Squirming on his shoulders, Rosalie’s excitement was clear in her restlessness and tone of voice as she peeled her fingers from over Heishiro’s eyes, one digit at a time, but keeping her palms in front of his line of sight so his vision was still blocked. “Okay, ready?” she chirped, singing out a loud and extended “Ta Da!!!!” as she yanked her hands from in front of his face, giving him full view to what she had so looked forward to showing him. Nimbly climbing down his body, she stood in front of him facing the spectacle, tilting her head back all the way to look up at him upside down with as big of a grin as she could give him. Snapping her head back to face forward, she watched the entertainer raptly, her eyes wide and her smile still on her face.
The crowd was warily circled around a tall, muscularly cut man, his taut dark skin gleaming beyond the covering of his cropped white pants, his chest and feet bare. His disturbing dark eyes roved over the crowd and more than a few younger children clung to their mother’s legs, hiding behind them for protection. He had a dangerous look about him, and not solely because of what he was doing. In each of his hands was a long silver sword, one hilt intricately carved from jade, the other of smooth onyx stone. Artfully slashing the steel around his body in graceful movements, he danced to a rhythm only he heard, the deadly blades whirling with blurring speed. After executing a particularly astonishing tossing and twirling sequence, the crowd burst into thrilled applause.
Getting down on bended knee, the performer tilted his head back and opened his mouth wide, and proceeded to slide the onyx hilted blade deep into his throat. Shocked and amazed, the crowd reacted with excited sounds, Oooohhhhh!! Aaaaaahhhhhh!! Pulling the silver from within his body, the sword swallower reached down for a wooden club laying in front of him. His roving eyes landing on Rosalie and then Heishiro, a malevolent smile twisted his lips briefly. A quick flick of his fingers and a flame appeared, which he transferred to the head of the club, a bright fire blazing on the wrapped tip of the wood. Standing up in one smooth motion, his body now facing them, the man began to juggle the two swords and flaming club, his fathomless dark eyes seeming to stare straight at them.
At the first spark of fire, Rosalie whimpered and moved to shield her small form behind Heishiro’s legs, peeking her worried face around him to view the more threatening scene from a safer perspective. Looking up at Heishiro, she sought reassurance from him that all was well.