJade]

Zafira replied to the glare with a disarming smile, pearly white teeth glinting and all. She turned away from him lightly, pressing her lips together to bite back an amused laugh.

"I bet you secretly have an amazing smile," Zafira said without thinking, freezing monetarily at her comment.

She forced herself to relax, pretending nothing of it. For the most part, this was how Zafira acted, but given the circumstances of their meeting and the reason they were traveling together, Zafira was just a bit out of her game.

"Try traveling a few miles after that. There is a reason this village surrounds itself with danger," Zafira said, brushing a branch from her way. Soon, they were walking the village path, and despite Zafira having an automatic dislike towards most of the people in the place, the village itself was beautiful.

She couldn't admire it too much though, especially with how automatically, some of the people stopped working, staring at the pair with distaste. Zafira turned to some of them, giving them a smile she did not feel.

"You'll see," Zafira murmured to him as they took a few turns before finally coming to a large looking house. The outside was cream-colored, door wooden, with no sound coming from the inside. Zafira turned to Touma, giving him a hesitant smile. "Don't kill me for this,"

She entered the tavern, a bright smile on her face as she waved at the frowning woman in front of her. "Good evening, ma'am. How was your day?"

"Who are you?" she snapped bluntly, brown eyes bulging. She saw her eyes move from Zafira's face to her body before repeating the action to Touma. Zafira forced herself to be still, and not let her smile drop. She could automatically feel the judgment radiating from them. Traveling alone was one thing. Traveling with a male companion who she wasn't with was quite another. On instinct, Zafira took a step closer to Touma, her hand lightly brushing against his.

"My husband and I were wondering if there was a place to stay here tonight," Zafira said. The woman backed down only slightly, still staring between the pair.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Touma didn't think much of her comment, instead snorting at the notion of smiling and looking back ahead. It seemed that she had at least lightened up a bit...for what was about to come.

There entrance into the village was actually not as bad as Touma had initially anticipated. Sure, they were starred at by nearly every person they came across, but it was certainly better then having a blade being threatened in their direction. Besides wasn't the first time that the ronin had been starred at when coming up in-town...he did what he normally did in such situations, despite Zafira's attempt to keep up appearance, and glared back at anyone whom tried to meet his eyes.

Not that he looked at many people, instead he focused his attention on the road ahead...a hand resting upon the grip of his blade, ready in case of anything imminent...

He adopted a similar expression upon entering the tavern, though he did not immediately lock eyes with the women. Instead, his eyes hidden under his bangs...as he took a moment to scan over the tavern scene and the compatriots sitting about. No doubt they were all starring at the two...but who hasn't at this point?

Lifting his head a bit, his eyes became visible, looking in the direction of the lady. Zafira was speaking, mentioning somthing about husband and closed some distance between the two. This only caused Touma to glance down momentarily, an eyebrow raised.

If they were an item, they were rather missed match given what they were and how they carried themselves. What was more surprise was how it was rather...unsurprising, at least to Touma. This wasn't the first time a lady acquaintance had used the "couples" concept as a cover. Though the bladesmen could only wonder where she was going with this line of thinking...as he looked back to the tavernkeeper and said nothing.

What reason was there to even explain themselves? All they needed was a room to rest for the night...

 

[ZafiraJade]

Zafira could feel Touma's gaze rest lightly on her at the mention of a husband which she studiously ignored, giving the woman a disarming smile. Whereas Touma seemed to use fear as his rite of getting what he needed, Zafira used charm.

"We were both traveling to go to the Crystal Falls, and it seems like we may have gone on the wrong path," Zafira said, chuckling lightly as if she had made a soft blunder. She saw the woman soften more.

"Really?" the woman said, leaning a bit forward. She was starting to believe them. That much was evident from her body language.

"Oh yes, you know how it is. These maps are so outdated," Zafira continued, rolling her eyes and resting a quick hand on Touma's arm. She made sure it was her right, casually hiding the fact that she wore no ring.

"Forgive me for being so hostile" the woman said, automatically pulling out a pen and paper. She had a kind of nice sort of smile, Zafira thought. If only her nose wasn't upturned in a manner that said that she felt she was better than everyone else.

"It's just so many of the youth run around frolicking without their betrothed," the woman spat out.

Ah, never mind, Zafira thought. She definitely did not find anything about this woman pretty.

"The nerve of people," Zafira said, nodding with empathy.

"It's truly disgusting," the woman was reaching for a set of keys, writing out a few things.

"Of course," Zafira continued, only half listening to the conversation now. The woman asked for her name which Zafira gave, pinning down the last name 'Carson' instead of her used last name 'Jade'. A soft pang of pain coursed through Zafira at the last name which she swallowed quickly before anyone noticed.

"I hope you enjoy your stay," Zafira nodded her thanks, dragging Touma with her. Once everyone noticed that the woman was no longer focusing on them with as much scrutiny as other passerbys, the other people had stopped looking as well, focusing on their gambling addictions and the terrible reliance they had towards their alcohol. It made Zafira feel sick.

The pair went up the stairs and finally to a decent sized room where Zafira opened the door, and was barely able to close it without a bang.

"Well husband, this is our stay," Zafira deadpanned, her tone sarcastic.

"We're leaving first thing in the morning," she stated, too much force coming out of the statement. The place wasn't as bad as Zafira made it out to be. It was just the memories linked to it that destroyed any vision of redemption the place may have.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Now her hand was on his arm, what more it was on the hand that had been wrapped in the white ribbon. Another glance from the ronin. It seemed that she wasn't aware of what that meant for him...any other time, he might have moved his arm away...had his self-discipline not tell him otherwise. It would have brought more trouble then it was worth...and he'd have to bite his tongue...for now...

The women was truly as horrible as she looked and sounded, but the conversation fell on his deaf ears. Too busy trying to keep himself from making a scene...it seemed plenty clear to him that Zafira probably wouldn't have appreciated if he told the barkeeper to shove it.

Finally, Zafira was able to sign them into a room. By then, Touma would have upped and left, had it not been for the hand on his arm. Wasn't long before the ronin felt himself being dragged along, up the stares, away from the people...which suited fine for Touma...

The next thing the bladesmen knew, she had released her grip on him, instead felling the wind on his back from the door slamming shut, hearing the force of nature that was currently his travel companion. She didn't sound to happy about where they were...

Touma would take a look about the room, seemed standard for an inn...except there was one bed...and there was two people. A grimace escaped the ronin's lips; this was getting dangerously close to some sort of Deja Vu. It was almost frustratingly so...as the bladesmen tightened his fist.

Instead of any outburst...Touma gave a sigh of release...allowing the tension to escape along with the breath.

"Sounds good to me..." Touma responded quietly, reaching up to and gripping onto the blade on his hip, before walking forward without another word to one end of the room away from the wall. Turning about, he'd sit himself down not to dissimilar to how he sat the first might; sitting in a kneeling form.

He'd lower his head, allowing his bangs to cover up his eyes, not another word about their current situation...for now at least...

 

[ZafiraJade]

Zafirad plopped herself back on the bed, knees hanging off of it. She stared up at the ratty ceiling, remembering another time when she was here with a man who she lo-

She didn't let herself finish the thought. The last time she'd been with a man was years ago, and as of now, she was hyper aware that Touma was definitely very male. Zafira bit her lip hard enough to almost draw blood.

What the hell was she thinking?

Zafira didn't have to examine the room the way she examined everything else. She remembered it clearly, down to the windows that would definitely squeak if she opened them. It only aided in focusing all her attention in the other presence in the room.

It seemed that every single one of her thoughts were steadily getting worse, and she truly blamed it all on this forsaken place. Zafira let herself gaze at Touma for a few moments who looked completely unbothered. How did he do that?

Realizing how childish and petty she was being, Zafira forced herself to sit up, undoing the cloak she was wearing, and gently placing it in the small closet. She suddenly felt light without any of the potions, journals, and maps - all gone with the heavy cloak she always wore.

She turned to Touma, a sudden grin on her face. "I appreciate you not yelling at the lady or the like.," Zafira said, leaning back against the bed.

"I know very much well that if I were you, I probably would have," she teased.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Perhaps it might have made him laugh had she asked about his own composure under the circumstances. Self-discipline was his secret, a life long of training that was meant to hone his body and mind into a...unthinking weapon...anything else was out of custom, unnecessary in a way...even if he no longer served the same purpose, the training was instilled into him.

Over the years, Touma had learned to go beyond a passive mindset and think for himself...but that's usually gotten himself into trouble time and time again. It was handy for the ronin was able to bring forth such self-discipline, especially when an outburst might have brought more trouble.

Case in point.

"I'm glad you think so highly of me..." Touma muttered, his eyes hidden. The ronin's head still hung low as he continued to kneel/sit there...though a moment later he'd lift his head to look at her, his eyes somewhat visible now through his swishing bangs. "...I'm more surprised that you kept your composure through that...given how much you want to get out of here...though I do wonder what the point was as to telling them such a futile lie...why would they care what our relation is?..."

 

[ZafiraJade]

Maybe it was the fact that Zafira was trying to keep her composure despite the roller coaster of emotions she was feeling. Maybe it was the quiet stillness of Touma that Zafira found so frustrating, but her gaze cut to the ronin's red eyes. She moved closer to him, fury, not all rightfully linked towards Touma, written clear on her face.

"The last time I came here was with the man I loved,” she wouldn’t call him her lover. Or her husband, or fiance because he was none of those. To Zafira, there was not a word to describe the duo. Never had she met a man who had lusted over adventure with as much vigor as she did. Never had she met anyone who had challenged her as much, understood as hard, and loved with the same destructive passion that she did.

Zafra lifted the hem of her dark, green dress revealing a pink marking along her pale skin, her complexion clear and smooth except for the grotesque mark that hadn’t healed right. It was shaped in a half bitten mark, and just remembering the day made her leg throb. “We came in as ourselves, were not allowed to take a room, and were forced to go to the woods. He didn’t make it,”

The only reason Zafira did was because of the vampire blood coursing through her system, a fact she hadn't told anyone except for Jasun. She didn't know anyone who would be exactly proud of the heritage.

Zafira let the dress drop around her leg, turning away from Touma. Her voice was pressed, every word clear without a single waver, as if she were lecturing rather than telling the man about something so deeply painful to her. “I'd rather not deal with the incident again,"

As if realizing all that she said, Zafira let out a tense breath. All of a sudden, she felt suffocated and she wanted to do something reckless. Fingers itching with power, Zafira's eyes flickered to the door. "I'm gonna go out for a bit," she murmured.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Touma hardly flinched at her gaze, seeing all that her eyes had presented forth, but meeting them with somthing a bit more...melancholy...

It kinda made sense, why she seemed so uptight about the place. It was the reason why anyone would have been so charged in such a situation...it was the reason she had caught him in such a bad mood when they first met...which was why Touma gave her credit for staying so composed despite the circumstance. Had Touma been in the same circumstance, his composure might have not held up as well as it did.

The red headed man had hardly said a word, instead maintaining his posture as he continued to sit. If it made her more comfortable, then perhaps it was for the best that they'd stay in a secure location...but the ronin had no doubt about it in his mind...he was not as easy to fell as most men out there...armies had tried, yet he still lives...and if the morning wasn't a testimony of his skill...he'll prove it again when the time comes...

Still, Touma said nothing, as he observed the young girl from benefit his bangs. The only sign of response was a nod...but not another word was uttered...as the ronin listening for the door to close...not moving an inch from where he sat.

Certainly, Touma could have empathized when he was younger...though he may have not been as old, age had taught him to temper the energy...into focus and reflection...but were things to come to action, he would not hesitate in his steps...

 

[ZafiraJade]

Her exit from the tavern was quick. She'd offered the landlady a quick wave, and a smile, moving fast as to not offer any explanation. It was dark now, and most of everyone was in pubs, taverns, or at home, playing with their children or relaxing after a hard day's worth of work.

Zafira hugged herself tightly in her cloak, walking the pebbled streets of the tiny village, taking in a deep breath. The air was clean - cleaner than it had ever been at Elbion or Allriria. She reminded herself of her purpose here. Avenge her friends. Move on.

On paper, it sounded so easy, but Zafira worried that when the moment came, she wouldn't be able to do the final deed. Maybe that was why she wanted Touma with her. Zafira tousled her hair, and went into the herb shop, grabbing whichever plants and the like she needed. They weren't as fresh as she'd like them to be, and prices were unbelievably high. Normally, Zafira would bargain the price, but today she had no energy.

After grabbing her things, Zafira stopped at a bakery, bought a pastry for her and one for Touma to give to him later. She let herself wander for another hour or two before going back to the tavern where even the landlady had gone to bed.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Touma allowed himself to let out a breath upon her departure. The day was a bit more emotional driven then what he was used to on the open road. Perhaps it was he didn't much travel these days with people...or rather, people often got frustrated with his...personality, after a while. Overall, it was perhaps exhausting for both parties to endure over such a period of time...perhaps it would feel the same after this particular mission was all said and done.

So the ronin would remain seated where he was...his mind reflecting back on his actions, as he did whenever he had moments of reprieve...which were more frequent whenever the bladesmen was not actively engaged with someone.

A lonely experience perhaps. But it was, quite frankly, a life that he had grown into over the years. Some may have not even recognized him now...had he returned to them, that is.

And thus there sat Touma, resting in one of the tavern rooms without much of a noise or movement...awaiting until his companion would finally return from her own outing...

 

[ZafiraJade]

Zafira entered the room quietly, feeling infinitely more relaxed than she had before. There was still that dull ache at the remembrance of Jasun, but that would never go away. Zafira was used to it - today had just felt harder than most days.

What she hadn't expected was the ronin to be awake, in the same spot that he had been in before. "You didn't go to sleep," Zafira said in surprise, pulling off her cloak.

He looked like he was meditating, but Zafira was accustomed to it by now. If he weren't fighting or scanning his surroundings or dealing with somebody, Touma would be meditating. Not even her professor, who believed in the powers that meditation could bring, did it as much as Touma.

Personally, the stillness of it would drive her insane. A good book, a cup of tea, and a comfy corner was her version of peace. She tried to think of the last time she'd read a good book.

She set the pastry on the table, unraveling her hair, and preparing for bed. Already, she was thinking about the amount of distance they'd be going for the day after. Twenty miles walking. A carriage ride that would lead them to the city. A rest. Repeat the next day.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Mediating might not have been completely accurate, but it was not completely inaccurate either. It was a simple matter of being, at least for the time. So often that he entered this state of thinking that it was not obvious to even himself, automatic in it's action and execution. And for all practical intent, it helped him conserve his energy for the tasks up ahead.

The ronin simply lifted his head when Zafira spoke, his crimson eyes shining through the darker shade of red that was hair.

"I get my rest when I need to..." Touma spoke quietly, a far cry from the grizzled conversation they had not but a day ago. It was the rhythm that the ronin was returning to, the traveling beat that he was tied to. It was only previously did he go on a bounty spree, assaulting and battering those wanted by the law. The actions were an exercise to relieve his mind of past event...but it only did so much for him.

All of this...his accompaniment of her in whatever scheme she may had against whoever...to face odds of whatever magnitude...to draw his blade and do the deed that this one couldn't....it was a mere distraction, to keep his mind moving...to quell the raging storm that was his mental, or at least to suppress it for the moment...even if physically he appeared to remain quiet remained and still.

"...and what of you..." Looking to her moving figured, Touma could only wonder how far she had traveled...despite being in a town that she had previously stated that she despised. Or perhaps she was like him...needed to release her pent up frustration in some constructive way...despite their methodology being rather different. "...how have you faired on your little...walk?"

 

[ZafiraJade]

Zafira nodded at Touma's answer.

"Just fine, thank you," Zafira muttered at Touma's question, not offering him more. There wasn't much to say. She hated that he knew about Jasun, but it did not matter. She could not change the past. With that in mind, Zafira slipped out of her boots and took the creaky couch, letting her body rest against it. She unraveled the braid in her hair lightly, no longer deep in thought. At least not outwardly.

She was thinking of the Elven they were going after. She didn't hate the man, but in Zafira's defense, she couldn't hate anyone. It took too much energy and was poison only to the person holding hate. But there had to be justice. Her friends did not deserve to be in the crossfire that was between her and Sam. She didn't glace at Touma, but wondered if she was doing the same thing to him. Yes, it was his job, but wasn't this her burden to hold? Shouldn't she be the one to take his life?

Zafira felt bile rise in her throat at the thought of taking Sam's life. He was a terrible man, and the world would be a better place without him.

Then why did Zafira feel like she was going to make a terrible mistake? Zafira pushed the thoughts away. She was exhausted. It had been an emotionally draining day, more so than her other days were. Her thoughts were based on so. Zafira comforted herself with the thought, promising to revisit it the day after.

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Her silence spoke more of how she was thinking then her words, though Touma might have not known the specifics...She clearly had much on her mind...perhaps it was better not to pry anymore, not that he asked. It would be her battle to sort out...though it didn't mean that she needed to fight it alone. Here he sat getting into business that he very well shouldn't be getting into...yet here he was again.

Perhaps one day he would learn about getting into the affairs of others...but that was often where the road would take you.

Still, Touma did little else that evening but remained resting in his current position. Life in the town would slowly quiet down, as it's denizens began to drift off into slumberland. Not much would happen during the night, save the occasional noise of the night; the hooting of the owl, even the howling of a wolf. Soon the daylight would approach, it's rays would soon find itself sneaking into the room...

Yet Touma?...He was not to be found in the room...but it wouldn't take long for one to realize where he was; the grunting noise followed by the sound of someone swinging. It became increasingly clear that the ronin was out and about in the cold early morning...whilst he remained silent, his body did the speaking with every stroke of his blade...

 

[ZafiraJade]

Zafira had slept soundly despite the hundreds of thoughts pressing into her mind. When she woke up, she didn't want to get up and start the day, The couch despite it being small and creaky was the most comfortable thing Zafira had slept on in days. She looked over to the bed, noting how it didn't look even a bit ruffled from last night. Had Touma just not slept at all?

Zafira let out a soft noise and stretched her arms over her head, twisting her neck lightly and feeling the tension soften. Today was a new day. There were going to be no repeats of yesterday. Zafira repeated this to herself continuously, leisurely rinsing her face with cool water, cleaning herself up, and changing into another set of clothes that smelled like the rose fragrance she kept with her at al time. The pastry which she had left for Touma was untouched as well. With a sigh, Zafira grabbed at it lightly and went to look for her ever disappearing partner.

She tracked him down by the sound of a blade swishing against the air. For a moment, Zafira let herself watch him, enraptured by his smooth movements, the way his body moved lithely. It was almost too graceful to be human, a dangerous dance that would leave his partners broken.

"You are quite the master at disappearing," Zafira said, walking towards him. She handed him the pastry and moved back, admiring the bright blues of the sky. "Morning,"

 

[Wakasugi Touma]

Mind over matter, focused on nothing more then the blade and it's strokes along nothing more then the wind. These were nothing more then rudimentary strokes, techniques a beginner could easily pick up. Yet even so, it was easy to learn, but hard to master. Even the best of swordsmen had to practice their basics, make sure they're muscles had not forgotten, sharpening these skills like a swordsmith sharpened a dull blade.

It was there she found him, holding through his blade on his last stroke...causing the man to glance to his side at her. Maybe he would have kept going...but she was making an effort in good faith with the pastry in her hand.

Turning forward, Touma would relax from his posture, bringing his blade horizontally to his sheath, sliding across the mouth before finally sliding the weapon back into it's resting spot. Only then when his blade hung from his side, did the ronin turn to her...moving forward and reviving the pastry...his bangs once again hiding his eyes.

"It was never my intent..." Touma replied, bringing said pastry up and examined it, not too sure what it was. "...I didn't think you'd wake up...you look to comfortable...so I took the time to...train..."

He said the word 'train' with an odd bit of hesitancy, as if he had quietly debated weather or not to tell her why he was there so early...or rather, why he was up so early in the first place.