Kingdom of Shadow (Athene & Silverknight)

LadyAthene

LadyAthene

Supernova
Joined
May 12, 2015
Location
West Coast, USA

Fire was all around a younger version of Baiken. Not much older than a preteen, if even that. Amidst the sea of flames were bodies. Blood - both her own and belonging to the corpses around her - flowed freely from numerous sources. Her small figure shuddered as she blinked rapidly, trying to adjust her sight despite being brutally blinded. Her head turned, a fearful yet equally furious whimper passing her lips as she saw what used to be her right arm now tossed carelessly on the arm. Her left fist clenched tightly as she whipped her head upon hearing the sound of laughter.

Maniacal, crazed laughing.

"I'm amazed you're still alive, girl. Why not just give up? Join the others. It's not like you can do anything against me."

The voice made Baiken grip firmly onto her lower lip.

"I'll kill you myself!" she hissed through gritted teeth, resulting in a snicker from her assailant.

"You? Kill me? Hah! Hardly! Look at yourself! Could you even pick up a blade, hmm?"

"I WILL! JUST WATCH ME! ONE OF THESE DAYS, I'LL -- "

The movements had been so fast that Baiken hardly noticed the silhouette leave her field of vision. A quick but rough sensation registered as a hand found the nape of her neck, forcing her into unconsciousness.

"Maybe later," she heard, "But not tonight. Your test begins; will you wake up and survive all of the blood loss? Or will you lose your will to live? Let's find out ... "

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________​

"MOTHERFUCKER!"

Baiken woke up, a cold sweat steadily falling down her face as she panted and breathed heavily, her left hand gripping tightly onto the sheets of her bed. Time healed all wounds, or so the proverb went. In the most literal of senses, it was only partially true for Baiken. The anger and pain from her past had helped strengthen her. And yet, in some regards, it could be argued it had weakened her. But that was why she'd eagerly taken up a role. Her role, to be precise.

Kyoto had recently come under rule of a new Daimyo, the previous one meeting an unfortunate demise due to illness.

Not everyone took to change very well, though. Then again, the emergence of the still rather fresh Meiji Era hinted there were just some individuals who couldn't deal with 'new things'. As such, it was no secret that quite a few of the civilians were plotting. Quite a few had already tried, and all failed. That was where Baiken came in; their efforts to overthrow the new Daimyo had - specifically - failed because of her. She wasn't the only bodyguard for the new leader, but she was one of the most recognizable faces and names.

Over the years, she'd kept her word to That Man and taken up the art of the blade. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was anything but that, particularly with Baiken having to force herself to adapt to only possessing one arm. Nonetheless, she succeeded in her endeavors and eventually became an expert in the art of Iaido sword fighting. With so many people making the same mistake of underestimating her due to her handicaps, it was easy to defeat any rebels who would otherwise attempt to bring ruin to Kyoto.

Granted, there were some curiosities that even Baiken herself had.

For one, she'd never personally met the new leader, which led to why she had been selected at all. Or maybe the more appropriate wording was how had they known she would be a good choice? Prior to being asked to be a bodyguard by one of the Daimyo's messengers, everyone else had dismissed and thought next to nothing about Baiken's mere existence.

But this man - she'd heard the Daimyo was a male, anyway - had more than enough faith to believe in her.

She knew it shouldn't matter at this point. But something always pestered her. It gnawed at the back of her mind for a good few minutes before finally ... Baiken wove her hand through the air, dismissing it. She'd had this talk with herself more than enough times.

"No point dwelling over it," she muttered, glancing over and using the appearance of the outside scenery to take note of the time.

The sun was already up, indicating it was probably early morning. A few hours past dawn, to be more precise. Baiken nodded, taking a deep breath and kicking the covers off of herself. She was probably a bit late, and needed to make up for lost time.

Iaido hadn't been the only thing Baiken made herself get accustomed to with one arm. Daily tasks like getting dressed or simply surviving in any shape or form were also included. Baiken would thus emerge from behind a dressing screen clad in her usual kimono, sandals adorning her feet. Her sword hung at her side, and over her missing eye was an eye-patch. After swiftly but gracefully enough pulling her hair in a tight ponytail, the peach-haired bodyguard walked out, knowing fully well what was expected of her.

Shopping. For food, to be more exact.

A dull yet very necessary evil.

Though the Daimyo had tons of other servants, including handmaidens, everyone else was getting ready. If she had to guess, some sort of festival or special event was coming up. Whatever it was, the list of items alone gave enough of a hint that something huge was about to occur soon.

Reaching down into her pocket, she pulled the parchment out, beginning to scan the list for herself as she exited the palace and entered the streets.

There weren't many places that had all of these. There were only a select few; but thankfully, Baiken knew where they were, and thus - by default - which direction to go towards. Her feet began confidently guiding her through the streets of Kyoto as she started the steady trek towards a specific shop, run by an individual whom, according to what Baiken heard, was a skilled chef himself.
 
It was busy, very busy as the number of people who crowded the streets of Kyoto were busting the streets, and making making money rather easy. Vinsmoke Sanji was working at this moment as he cooked up some quick soba noodles with his spices in a way that made people come in mass to his place and made them willing to wait in lines to get his food for rather high prices. Sells were good, and the skilled blonde cook was making his money as well as getting the chance to check out many beautiful women. A group of figures that the blonde had a great affinity towards.

Sanji had another job beside the cook of the popular cafe. Sanji worked with the underground. He worked directly for a group of rebels that were aiming to overthrow the Daimyo. They worked very much in the shadows as they gathered information, had battles against small forts in the countryside to gather weapons and supply and increase their information. The fire festival was a rather important holiday in the country as people gathered around in the capital. It was an ideal time to gather information on their enemies as well as spread information to friends. He worked in a place where lots of people came by, so finding information out was easy to do. His goal also was to find old allies who worked for other rebellions that failed and give them a place to go to work for to over throw the government.

Of course the fact that his food drew so much attention made some people rather unhappy. In fact there were a great number of people who were just were jealous of him for selling so much food and taking their success away.

Sanji was selling as he notice a group of men looking towards him for a while moving around and causing no scene, but it was obvious they were trying to hide. He had gotten a note about a man to check out later when wasn't working. He kept a close on these men as he took a smoke. He saw the man coming forward with a knife in his hand aiming for him. He knew it long before he got to him. Sanji kept his hand in his pocket as he watched the man's movement. He dodged the thrust and kicked the man the man in the back of the head with a high kick, before he blocked a hand with his food as his skilled fighting style based on kicks was obvious and very unique. He had not seen Baiken enter about this time as other came forward, these upset would be rivals lost their jobs and now were kicking the shit kicked out of them.
 

There weren't many other unhappy rivals still lingering around. By the time Baiken arrived, however, there were a small handful; all wearing pissed off expressions. Baiken's head shook, a low sigh mingling in with a scoff.

"You people are really ungrateful to be alive at all."

"And who the fuck do you think you -- ??"

Of course, that quip had been started before they turned to see who the voice belonged to. A good half of the figures scurried off upon realizing whom they almost talked back to.

"Figures," one muttered, "The Daimyo's personal bitch has to intervene in our lives."

"That's not what I'm here for .... it wasn't originally, anyway. You have one of two options, the easy or --- "

A dagger slashing out resulted in Baiken clicking her tongue.

Well, I tried, she thought, holding her 'vacant' sleeve out. Sure, she could use the sword. But why bother?

"Hah! The fuck do you think that'll -- "

Before the assailant could finish his quip, a hook attached to a chain shot out.

"What the hell?!"

"I missed on purpose. Think of it as a warning shot. Next time, I'm not missing."

"Fucking bitch," Baiken got in the form of a snarl. Despite the retort, they left, causing Baiken to elicit a confident "Hmph". As quickly as the weapon appeared, it just as mysteriously vanished, giving a hint that magic had been used to allow her to use her cut off arm despite its handicap.

"Now then, let me backtrack since I was interrupted. Sanji Vinsmoke ... I wanted to see if you'd be able to personally come to the palace with all of these items below. If you can do so before sundown, an extra bit of coin will be included as gratitude."

The list Baiken had been holding onto in her left hand was extended towards the cook, allowing him to take and glance at it for himself. If the words hadn't given it away yet, the focused look Baiken would give while awaiting to hear Sanji's reply would reveal she was indeed very blunt and quick to get down to business. Truthfully, dealing with people in social manners wasn't her forte. If she had to communicate with anyone else, Baiken always preferred doing so in bounty or assassination missions; things she was much more accustomed to.

It was, therefore, relatively easy for Sanji to see she wanted to return back to the palace sooner as opposed to later.
 
Sanji looked at the unique woman as she approached him. He had noticed out of the corner of his eye, what she had done and he knew who she was right away based on a few things, reputation of her skills, the fact that she had one arm and one eye missing. There were not many people who that applied to and who that would give away. He felt his heart beating a bit faster as it normally did when he was in the presence of a beautiful woman such as this one. He said nothing, but he wasn't a large fan of his own last name. He didn't get along with most of his family in the least and waned nothing to do with them honestly. They were a powerful family that ruled a section of Kyushu, but that was not him and he didn't get along with his brothers in the least.

He listened to her words as he nodded his head. Normally he would turn this down right away, but he needed information and getting all of the things and bringing them to the capitol would allow him to learn more and overhear more information and that information would be good for missions in the future that he might have to achieve. He took her hand none the less and kiss the top of it making a bit of a show of doing so. He could see that she was a woman who was a bit on the cold side as he heard in the rumors. He kissed the hand and let it go as he had the list in his hand. "Now, Lady Baiken, I shall have this for your enjoyment as soon as I can, do not fret it shall be nothing but the best," he said in a somewhat charming fashion.

Sanji took a step back as he let her recover from that as he would let her return to the castle without saying anything. He went into the kitchen and gathered what he needed and worked on the list or order as it were to make sure it was all gathered into a beautiful box that he could take to the castle himself. It was some time later that he would arrive at the castle with everything that was asked for carrying it in a box as he approached the castle, the note explaining his reasoning and why he was at the castle there on the front of the box itself as he walked. He knew that they would ask questions and he preempted the talk as he delivered the box to the castle making sure it got to someone who would be able to know what to do with the said box.
 

A silent but affirmative nod; that was the tell-tale reply Baiken was given. It had been given relatively quickly, which was good. But the fact Sanji had been quiet in his response ... was that a cue he was somewhat reluctant in agreeing? Maybe, maybe not. With her role as a bodyguard to someone so important, Baiken had learned to analyze people ... or at least attempt to.

She was only human, after all. And there had been several times Baiken had been wrong in her assumptions before. More often than not, however, her instincts were right. Right now, they were signaling that, at the least, to keep an even closer eye on this man than she was doing at that very second.

"Good. Then I'll ... "

He hadn't been the first to try to use the word 'Lady', but it had been a while since anyone made that sort of effort. What really took her aback was the soft kiss upon her hand. She blinked rapidly, looking torn. Something between offended and simultaneously flattered.

"I'll let that slide because you agreed to help out. Anyway, I'll inform everyone to expect you later."

Of course, there was an unspoken second half, but for now, there was no need to relay that part of the talk. Besides, she may not even need to threaten and remind him why Baiken expected him to keep to his word. Despite his somewhat reckless action of kissing her hand, he at least had a good head on his shoulders. He probably knew what was going through her head without being told.

... Still, she couldn't deny he had been perhaps the most polite, particularly among all of the civilians. That alone earned a sincere nod of acknowledgement; the last thing he'd see from Baiken before she pivoted on her feet and walked away.

"How'd it go, Baiken-sama?"

Her head turned, mainly out of habit than necessity, and saw one of the few people she felt most comfortable around. With the Daimyo being very selective when and to whom he showed himself, even Baiken couldn't boast she'd yet seen them. The smaller woman was actually a good reason she was able to use her right arm despite the limb being gone. She was a skilled magician, and it was her magic that was flowing through her blood.

"What have I told you before, Chrome? You don't need to use that honorific. Not with me, you don't. Anyway, to answer the question, smoother than I expected, actually. Inform everyone else that we should be seeing Sanji Vinsmoke soon enough. I'll accompany him when he arrives, but let the guards know beforehand to avoid any unfortunate assumptions being made."

Offering little more than a nod, Baiken watched Chrome hurry off to fulfill the request, effectively leaving the warrior alone to her own devices.

She only stood still for a few seconds, nodding quickly and navigating her way into her room. Since she was likely going to be in charge of overseeing Sanji while he was in the palace, she would need to get ready.

Step one would come in the form of a shower.

With a deft tug, she pulled on her sash, allowing the kimono and sword keeping her sword by her side to come off. Everything was caught and neatly placed nearby, save for the clothes, which were discarded in a basket. She'd get a newer outfit afterwards.

Turning around once again, Baiken walked into the bathing area and began walking calmly into the large tub, sitting down and eventually covering her flesh beneath the already filled container.
 
Sanji walked into the room and put the box down, it was a waiting room and well he was told to wait. He wasn't much of doing that as he wanted to learn more about this castle and well know what was going on. He looked at the guard and asked him a serious of simple questions to feel out what the man would and wouldn't know. he was able to quickly figure out the man didn't know a single thing at all. Sanji asked to use the restroom while he waited on his guide. He slipped into the restroom walking into the small connecting room to this place. He looked around and smiled as he saw a window.

Sanji's hands quickly went to open the window as he looked outside and saw nothing of note, no trees, nothing to climb or any access to anything outside. Still it would work. He got up and climbed quietly out of the window as he used his sky walk to walk up on air itself, as if by magic and walked up the side of the castle. he knew he had to be fast and he had to be careful as well as he moved up the side using the shadows to look for places to enter the castle higher up, and he noted nothing. There was no entrance or exit he could notice, but he did notice a few windows that were locked. One or two with lights on inside which told him that they were used. He also stopped by one and heard the sound of water telling him that it was a bathroom.

Sanji had no idea how close he would end up being in this moment to seeing Baiken in her bath. He moved up and looked inside another window that was again locked and saw nothing again. This was not going to give him any more extra information. He quickly slipped back down and slipped into the bathroom and closed up the window. He flushed and washed his hands before coming out and smiling as he thanked the guard for letting him used the bathroom before returning to his box of things that he was bringing to the castle. He would figure out more later he hoped. He couldn't count anything of course being easy as if it was easy anyone would be able to get information from the castle and use it to assassinate the daimyo with ease.

He sat down and relaxed as he took out a cigarette and started to smoke, before the guard said something about smoking not being allowed. He sighed and mumbled under his breath about how shitty that was before he put out his cigarette. He looked at the door as he was not happy in the least about not being able to smoke here.
 

It was brief. But for the few seconds Sanji was near her window and staring, it was enough to cause Baiken to turn her head, instinctively looking out. Her eyes narrowed firmly as she covered her chest ... even though it was concealed under the water. Luckily for the chef, her sixth senses had kicked in a few seconds too late for her to actually see him. And truthfully, she was expecting him to arrive a few hours later at the soonest, so she didn't immediately assume it had been Sanji she'd sensed.

"Baiken-san?"

"Yeah?" she called back, hearing Chrome's voice from outside.

"Mister Vinsmoke has arrived."

... He wouldn't be that foolish ... would he?

Ah well. Even if the answer was yes, Baiken had planned to stay nearby Sanji anyway. There hadn't been many attempts to use poison against the Daimyo, but enough that he wasn't going to be alone to cook for the upcoming festival. If he hadn't assumed someone would be carefully watching him, he'd find out very soon.

Baiken would come out in a new, cleaner set of clothes. They were the exact same color scheme and appearance; however, a faint scent of lavender would have hinted they were clean, as was the woman wearing them. At her side was her belt, where her sword hung; in reach and ready to be withdrawn if necessary.

"How long has he been here?" Baiken inquired, looking towards the guards watching him.

"Five minutes, ten at most. Not very. He recently arrived."

"And has he ever left your sight?"

When Baiken didn't get an immediate reply, her arm crossed over her chest, tongue clicking in disdain. "Baka," she muttered, "I'll let the Daimyo personally deal with your idiotic decision. There are reasons we all have very specific protocols for what we do, when, and everything else. You should know this even better than myself."

"But it was just to use the washroom, so -- "

"So nothing. You could have remained outside the door. But you didn't even do that, did you?"

Baiken sighed, shaking her head. "Thought not," she added, finally shifting her attention to Sanji and giving a 'follow me' gesture, leading him towards the kitchen.

"Be glad that if it was you who was peeping on me that I can't prove it. I shouldn't have to explain why the mere thought is ... insulting. So long as you do what you agreed to, I won't pull my blade out. So don't give me a definite reason to withdraw my weapon."

As the two entered the kitchen, Baiken would lean against a wall, making sure none of the appliances or tools were nearby her. She didn't want to be in Sanji's way - assuming he was intending to keep his vow. However, she did want to nearby ... just in case she noted anything out of place being done or attempted.

"You're free to use any and everything necessary to properly prepare all of the meals. But I'm not leaving for - hopefully - obvious enough reasons."
 
He wanted to say something, god he wanted to make a retort so badly to her but honestly he couldn't it would give away that he was looking in the room, though he never even saw her in the room, which told him a lot about the design of the place itself as he blinked and then followed her from where they were to the kitchen. He blinked as he looked at her and then nodded his head, "Of course, I have my honor as a cook to uphold, miss iceberg," he said giving a bit of a curt reply as he walked over the kitchen as he heard her comment and then nodded his head. "yeah, I am guessing you can't keep your eyes off me, and were dreaming that I was the one peeking on you," he teased her as he took out a cigarette and then lit it. He took a good drag before taking out what was in the box of supplies.

"Now, a good cook can use anything and doesn't waist food, they are able to make the most of every bit of food they have," he mused as he got to work, his hands working quickly with a knife as he worked. His skills with a knife, with anything in the kitchen were perfect. He mixed up various dishes and worked on them. He had been told about the idea of poisoning the food. Putting explosives, anything that would work perhaps. Yet, he would never do that, as that would go against his own values as a cook and his honor as a cook who would good a good meal for anyone who wanted one. "First don't call me by Vinsmoke, I am not favorable of that name," he said firmly as he continued to cook.

He knew that she would know who the Vinsmokes were, they were a powerful family who were as dangerous or more dangerous than any other royal family in the country. They were in charge of a large army and had been loyal to the daimyo for a very long while, the family even having connections to the previous daimyos. He knew his father had done some unsightly things to get his hand on Kyushu, or at least the parts he ruled at that point in the name of the Emperor. "Now, try whatever you want that you think is poisoned," he challenged her as he cooked and finished whole trays as he could cook from taste and he could cook pretty much anything. He would knock anyone out with wild ecstasy with what he was cooking up, the people who ate this would be nothing but pleased.

He made up various items that would work for the celebration with the extra stuff no asked for giving more than what was required. He wanted to show this icy woman that more could be done with less. He knew that she would question it too, and he knew that she would eat it and she would love it. He was very confident in his abilities. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she tried some of the food which he knew she would.
 

"... Miss Iceberg? I'll admit, that's a new one." Baiken repeated, a half-amused and half-irked smirk appearing across her lips. "Hmph. A cook is one thing. A man is very much different, and for some, is not the same thing. I hardly know much of you. Just that you have a really good reputation when it comes to food."

Her head quickly moved from side to side.

".... Keep wishing that's my train of thought. Just the first half is correct."

.... Did he really just .. ??

Wow. That took a lot of gall for anyone to talk to Baiken like that. In fact, when had the last time been? Probably upon first being accepted as a bodyguard and a lot of the others snickering due to her handicaps. Naturally, no one else had believed she was competent or any true threat. So ... she had to prove a few of the non-believers wrong.

"Would boy be better then, hmm?"

Her eyes rolled as Baiken continued, "Don't you dare forget where you are. You may be in charge when it comes to the food, but ordering me around? Definitely not. You should be honored to even have a surname at all. I don't even have a clan name. It's one of the few things that makes us more complete ... usually, anyway."

The last words were muttered, acknowledging and noting that Sanji didn't seem to appreciate his own well enough to want to hear it.

" ... I really wish you wouldn't light up. Luckily, me snuffing that damn thing out could make something fall, break, get ruined, or all of the above, so that will get another free pass. Next time you're around me and inside the palace, though? Nu-uh. That's not sliding a second time."

It wasn't just for health reasons that Baiken disliked the cancer sticks. It reminded her of the fire from the night she lost everything, including her arm and eye. Thankfully, the difference in an actual fire versus the one being ignited to light a cigarette was much weaker. Otherwise, Baiken may have had a panic attack.

Instead, she simply turned and opened one of the few, nearby windows. The glass was used as a make shift mirror to make up for the fact she had to turn her back to Sanji.

"Do those not ruin your senses? I'd think as a chef that'd be very detrimental, particularly to your ability to taste and smell things."

Nonetheless, she was seeing first hand that aside from his own stubborn side, his reputation was as accurate as Baiken had heard. He was fast ... but incredibly accurate. Not just with chopping the food either, but cooking it in a way that made her feel like she was staring and observing a perfect person. Or at least someone who had truly mastered their craft.

And ... admittedly ... she hadn't eaten yet.

So even if it wasn't her obligation to do so, he wasn't wrong in assuming she would eat. With consent, of course; this wasn't only for her, after all. But since she got what she needed, Baiken walked forward and began sampling each dish.

Holy fuck .... !!

A sigh mingled in with a very content groan and moan as she finished tasting the first dish. Okay ... so at least those rumors had been correct. Very much so, in fact. Good. She hadn't wasted her time, nor Sanji's. The tasting didn't make all of her icy attitude go away, but it certainly helped keep it relatively tame.

"This will likely be the best meals that have been included in the Fire Festival. It's all very good."

Raising her hand into the air, she snapped her fingers. The sound echoed throughout the castle and, within minutes, helped summon a few more guards inside. "Make sure no one else eats any of this before the festival begins. Keep it warm and fresh until then."

Baiken would move aside for the new guardians, then exit, motioning for Sanji to follow once more. They would be about halfway towards the front doors before Baiken reached down and removed a pouch attached to her side, extending it over. "As promised, your pay for completing and being very thorough in this task. You most definitely earned it."
 
Sanji knew that this went well as far as the food. he looked at the food as it went out and he saw that he wasn't able to see more of the castle, that this was the limit to what he would be able to see. He blinked as he knew that these people would be handling his food. Not the ideal but he didn't have a say in it, getting to see as much as he had and figure out as much about this place as he had was going to have to be good enough for the moment. He walked to the front doors and then caught the coins as he nodded his head and headed off from the palace. He made a lot of food, he knew how many people were going to be at the festival, and he knew that the guards would all be paying attention to it and it alone. It was in short the best time to be somewhere else.

Sanji had walked back to his home. He had a modest home and he put the things he had away. He looked over his things and he took some time to plan out his next move. He was to head out to a base on the outside of the city. He had a good idea that everyone else would be at the capital for the festival starting that night. Sanji took a quiet path to the base. He knew that the target was a officer in the camp. He approached carefully as he was sure that he would need to slip in and take care of a person or two. He approached from some shrubs into the simple outlier camp. he grabbed one of the guards and knocked him out with a choke hold, him falling to the ground as Sanji took his uniform and changed into it.

Sanji then worked his way into the camp. It was good that the higher ups were away to be at the meeting with the Daimyo and his big men at the capital. He slipped into the room of the target and gathered all the information that he could stealing paperwork and making sure that any information that the man had found was gone as well. He took information about the plans of the army, the police and any others who were loyal to the emperor away. It was a simple mission. As he walked out he saw the target approaching. He waited in hiding as the man came in to the room. He knocked him out with a quick kick to the face and carried him away to give himself and the intelligence to another agent that night. He had a better idea of who was guarding the Daimyo and he would need to find a way to deal with her or keep her away from the duties if he was going for the assassination.

As he walked home, he saw the fireworks up in the sky, he saw how pretty they were as he had a good bit of money on him from both of his missions and well could use that to do whatever. He walked home and put the money in a safe for future use for he knew that it would most likely help him out of a jam some time in the future. He went to bed, with the next day being like any other at least at the start, preparing lunch and working out at a smaller stand on the streets to keep track of the coming and going of people.
 
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The rest of the day went by much quicker than Baiken had expected. But then again, when one was sent out to keep the citizens of Kyoto in check, it helped kill boredom. Today had been a rare exception where she was to avoid lethal force, Even if it seemed like she was coerced to do so. Today was going to be the Fire Festival, and though she hadn't heard the words directly from the Daimyo, she had guessed correctly what the messenger had told her earlier. Her actions would impact the leader's reputation.

Which did make it slightly odd that before tonight, he didn't seem to care about what she did.

Or ... maybe not? This had been one of the few special occasions Baiken had served the leader on. And if she had to be frank, she couldn't correctly recall every single person she'd got in a fray with or killed. Most, yes. All? Nope. Courtesy of her own vice ... and what she was currently partaking in as the festival started.

Sake. Easily her favorite drink, even if it wasn't the healthiest to indulge in.

"You're not gonna go outside and get a better view?"

Baiken quickly moved her head from side to side, having already seen out of the corner of her eye Chrome had spoken to her and not some other random person within the castle. "You go for it, though. You look more natural than I do."

" ... More natural? Mind elaborating?"

"In literally every sense of the word. More feminine, you're able to fit in with the crowd better, everything. Maybe 'normal' is the better wording. Anyway, if I were to go, it'd probably freak everyone out, and they'd immediately go on the defensive. I'm done ensuring tonight should go smoothly. So there'd be no point in ruining this celebration for everyone else. I already feel like I've been punished enough for simply existing."

" ... Is that what you really think about yourself?"

"How many others are without an arm and eye?"

"I do actually know of a silver-haired swordsman whom has a fake arm. It just isn't obvious because he replaced it with a prosthetic."

"And his eye?"

Chrome sighed. It was clear she wasn't going to win this fight; few people could do so, let alone against Baiken. "Is that the only reason you're serving our Lord? In hopes of finding the person responsible and killing them?"

"No. I'd be a fool to decline this opportunity. I'd probably be dead by now had he not sent me the offer. We're not too different lest I'm mistaken from what you told me."

" ...N-no, but ... "

But nothing, Chrome decided, slowly nodding instead of trying to finish her original sentence. Instead, she flashed a small smile to Baiken and bowed her head, "Well ... one of these days, I really would like you to accompany me. I think it'd do you some good. You need more confidence in yourself."

Confidence? Baiken wondered, looking curiously at the magician as she walked away.

You're not only a soldier, she heard in her head as a response. Before she could shoot another quip, Chrome was too far away to maintain any link that offered telepathy.

"She's clearly had her own bit of sake," Baiken muttered, unable to help but chuckle. "A soldier is all I need to be. There is literally nothing else I could even start to be."

Chrome was more than just a really skilled magician. She was one of the few handmaidens that remained relatively close to the Daimyo. She hadn't been upgraded to a concubine simply due to her making that request, but it was no secret - not to Baiken, anyway - Chrome had been persuaded quite a few times to change her mind.

... No, definitely not. Not even a mere handmaiden ...

Even if her appearance wouldn't work against her, the attitude would. Something everyone here inside the castle already knew. And given her stubborn nature ... it wasn't like she'd change for anyone. Not even the Daimyo. She'd be her true self until the day she died. She'd live and die by the way of the blade. That was her way of life she'd taken up since that fateful day. She would not stray away from that path, no matter what.

That was what she kept repeating to herself as she downed the last bits of sake, refilling her cup. As a reward for her work today, she had been given an entire bottle to indulge in, and she was going to make it last as long as humanly possible.
 
Sanji took the officer in his arms as he headed towards the destination that was ahead of himself. He was going to head to a dark alley. He had no clue what was going on in the rest of the city as they were focused on the celebration of the start of the two week fire festival. It would be fun for them until the last day when they would have a blow out of celebration as it were. He knew that that would be an ideal time to strike the palace itself, but that wasn't this day, that wasn't for a good while.

Sanji dropped off the body as he looked at an older man, a merchant by trade, his name was never said as no one who was a rebel told any other their name as it was pointless and unneeded. He gave over the target and took a piece of paper from the man as well as a nod from the man. Nothing to be said, no real planning, that way when one group of the rebels fell down and broke apart, the rest would go on unconnected. It was rather impersonal and there was no closeness in it, but he understood why it was that way after all.

Sanji walked home quietly, as he knwe that it had been a rather active day. His eyes looked quickly at the paper as he walked reading it. He found a series of random names and things drawn on it. It was code as that was the only safe way to share any information from one person to another person. He knew what it said, which was an target, a small prison that was isolated in the capital. He would figure out where to go and then he would break down the entrance, or break a backdoor. He would just have to find the ideal time to do so, that would be the most tricky part as he had to keep up the illusion of working at the stand during the day, and fine dime to work at the restruant at night.

Sanj lived in a small house, it was just himself there was no need to be fancy or to waist any money at all. He would simply find what he needed in his home. He lit up a cigarette as he looked out on the city. He would help change this world and get rid of people like the Damiyo, like his own family who used their power to put others down. He smoked calmly as he thought about it for a moment before he headed to bed. At least he was able to get into the castle and saw how the outside looked like as well as the kitchen of the place. Now he only had to well figure out a way to get right at the Daimyo himself.
 

" ... Ngh ... "

Pain. Minor, and yet ... annoying. Repetitive. Throbbing.

... Yep. A hangover, to be more specific. Another groan elicited from Baiken as she rolled from her side to her back, laying her arm across her forehead. It shouldn't have amazed her too much. She had indulged - likely too much - in the sake last night. She had no one to blame but herself. Even still ....

"Fuuuuuuuuck. Ugh .... "

A frustrated huff resounded as she forced her arm to move away, going to her side, before slowly pushing herself up to her feet.

"Baiken-san? You alright?"

"Yeah. Probably just overdid it last night."

Behind the door, Chrome shook her head. It also wasn't shocking to hear the swordswoman had been a bit hasty. Ah well. At least it was sounding like a rather tame hangover, all things considered.

"So? How'd everything go last night?" Baiken asked, beginning to get clad in a new outfit.

"Really well! I think you would have enjoyed it." The last sentence was slightly mumbled. Not low enough, though, as hinted by the clearing of Baiken's throat. "A-Anyway ... luckily most of the preparations for today have been completed, so ... "

The door opened, revealing a newly dressed Baiken.

"As good as that is to hear, I still have my obligations to perform. Excuse me ... "

As the sword-user walked by, Chrome stared at her. Only after she'd moved far enough away did she let out another soft breath.

She's gonna overwork herself, Chrome thought, a smile adorning herself nonetheless. Loyalty ... it wasn't something everyone here in the palace had. It was honestly nice to see. Not just because it was one of those feelings that should be given and received, but Baiken had applied it to more than her duties. The bond they had, for example. In fact, she was easily on the best of terms with the bodyguard. Sure, it looked odd to some of the others, including what was referred to as the Daimyo's Inner Circle.

But Chrome wouldn't want to change her bond with Baiken.

Hopefully the same applied vice versa.

Meanwhile, Baiken would exit the palace, sword resting near her hip, and begin walking calmly through Kyoto's streets. Even if it wasn't as mandatory as yesterday, she still had to do her watch shifts, which would ensure people were staying out of trouble, no matter how minor or major that may or may not be.
 
Sanji woke up early the next morning to get his equipment ready for the day. as he made up a rolling car and he would move it around where he would need it at various points int he day. He could adjust to where things were and move to where people were located. This day the meal would be rather simple soba noodles. It would be sold for cheap and well he would have a line. He always had a line when he cooked, and he knew that people tended to talk a lot when they were in line. That would be a good chance to gather information from people having idle chats about what they knew. Once in a while he might get useful information about what was happening in the capital and how people were going to move around. He would hear the plans of guards and he could spot the rebels as well to make note of who they were and who could and couldn't be trusted at all.

Sanji found a nice place right off a beautiful plaza, this would be a good place for people to come to at lunch. He found a nice shaded spot where he could cook, we in the morning it wasn't ideal, but he knew by lunch time it would be. He started to cook, as he listened to people who walked by talking about their days, their plans for the coming days and how much fun they had the night before. None of this information told him a lot, but it did tell him a bit of information as he sat there. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it as he looked over the nice place. The sitting areas in front of himself with the colorful stone walk ways and plaza. The area was lovely. There was even a flower garden not that far way giving the area a lovely scent as well. He knew the path too took someone to the palace as well.

He started to cook up the noodles, and before he even finished his prep work, a line was forming at the stand. It wasn't even lunch yet, but there were a number of women who had shown up and were in front of his stand. He wasn't going to complain as he stood there preparing the noodles. Maybe they were going to try to beat the rush, maybe they just liked his superior noodles. There were many possibilities. He sold a bowl of noodles early as he gave out a bowl of soba and then another and another. He would smile and thank the women who came to buy from him. It was always nice to sell to people and well it was nice to make money. Plus women were gossips as they liked to talk and show off to him and talk to each other about their boyfriends and their lives. Some of them had guards of various types as husbands or boyfriends. He could get a lot of information on that by just listening to them.

He knew that this wasn't the final answer, but just getting information and enjoying this day selling food to beautiful women wasn't bad at all. He knew that he had some time, and that the information would be helpful in that final move. One had to set the pace for that move ahead of time after all. He blinked as more people joined the line as he knew that they wouldn't eat later when the others stands would be set up, causing them to lose a good percentage of the female customers or maybe some would just by twice from him.
 

.... Damn. You should have listened to Chrome. It really wasn't necessary to head out.

Then what, baka? You'd be bored inside the palace.

....

Unfortunately, her brain was otherwise right. There wasn't really much of a win-win scenario right now. And, thankfully, everyone seemed to be behaving. Whether they were too scared or had wised up? Baiken didn't care. She got enough trouble on a daily basis. A break was actually appreciated every now and again. Sure, she could handle pretty much anything that came her way. But this? It was actually a nice change of pace.

Her head turned as she caught sight of an especially large crowd. An amused smirk crossed her face as she saw wove between some of the people, still keeping herself concealed. Eventually, she saw that everyone was lined up for food. Sanji was working, cooking ... something. Noodles?

Either way, she couldn't deny - again - that it did smell as good as it looked. Suffice to say, Baiken was very grateful there were many other people - mostly women, but some men - waiting. It made it impossible to pinpoint where exactly the hungry growl came from.

A barely audible scoff passed her lips. True, she didn't seem to be needed elsewhere, but that could be fixed. Those were her original thoughts, anyway, but then ... no. Actually, maybe this was exactly where she needed to be.

Last night hadn't been successful with just the entertainment part of the festival. Sanji's food had been eaten by all who came to the palace. They had ... a certain secret that allowed them to replicate everything he gave to Baiken, and did so perfectly. Not only had they been able to copy his recipes, but they'd aided the kitchen staff in creating ample amounts of his dishes from yesterday.

If they could come up with something new ... yeah. That could work.

Not to say Baiken wouldn't eat any of the soba. Just not all of them. Not like anyone was going to know exactly how this trick was done, anyway. Nodding to herself, the sword-user remained in line, moving when it did. Eventually, she would come face to face with Sanji once more.

"Don't worry," she reassured, "This is just for myself today. No business or requests. So ... how much?"
 
He looked at the line as he continued to cook in the pot he was using in the women lined up. He knew that the spices that he used caused the crowd to be more women then men, but he seriously had no problems with that in the least. He stood cooking and passing out bowl after bowl as he smiled enjoying the fact he could bring joy to so many beautiful women that were in line. While of course getting good gossip that was said or overheard by each of the women as they waited in line for him to serve them. He saw something that caught his eye as he continued to cook.

He saw the beautiful pink haired swordwoman in front of himself once again. He blinked as he wondered if she had another job for him perhaps. If she did, he wouldn't turn her down another chance to see more of the castle, though he was sure that he wouldn't have much of a chance to see it like before, as they would be more on guard than before if he was around the castle. He nodded his head as he looked at her, "Well then, take this bowl on the house, I have made plenty and think of this as a return gift for hiring me in the past for work," he said as he handed her the bowl of soba noddles. "It is enough for now, that a beautiful woman gets to enjoy my food," he commented to her with a small grin on his lips.

He figured he would get no information in the least from her. She was not the type to gossip or talk to others even. He figured that she was the silent and serious type of woman. She had that mature look to her in a way like Robin-swan had. He figure that the woman had a lot of mystery behind her injuries but also behind herself as a whole. She most likely hide a lot of things that she didn't want the world to know about. He figured that she would keep those secrets from himself and anyone else for that matter. He then focused on selling the soba, as he was running low as it had been a good day of business already.
 

... Oh?

Baiken's hand stopped right before it could grab hold of a pouch filled with coins beside her left hip. She stared at the cook, wearing minimal expressions. Curiosity, though, could be easily seen. But there were no hostile emotions like one may have expected to notice. It really was coming down to trying to figure out if there was a hidden agenda behind giving out her bowl for free.

When Baiken couldn't sense any such motives, she nodded, taking the soba and holding it carefully but firmly in her hand.

"Must be my lucky day. I know you can't do that for everyone, after all. Until next time ... "

She purposely allowed her words to trail off, leaving moments after bidding him goodbye. Many other customers would storm up and begin trying to demand they also got their meal for free. An equal amount of people were outraged, demanding to know why he'd allowed the Daimyo's personal watchdog to get something for free. Some people were going so far as to thinking Sanji may be compromised somehow.

Regardless, the commotion and new crowd allowed Baiken to return to the castle with minimal problems.

The first stop she made upon re-entering the palace was the kitchen. Inside was the very woman she was hoping to find. The blonde turned, looking curiously as she heard Baiken take a seat in front of an empty table.

"Oh? Have something else for me to try?"

"If it's worth your time, yes."

The blonde smirked upon hearing those words, "Finally, someone who understands my policies. Good. It feels like everyone else doesn't get it."

Baiken shrugged.

"It's not that difficult, in my opinion. With your God's Tongue, it should be a given. Unfortunately, your best bets of finding understanding individuals are within the Inner Circle."

Were Erina a warrior, she would easily secure a place. As it was? She was the usual head cook. She had simply been ill yesterday, and thus unable to cook.

"I'm also assuming you're feeling better then, Erina-san?"

"Well enough." Waving a hand through the air to dismiss the matter, she sat across from Baiken, holding her own pair of chopsticks. "So ... let's try it together, shall we?" Noting Baiken raising an eyebrow, she added, "It was you who brought it back. It seems only right you can share it with me."

... That was Baiken's - and just about everyone else's, really - issue with Erina. She really could be quite the uppity bitch. But ... it was justified. At least when it came to food. Merely replying with a nod, Baiken and Erina took their own portions of the soba and ate it.

"Not half bad. It could use some refining, but that's otherwise really good. Who made this?"

"The same man from yesterday; Sanji Vinsmoke."

"Hmmm. He certainly has true talent."

Indeed he does, Baiken agreed, setting her set of chopsticks down when she finished her portion. "You can have the rest. I need to be elsewhere." Before Erina could attempt to protest that Baiken hadn't cleaned the utensils she used, the swordswoman walked briskly out, striding confidently through the hallways. Between feeling as if she had been watched yesterday and getting an up-close and personal display of Sanji's cooking, it made Baiken feel certain there was more to the man than what met the eyes.

If his skills were as great - or even more so - with a knife, then Sanji was someone to, at the very least, be cautious of.

And there was at least one other person who needed to know that sooner as opposed to later. The same man who had taken her in, who never doubted her abilities when so many others had. The very same Daimyo who was now running Kyoto.
 
Sanji looked at the group as they came to his stand. He smiled as he had made more than enough and the noddles were rather cheap to make. He smiled as he gave out a number of bowls for free. He knew that these people would pay later. "Now, your right, today is a special, I will give out the rest I have for free, I don't have much left," he said as he looked at the people gathering. He passed out more and more food to people till he ran out and smiled. "Well, sorry for those who didn't get enough, I will be selling for 10 percent off tomorrow and will make sure that I get enough for more people ready."

Sanji made his escape as it were as he returned the cart and locked it up carefully as he took the money with himself as he knew where he wanted to go and he had a lead of someone that he wanted to meet with. He was going to head to the home of a simple woodcutter, who held a lot of surprises. Sanji walked into the room it was perfectly well kept and well the knives were amazing too. He had gotten knives for his own cooking form this man because they were so perfect. He was also a man who made swords and knives for those who would pay a high enough price for them. Yet, he was one who would work for rice to help out those who couldn't pay him a full price of anything for wood to keep them warm in the winter.

Sanji put out a bowl of fried rice on the table as he looked around. This man could make wood sharp enough to cut though wood. He was a master, and someone who went unknown cause he wanted to go unknown by anyone who had any power or anything else. Sanji smiled as he saw the orange haired Heihachi former samurai and then smiled as he walked over and shook his hand.
"So, how are things going Heihachi," he asked as he looked at the man sharing a smile.

"Great, let me tell you. Business is good and the rice is better than ever. What brings you out here Sanji, is it to just give me some of your great food or is it on business," he asked quietly as he then sat down at the wood table and started to eat the rice enjoying it a great deal.

"Now, it is just for the later, just want to know when you are going to make me a new set of knives," Sanji asked as he knew the importance of having good knives for cooking as he knew that would help one get the most of every piece of the supplies one would have. He then put his hands in his pocket. "Now the other stuff will be needed, but I am sure someone else will ask you about that, though that isn't for over a week you know," he said calmly as he took out a cigarette and then smoked.

"Yeah I know, it will be ready, don't worry about that, don't worry about that," he commented as he paused eating before returning, the woodcutter was a genius of making things and also was a good samurai who had been a rather very minor player before the change in who was in charge in the country and just faded into the background.
 
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