Kickin' Ass and Chewing Bubblegum (Open)

[Guest]

Hideto, this was one old man that never seemed to just sit down and take up board games or something. The damn old fart seemed to be at it again, every once in awhile he just got that pure desire to sneak out of the house he thought of like a prison when nothing was happening, evade his mens poor attempt at pursuing him and then just amble around aimlessly for the rest of the day. This was one of those days...Except he was in the middle of a bar fight.

There he was, a young man being choked in on of his arms looped against his stomach while three young men were on the ground unconscience, a fifth man was through a table, a sixth was halfway on the bar table and lastly...Hideto had a flask of sake he was drinking. He was already half way drunk before he let go of the young man that was now also unconscience.

He downed the rest of the entire flask before stumbling out of the flap they called a doorway. His thoughts muddled and jolly as his laughing sounded like santa clau's laughing in a old movie. Jolly and happy. He didn't seem fazed to have kicked several teenagers asses, half drunk and then stumbled out without paying. He yelled over laughing to himself to the owner," Take their money my friend! They'll handle the drinks and damage."

Almost instantly he stumbled out and seemed to have hit somebody, he only took a step back before automatically going into a fighting stance before relaxing and grinning widely. The man looked like a cute grampa of someones who thought he was the most badass person there. Of which it seemed like it.

[Guest]

Tomoe, this young woman who someone made the mistake of calling her baka onna decided to take a stroll in the streets of Kyoto seizing the chance of being there to do so. Kyoto wasn't like Edo in term of flashiness but there was much history. There, the roads had their own old scent. There, the peaceful shrines were everywhere. It was quite but she liked it though she adored more the busy metropolis of Edo and it's famous districts still what attracted her to Kyoto was that sense of change between the two cities.

But not all of Kyoto was quite, Traditional theaters for instance were not quite. Another example that pub at the corner of this street she trod. Her hearing senses would tell her that inside there was quite the brawl. She could tell because she was passing by just in front of it until someone old suddenly stepped out bumping into her. He retreated backwards for a step assuming a battle stance, she retreated back as well though unlike him she showed no hostility especially her face that didn't show emotions by default.

His body relaxed and his face gave this wide grinning signaling that everything were fine. Not knowing that this old is the father of her Waka and actually is the oyabun of the whole yakuza, she offered him assistance "Ojisan, Do you need help?" indeed this Kitsune was well brought up even belonging to yakuza family since from where she came from adhered to the old codes and most importantly the refinement of the yakuza members unlike most of the yakuza out there nowadays.

[Guest]

Such a polite pretty young girl, she looked kind of familiar too...Hmm, Aha! She's that kitsune lady that Mako-kun talks of. Quite a catch for whoever gets her thats for certain. I guess she doesn't know me yet, this is quite an interesting turn of events. He held out his hand for hers to take, he would keep his grip nothing but firm. He didnt want to crush her hand.

He spoke with a jolly smile, his attitude a ridiculous opposite of what his opponents knew him by. " I could use some company and help getting around, Ojosan. That is of course if you dont mind keeping an old man company." He made a slight and very small bow with his head. He had never bowed lower than that since he was recieved in Aerugo.

After his slight bow he decided an introduction was in order,"My name is Hideto. Whats yours Ojosan?" He hoped she wouldn't recognize it, he didn't give his last name for a reason after all. Few would recognize Hideto and connect it with him, everyone would recognize Kiyoshino however.

[Guest]

His old hand was given to her for a handshake in turn she would give him her hand too. It would have been different, if he had been a young man for in such case she wouldn't have offered her hand. But her black pearl eyes saw a grandfather so it was no problem. Once she touched his hand, she didn't feel only the firmness of the handshake but the experience of a long life seeping out into her as well.

Cheerful he was evident by voice and smile, he asked her company to use and for help making sure first that she wouldn't mind. He bowed, then introduced himself as 'Hideto' and in turn he asked for hers. Of course, she didn't recognize that he is the 'Kiyoshino Hideto' so it passed by her unnoticed as he planned out.

The Aerugese vixen like most of her countrymen was raised to respect their elders so naturally she didn't mind plus it would be a new experience for her to accompany a man of such age and probably he would amuse her more than she would amuse him. Giving away a very polite chuckle after saying that she wouldn't mind and soon afterwards she introduced herself as expected.

"Pleased to meet your acquaintance. I am Tomoe, Nakajima Tomoe."
She bowed but not slightly as he did still she made sure that she wouldn't headbutt him in the process.

At such moment, what the elder would ask of her to do ?

[Guest]

Hideto flashed her a kind ole grandfatherly smile, the man was crazy to begin with and obviously so by his nature alone. He spoke softly as he motioned for her to follow at his side,"Its been awhile since I was last roaming Kyoto and causing mischief and trouble. You wouldn't mind leading me around here, I have a good feeling you know all the right places. Naka-san." He flashed yet another of his charming little old smiles.

They were disarming smiles, something people took for granted and made assumptions. Like those roughhousing idiots in that resturant. He never once frowned to those young fools. Now this was however turning into a nice jaunt in Kyoto for him. He beat down a bunch of youngsters, was half drunk and in the company of a beautiful young lady Yakuza. From her demeanor and manners she would protect him with her life without ever knowing who he was.

He motioned for her to lead the war as he looked up to her, yes he was shorter than her. Then again he was just an old man now, he hardly needed the height he had back in his youth. Plus stunted height didnt stop his asskicking abilities. He looked over to Naka-san before speaking," So Naka-san, what do you do for a living?" Might as well see what she would tell folks, was she an open yakuza that put respect to the name? Or was she a secret one who worked from the shadows?

[Guest]

Couple of words mostly marked he said soon after. Despite being old, it had been a while since his last time taking a walk, knowing very well not to judge a book by it's cover seeing herself as an example, she would accept what he said neutrally without bias believing that elders always had that insight youngsters didn't have. Next to the line were trouble and mischief, so it had been a while since his last mildly wicked stroll. Hideto-ojisan gave the Kitsune the impression that he knew that she knows where to go while giving away a smile after another.

The last thing rang in her ears was "Naka-san". Oh, it had been really a long time ago for her to be called as such but she digressed these thoughts as her mind's gears were shifting contemplating where to go. Kyoto was drown in it's own sights and tourists attraction sites but which one of them to choose. He was not a foreigner like the amestrian who bumped into her just months ago, so any sight out there wouldn't work out well due to the fact it was always the first time for hyped tourists, but the case was not the same for the natives. Quick as ever before the elder would say more her mind planned and made the bet on two places to visit.

"So Naka-san, what do you do for a living?"

He showed interest on what kind of profession she depended on to make her own living. Certainly, it was decided a long time ago not to be sincere for little sincerity brings forth problems and much of it eventually would be disasters disasters. Conceal, lies, disguise and work in the dark was the path to go.

I am a Mangaka aiming to be serialized, I don't have yet a work of my own being published so being a mangaka's assistant ensures the flow of money...And please call me Tomo-chan or tomoe, Hideto-ojisan. She said giving away a shy and hospitable smile feeling that it was kind wrong for an elder to speak with her in respectful honorifics and manners, while coping with his pace neither falling behind disobeying his wish of leading on nor leaving him slightly behind and be disrespectful, all where done while both hands held her seemly looking school bag.

They would arrive soon at a bus station which would take them to their intended destination. The bus would arrive and out of courtesy she would wait for him to hop in. Once inside, she would take a seat beside him.

[Guest]

Hideto smiled to the young lady as she guided him along, perfectly respectful of traditions and the like. He glanced around inconspiciously, it was disguised simply as stretching, a slight stumble and scratching his face once. There were three men of his following them. The only reason they kept their distance was because he was in her company and because he could easily get away. It was almost a game now, he could hardly care less about someone trying to kill him.

That was unlikely as ever, but the game itself kept him sharp as a spear thrown in anger. He replied to Tomoe-chan as she wished to be called," Have you found an editor yet? I could perhaps find one to take you on, that is if you could produce your own steady work." That is if she could handle it and handle being a yakuza. He would provide an editor, that was nothing too difficult. If at all for someone like himself, he probably had an editor friend stashed somewhere. Or one of them owed money.

His heart didn't jump at her smile, it did create that sort of lustful feeling however. He crushed it with a sort of calmness you'd expect out of a man who was known for being a cold-hearted death machine that owned the underworld of Aerugo. She had no idea how she made mens jaws drop, did she? He winked to her in a friendly grandfatherly way before saying as they entered the train."Keeping smiling at batting your eyes at me and i'll think your taking advantage of a kindly old man." He said it in a obviously joking manner. Nearby younger folk giggled lightly at his statement.

He had a sort of aura about him, one that seemed to scream out happiness and friendly goodwill. Something that was quite hilarious coming from him. Once they were in he, took a seat that strategically placed him so he could both see everything and could create a distraction and escape route if necessary. He didn't make it too obvious how he took the position, he made it almost seem normal and by instinct instead of intent.

[Guest]

Hideto Ojisan shouldn't underestimate the peripheral vision of a woman and especially the one he kept company with for she had the senses of a Kyuubi. Eventually she would notice what was meant to be hidden but she feigned ignorance. But why three men were trailing them? Are they another yakuza faction? maybe it was this one they encountered in Amestris way back, the Inagawa-kei. Or the the elder was the one being followed? she couldn't dismiss this possibility since everything is possible in this world and she knew better thanks to the underworld she was living in.

What the disguised oyabun said surprised her more than those three guys following them. Simply, he was offering her serialization served on a plate of gold, just like that. As a mangaka, she knew well that things didt work like that. First, she had to submit a work to an editor, if he or she deemed it suitable enough then she would have to supply that editor with three continuous chapter probably 47 pages each or number of pages decreased depending on situation, after that the whole editorial staff debates on which submission to be chosen and to serialize.

Hideto-Ojisan just bypassed all of that. So, either he was playing pranks with her or he was talking real. In her eyes this old man was a lot dangerous than the fools following them. Strangely enough her answer would come unexpected. "Thank you very for your offer, Hideto-Ojisan. But, I intend to push through my career with effort and talent." Indeed, she will fail a couple of times but that would hone her skills more. She would try the one outs trials and based on the feedback coming from the editorial department and readers, she would make the necessary modifications to make her drawing more appealing and the story interesting, intriguing and breath taking.

"Keeping smiling at batting your eyes at me and i'll think your taking advantage of a kindly old man." she didn't smile this time but her cheeks grew hot and probably became slightly red despite her creamy white skin all thanks to his remark and the anonymous laughs at the sides here and there. Ummm. I am not really that evil. she said while a hand of hers scratched the back of her head as a sign of embarrassment.

He took a seat and so she did the same beside him. And she was just this normal innocent girl dressed in school outfit so probably they wouldn't pay her intention but if they were stupid enough to make attempt, she would perform such feat of fast drawing that would leave all those cowboys through the course of history that if they existed in this world in awe. Three magnum shots would be released in a matter of a second still she really doubted they would do that in a public bus. But probably, they would do that where they were going.

There next stop would be Ginkakuji known as the silver pavilion though this wasn't her first intended destination, this would be the second but they have to drop off there first and go on foot.

[Guest]

He rose an eyebrow as if impressed, which he was in a manner of speaking. Although he'd be impressed even if she took him up on his offer. In one way it was practical and pragmatic combined with speed and efficiency. The other was practical and pragmatic from another viewpoint combined with slow and steady. He spoke up, quizzical. His eyebrows furrowing in a hilarious manner,"Ah, well if you change your mind. I'm sure i'll find out and we speak of it. Or if you wish, I could at least get people to listen to you when you submit your work so you dont have to run all over the place. Should reduce the waiting times at the least."

He realized he was speaking as if he was the boss, even if he didn't tell her. He hoped she would eventually figure it out all on her own. Even if she did, he wondered how she would react at that point. Regardless, she blushed ever so slightly to his comment before showing light polite embaressment. He grinned widely and took her hand for a brief moment to kiss it like a gentleman. He spoke softly to her, in a jolly tone."Calm down Tomoe-chan, your not evil at all. Good and evil are just perspectives that people use to simplify the world. You are who you are, its just that simple." He smiled at his little nugget of wisdom. It was true, at least to himself.

The three men following him took up discreet positions within the train, hideto was positioned just right to keep an eye on all of them. He looked over to Naka and asked curiously,"Have any other jobs or hobbies?" Might as well ask if just out of simple curiosity, it would move this event along faster and more smoothly if he did so and she did so.

[Guest]

It really surprised her more that he insisted on his offer so certainly this was not joke of sorts or a prank made on a whim. Talking real was his theme, so if he could do something such feat, it meant eventually he had the power to pull some strings to his favor. But she as a Mangaka knew very well that even if she bypassed the editorial department through the means of trickery and submit a serialization, that wouldn't last for long if the readers didn't like it. So simply put, the early stage of any manga artist when he or she receives advice and recommendation is very crucial and essential. Add to that, Tomoe wanted something in her life completely honest.

"Arigatou, Hideto-Ojisan. I shall keep that in mind." she neither accepted his offer nor rejected it out of respect. Later on, after giving away his innocent teasing remark which led to a kitsune blushed face. He reassured her in a fatherly manner, showing his yakuza underling a bit of his wisdom built through the course of years. She contemplated the abstract scenery being shown to her virtual eyes.

She looked at the same hand which the oyabun had just kissed couple of seconds ago making her face more red. Quite the gentlemen, he is. Speaking of which, he looked like someone she knows, who is a gentleman too but in his own very good way. Returning to the matter at hand. Pondering, she was. Looking at her bloodied hands, the paws of a kitsune possessing people leaving them behind to die. Weren't these acts of evil?

With her black pearls, she recognized his choice of seat setting just beside him thanking him again for chivalrous mannerism of those knights of old he just showed. Aware of there sitting position allowed the duo to have a good look at the three who trailed them. She just remembered her hands were dirtied in black blood and not that of crimson, her targets were mainly bad guys and evil doers. So probably she is neither good nor bad existing within the boundaries of gray. what she really meant that the thought of deceiving an old with her vixen features and hues didn't cross her mind. She is a kitsune indeed, but not a slut.

By the way, He looked really familiar. She nodded to his told wisdom. But regardless of her thoughts going back and forth within a kitsune-like mind, it was quite thoughtful of him indeed. If people really grasped the true essence of his wisdom, eventually they would stop fighting with each other when they accept their own souls and those who differs than them

"Have any other jobs or hobbies?"

Well, I like playing games, watching anime and of course reading manga the answer came almost naturally, she paused for a second following what was said with a joke And beside being a Mangaka, I am part timer yakuza. she ended that with a slight giggle. Very awkward, she looked like thanks to her placid doll like face.

Speaking about yakuza.

The Oyabun, wasn't his name 'Hideto Kiyoshino'?

EEEHHHHHHHHH! Her mind snapped.

[Guest]

He smiled happily as they sat down. So she neither accepted nor refused his offer? Smart and honest to boot. She would do well in the yakuza or whatever line of work she chose with that kind of ethical attitude. He rose an eyebrow as they sat down and the men following him chose tactical positions in innocuous positions. He smiled towards tomoe-chan as she blushed when she gazed upon the hand he kissed.

Such a lovely young lady, he however was far too old for her and he doubted she would ever think of him that way. His youth was far far away in a distant era with war and love. Both long gone and hopefully stayed that way. He replied to her now telling him she was Yakuza, in a flash he saw an expression on her face as if she just realized who he was. He cracked a goof grin before patting her hand and saying.

”Calm down Tomoe-chan. No reason to panic with this kindly old man. I was wondering how long you’d take to figure out that I am the Oyabun. You arent in any kind of trouble.” He smiled and held her hand in reassurance. Being with him was dangerous, being thought that he was being kidnaped or some such was very dangerous. He didn’t want her to panic or run off. Even if she really couldn’t at the moment.

[Guest]

In reassurance he held her hand for he is the oyabun thus he is the foster father, she is kobun hence she is the daughter. The oyabun graced her with safety and promised the young yakuza no harm. She never thought that her joke about being a part timer of the yakuza would lead to such revelation and great discovery. Under normal circumstances she would have bowed for him several times but the event itself wasn't normal at all and rather very far from it. She knew that they weren't alone in this bus. They were not being alone and so she acted in a jolly manner as well after being patted on the head.

Hideto-Ojisan the words parted with her lips in a musical tone of joy while holding his arm by both her hands like a child clinging to his parent closing her whole to him, all was a cover for her intended act.

And so in whispers, she would tell him...

Kiyoshino-sama. Please forgive my inability to formally great you but I think we or rather you are being followed by those three guys over there...your commands? following all that with a smile and a giggle implicating all others in the bus that she was just joking with the old man.

[Guest]

Her open tone made him smile , quite the actress she was. Very interesting. That and she was holding onto him with both arms. Her entire body pressing against him, it was rather exhilarating. It had been awhile since a beautiful young lady was hugging up on him so physically. His blood pressure was rising rather quickly.

He replied in his own little whisper that matched hers, it was a more raspy tone however."[/color=green]" Dont worry so much about the formality, you ARE family are you not?"[/color] He didn't even glance towards those three men. Instead he spoke in his hoarse whisper, " Now those young fellows are just my bodyguards I have been avoiding all day. Dont worry, they recognize you for who you are and trust you."

He giggled along with her openly, as if they were two peas in a pod. Two cats joking about the dogs. This young lady was a quite nice person, honorable, intelligent, perceptive to some extent, loyal and had potential. He would keep her close and available for whatever needed doing in the future. He didn't trust her explicitly quite yet, but she was partial family. Not Mako-kun, but a good person overall.

[Guest]

OOC: Pardon for the delay.

IC:

Well, she didn't expect them to be the bodyguards as she didn't expect him to be the oyabun but nonetheless she was elated and her burden was alleviated. Indeed, it was quite the heavy burden as the oyabun was under her watch. She couldn't let harm even come near to him, even if it costed her life. By every means, she wasn't the ordinary woman. Her honor is like the colors of her clothes, monochrome shifted to the extreme. Certainly it is the fuel that lit the fire of her passion, for the codes of yakuza though she wasn't like most the yakuza.

Spoiler:

Soon they would arrived at their destination and the first thing to hail them was the Ginkakuji - the silver pavilion - s a Zen temple along Kyoto's eastern mountains (Higashiyama). In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today's temple, modeling it after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), his grandfather's retirement villa at the base of Kyoto's northern mountains (Kitayama). The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa's death in 1490.

As the retirement villa of an art obsessed shogun, Ginkakuji became a center of contemporary culture, known as the Higashiyama Culture in contrast to the Kitayama Culture of his grandfather's times. Unlike the Kitayama Culture, which remained limited to the aristocratic circles of Kyoto, the Higashiyama Culture had a broad impact on the entire country. The arts developed and refined during the time include the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, noh theater, poetry, garden design and architecture.

But this wasn't -as said before- her attended destination, her main goal was The Philosopher's Path -Tetsugaku no michi- is a pleasant stone path, This path follows a canal which is lined by hundreds of cherry trees. Usually in early April these trees explode with color, making this one of the city's most popular hanami -cherry blossom viewing- spots. The path gets its name due to Nishida Kitaro, one of Japan's most famous philosophers, who was said to practice meditation while walking this route on his daily commute to Kyoto University.

Spoiler:

It wasn't the beginnings of April but was the end of march. Indeed, the sakura didn't fully bloom yet what she wanted him to see was the moment of it's birth, when the flowers started to be full and mature. To her eyes, it was indeed quite the joy to see such moment and hoped that the oyabun would like it too.

[Guest]

He smiled all the way as his bodyguards hid themselves among the crowds and eventually just followed them along at a distance once they were away from most crowds and entered the philosophers path. Before they began the path he kneeled slightly and touched his forehead with his index and middle finger before touching the stone of the first path the same way. He seemed so small and vulnerable like that. He seemed so friendly and yet so weak, then he stood up and even though he was shorter than Tomoe-chan he seemed to be strong and powerful again.

He had ignored the previous sights completely. The retirement home was completely boring to him. In his work, no one retired. No one quit. Not unless you died or were so mangled up and useless to only be a hindrance to the Yakuza. The Family. His unique sign of respect to the philosophers path seemed almost symbolical in nature. As they began to walk it with un-bloomed sakura trees it almost seemed to be nostalgic to himself.

He spoke softly to her,”Speak, Tomoe-chan. Silence on this path may be respectful in its own rights, but so is talking. Its not like i’m living forever young lady!” While his voice was soft, it hard a force behind it. His words were like a command, but his tone was more of a polite suggestion. It was respectful to her, even if she was below him in rank. He respected his people, especially if they deserved it. She had deserved it thus far and so he would remain respectful.

[Guest]

Gomen-nasai, Kiyoshino-sama. After bowing to him, She looked around her memorizing every Sakura tree around here to the finest details possible so that when she come back again would feel the blooming in all of it's beauty. Then after her quick gaze and before her black pearls eyes would meet his again, she took in a deep breath filling her lungs with the warm breeze of late march and the beginning of spring.

"Once I found myself treading the philosopher and my eyes behold those trees in un-bloom of march's end. I remember the beginning of sakurazensen and Hanami soon to come. Oh, too many places to visit and too many sights to see."

She paused a second figuring out that most of the time the conversation circulated mostly about her and since she was given the chance to accompany the oyabun himself, she would ask him to know more.

But enough of me. followed by a small pause, she would continue Please, Kiyoshino-sama tell me about yourself? but she didn't specify of what she wanted to know giving the oyabun the space and liberty to speak about anything of his choosing.

[Csilla Angelis]

{BUMP}

[Sponsored content]