[center][url=https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1419926][color=hotpink][h3][sub][i]~[/i] ❀ [img]https://i.imgur.com/300VcaP.png[/img] ❀ [i]~[/i][/sub][/h3][/color][/url][color=black][u][b]______________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/u][/color][url=https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1419926][color=hotpink][sub][sub][h2][i] N a t s u m i [/i] [color=black]~~~~~~~~ _________[/color][/h2][/sub][/sub][sub][sub][sub][h3][i] E n c h a n t i n g G e i s h a ------------------- ----------- [color=black]___________ ______[/color][/i][/h3][/sub][/sub][/sub][/color][/url] [sub][sub][sub]...and JBRam2002[/sub][/sub][/sub] [color=black][u][b]______________________________________________________________________________________[/b][/u][/color][/center][color=lightgray][indent] The woman turned towards Natsumi and narrowed her eyes. "I would hardly call you my competition," she replied. "I am Kiang Zhen, and I have been bound to serve the Ruby Phoenix Tournament’s Emissary and the church of Abadar. I will not be fighting." Kiang glanced down at the compatriots Natsumi had entered with and shook her head. "I heard how you were allowed into this tournament. Killed an oni, didn't you? Never stopped to ask it why it was there, or tried to find some other solution. No, Oni-Slayer, there was no reason to. Be it known that you will have to do much more than that to garner my favor." Natsumi's face straightened somewhat by the woman's words, eyes dimming with clear remorse. After depositing his utensils to the bowl before him, he set his meal aside to rest upon the railing to show his respect for her offense. [color=hotpink]"I appologize that my reputation precedes me, Ms Zhen,"[/color] he said with a more somber, yet no less cordial, tone, [color=hotpink]"But I must confess that I had nothing to do with any Oni's death. I tried speaking with her, to gain some sort of accord with her, but..."[/color] he trailed off, looking past the woman he spoke to as if to break himself from choking up, [color=hotpink]"She was in such pain, such anger... The team saw her and deemed her a threat, and there was nothing I could do."[/color] He looked back to Kiang, seeming to hold back tears at the memory. [color=hotpink]"She was so powerful, yet so misunderstood."[/color] Kiang studied the man's face for a moment, but her thoughts were veiled for the moment. Finally, she shook her head and turned away. "You mean to tell me that you are declaring that you were not part of the achievement that granted you passage to the Tournament? As an agent of the Emissary, I am bound to tell him of such incongruities." She leaned in closer to Natsumi and smiled, her black teeth glistening. "Falsified entry? Should be enough to ensure you and your group never participate in this or any other Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Or you can admit that you helped slay the Oni, that you watched in glee as the blood bubbled from her throat, and prove yourself a murderer, coward, and liar." Natsumi cocked a brow at the scarlet woman. Not only was that quite the leap, but she seemed quite happy to extort him and his allies. It almost seemed like an invitation, really. A passport to a cruel yet tantalizing game of chance and social maneuvering. And for his first move, he took a risk. [color=hotpink]"But why would you do that to a friend, Kiang?"[/color] he said with honey dripping from his words, bowing over as a subtle flourish of his hand organized arcana into a form of Domination. But to no effect. He hesitated a moment, eyes glancing over to the uniformed men below who began to mobilize in their direction. And then he remembered. [color=hotpink][i]"Oh, fuck..."[/i][/color] He stood straight with a spring in his step, retrieving his bowl with a wave of his hand as he circled the ubralmouthed woman. [color=hotpink]"Especially when you have such an opportunity on your hands!"[/color] he beamed with an almost supernatural confidence and bravado, [color=hotpink]"Why, you might just have Tian Xia's most luxurious enchanter at your beck and call. Someone able to talk their way into any social gathering and ensorcell even the most shrewd people of power. Just think of how much even five days of this service could offer you."[/color] Kiang Zhen crossed her arms and watched as a half dozen monks began to approach. the stairs. "Such an opportunity," she replied with no small amount of sarcasm. "I have no need of your services, nor any desire to interact with you beyond what I must. I am a Kuwa Oni, bound to serve the Emissary. If I were not so bound, I would have killed you already." The monks approached with concern, but Kiang raised her hand to stop them. "This fine gentleman was just leaving," she replied, holding his gaze steady with her own. Please ensure that you do not disturb me again, great Oni-Slayer." Well, that exchange was regrettable. The first new person he met since visiting the island and she was this hostile to him? Sure, he was here because he killed one of her kind, but it could've been his fault. What did he say that was so wrong? And during this spiral of insecurity, he noticed the discerning look in her eye, as if she were staring directly into his mind. And there was a subtle glint of arcana, barely noticeable, behind those fiery red eyes. He smirked a little, having seemingly figured her out, and consciously flooded his mind with overtly confident thoughts. With bowl in hand, he hopped gracefully onto the railing, feet pivoting to a well-balanced position. Turning toward Kiang, he bowed toward her, leg stretching backward to maintain his position, and bowl slowly drifting out of his grip to float beside him. [color=hotpink]"It was certainly a pleasure, Ms. Zhen."[/color] After a farewell flourish of his wrist, he spun upon his toes and started a prance around the shop upon the railing. This until he came upon a familiar face, and dismounted beside the young Risha, twirling in the air before he found gentle footing on the floor beside her. His bowl fell upon his open hand as he leaned back against the railing as if his acrobatics were truly of no effort. [color=hotpink]"How goes it, Risha? Come across any interesting tales so far?"[/color] In his silence that followed, he one again drew in some of his noodles with a slurp loud enough to show his appreciation for the meal.[/indent][/color]