It was a little offensive for Ryozan to refuse, however, he had not totally expected him to shake. Those from the east that he had met didn't quite know the nuances of shaking hands anyway, what a strange culture it was. Alexander pulled his hand back and tousled his own hair, awkwardly playing off the failure of a handshake. Brighton's eyes shifted off to the side shamefully. [color=a36209]"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Ryozan Tanzo."[/color] As his eyes scanned the horizon he noticed the placement of Tanzo's hand and realized that his newfound friend's intentions were not so pure.

It was almost depressing, to learn that a new friend was not so pure of heart. Darn shame too, he had felt something special in this man. 

Mr. Sunshine turned on his heel, showing his back entirely to Tanzo as he walked a couple paces towards his planted sword. Leaning over and sweeping it up, spinning on his heel to brandish the blade playfully in Tanzo's general direction. Drawing a wide smile across his cheeks as he did so, sweeping his wrist back and forth. Cutting the air in front of his own face. [color=a36209]"Well, I've never been cut. Plenty of beatings, but never has a sword tasted my flesh."[/color]

To begin boasting about his many adventures would be an exhaustive task, but to tell at least one tale wouldn't hurt. [color=a36209]"And of stories, I've got plenty. I've been in countless battles, skirmishes, duels, so on and so forth. I could go on for days just telling you what all I've done. But I can at least tell you of this sword and how I got it." [/color]

Intentionally extending his hand so that it caught the same ray of light that shone upon him earlier, demonstrating the glorious luminescence of the blade. [color=a36209]"This weapon was once part of a spear, known as the Unbreakable Spear of Tel Jera'ad. Tel Jera'ad was the man who wielded it, so it was pretty cocky of him to name it after himself."[/color] Recounting the moment  that granted him his greatest weapon, his mind brought him back to a dry morning in a middle eastern bazaar. 

[center](Read as though he's weaving his tale.)[/center]

[i]Just as Brighton arrived in the bazaar, a roving band of bandits lay their swords upon the people. Their leader brandishing a crystalline spear that brought death upon any who dared take up arms against it. Slaying the innocents by the handful, Tel made himself a personal enemy of Mr. Sunshine. 

In what looked like a foolhardy mess, Brighton stood against their leader and issued a challenge personally. With a cacophonous ring of laughter echoing through the emptied center, Brighton stood stoneface at him. Tel, as a gesture of his 'humility' accepted his challenge. Stepping down from his horse and brandishing his spear against him. 

A long battle ensued, even unarmed, Alexander matched his opponent blow for blow. Watching in awe, his men didn't know who to cheer for as the battle egged onwards. The commander slowly losing his will to fight, and Brighton showing no signs of weakness. Ten minutes, twenty minutes, a half hour, an hour. Both parties looked exhausted, the commander heavily bruised and Brighton's clothes torn to shreds. It came down to a single decisive blow. 

With a swift stab to Brighton's throat, the fight looked to be over. Dust was kicked up as Alexander attempted to dodge the attack. A sickening crack echoed through the air, and Tel's men cheered. Thinking that the foolhardy warrior's head had been snapped cleanly off, they were horrified with the sight they beheld when the smoke settled.

The unbreakable spear had been broken. Brighton had delivered a powerful blow to the underside of the spear moments before it reached his neck, snatching the blade cleanly from the end of the spear. With his new blade in hand, he smote the warlord with a single swing and commanded the army to turn and run. 

With fear in their eyes, panic in their veins, and piss in their pants, they ran. Running to the sands, fleeing, never to be seen again.

Brighton went on to turn the spearhead into a sword, and rename it to something much more reasonable. The Crystal Spearhead Saber. [/i]

[center](The Tale ends here.)[/center]

The entire time he recounted this epic tale, Brighton stood with sword aloft and eyes closed. Sunshine trusted Tanzo enough to have the honor of not attacking a man as he spun a tale. [color=a36209]"Well, the story's a little bit fudged. I did change a few details. But only for the sake of improving the storytelling. Y'know?"[/color]