Location - A Quiet Place to Study
Numerous piles of tattered books surround Ichiro as he examines
several open volumes layed out before him. Periodically
glancing down and making small additions and adjustments to
information in his notebook as well as a single sheet of paper
laying on the floor next to him, Ichiro absently sips at his
sake.
Taishita slips in from the southern door and nochalantly asks,
"Wow, Ichiro, what're you doin' in this run down place?"
Closing his notebook and setting his pencil off to the side,
Ichiro looks up at Taishita, "You know I enjoy the quiet this
library offers..." Ichiro looks around, "even if it is in a bit
of disrepair. Placing his notebook in his pouch and grabbing
the single sheet of paper, Ichiro says, "Besides, there's still
plenty of information to be found in these books."
"Yeah, I guess the quietness is kinda nice.." Taishita says
softly, then slumps down to the ground, grimicing slightly and
grabbing his ribs...Taishita asks, "So, what're you looking up
here?"
Ichiro slips two fingers under his right bracer and fishes out
a small slip of paper. He tosses the slip to Taishita and
says, "I received this letter just yesterday morning. It says
I should be at the old practice fields in Uchuugakure and that
I should be 'fully prepared for combat.'" Ichiro holds up the
single sheet of paper, "I'm making a shopping list of things I
still need to get before the challenge. I'm not entirely
certain who the challenge is from...but it may be a member of
the Tsurugami clan. By the way...is something wrong with your
ribs?" Ichiro says, pointing out the obvious pain caused to
Taishita by sitting.
Taishita runs his fingers through his hair while leaning his
head back and asks, "You think it's a good idea to just up and
follow the orders?" pauses briefly and says, "I mean, it could
be dangerous, 'specially since you don't know who it is..."
Motioning to his ribs, Taishita says, "This, this is just a
little remnant from our little training match the other
day...", and chuckles, "You're a top notch healer but, my ribs
were busted up pretty bad."
Ichiro nods, "Bones are a little more difficult to
repair...shouldn't be anything more than a bit of bruising at
this point though." Absently finishing his cup of sake and
pouring another, Ichiro offers the cup to Taishita, "This might
help a bit."
Taishita reaches out and takes the cup and then pulls it back
to himself.
Ichiro retrieves a second cup, "Anyway, we've been teammates
long enough that you should know that I've already formed
several plans. I've been trying to research the various
members of the Tsurugami clan. I bumped into Tsurugami Sayono
a week or so back while I was practicing with my katana. We
spoke briefly and she offered me a bit of practice with the
sword, but she left rather abruptly," Ichiro says as he pours
himself more sake. After taking a sip, Ichiro says, "So
there's a chance that she wishes to finish gauging my
abilities. There's also a chance that Tsurugami Shiro is
finally taking an interest after our meeting at the hot
springs."
Taishita takes a small sip from his cup of sake and says,
"Can't be gulpin' it down and choking today." and begins
laughing, throwing an, "Oh - Aah - Auhhg" in every few seconds.
Sighing and trying to brush off his pain, Taishita says,
"Hopefully it's jus' that Sayono girl..." pausing, then saying,
"But, if it is this Shiro fella, you better bring your A-game,"
before taking another sip from his cup.
Ichiro nods, "Do you know anything about Tsurugami Shiro? I've
found a few mentions of him here and there...but whenever I do,
large portions of the proceeding text seem to be missing...even
in books that are otherwise undamaged."
Taishita begins rubbing his chin, seemingly in deep thought.
Removing his hand from his chin, Taishita says, "I heard a
rumor about him, I don't know if it holds any weight but, some
people in town said something about him having like, multiple
personalities, or something..." Taking another sip from his
cup, then realizing, he is out, holding his cup towards Ichiro,
Taishita asks, "Wanna gimme a refill?", with a rosey-cheeked
smile.
Ichiro pours a half cup for Taishita and says, "You're such a
lightweight, Taishi-kun. Be careful what you say about people
like Tsurugami Shiro. Rumours like that can get you in
trouble...besides, he seemed pretty mentally stable the one
time," Ichiro takes a gulp of sake, "that I met him. The only
information I've been able to find on Tsurugami Shiro is that
he began training as a medical-nin at one point."
Taishita takes a drink of his sake and says, "Heh-heh, I
haven't been drinkin' the stuff long, I really shouldn't
be drinkin' it at all, seein' how I'm only 16..." Taishita
continues with, "but, mom and dad are all the way back
in Kirigakure."
Ichiro smiles, "Yeah, but I'll make sure you don't drink too
much and it'll help keep your mind off those ribs for a bit."
Glancing down at his 'shopping list' Ichiro says, "Explosive
tags, kunai, smoke bombs, wire, and a mirror or two...anything
I'm forgetting?"
Taishita mutters, "I'd say you need some soldier pills but,
alas, no one around these parts makes them..."
Shaking his head Ichiro says, "I'll be fine without them.
There's just one part of my plan that I have left to figure
out...I'm not too worried about that though." Folding his list
and sliding it under his left bracer, Ichiro says, "Make sure
you're back in town within the next week so I can let you know,
hopefully, how things turn out. By the way...what're you doing
out here in the first place?"
Taishita nods, saying, "Aah, I just felt like comin' over this
way, see if I could help with anything, those damn Riyoku are
runnin' a muck..."
Ichiro nods several times, "They are indeed quite the menace.
I think they've learned to avoid me now though, they don't give
me any trouble when I head out this way anymore."
Taishita chuckles and says, "I had a hell of a time getting
over here, havin' bum ribs ain't no fun when you're trying to
fight..."
Ichiro finishes the last of the sake in his cup and begins
packing the bottle and cup away, "Rest here a bit if you need
to, I'll try to clear some of them out for you when I head back
to Uchuugakure." Holding out his hand for the note and cup,
Ichiro says, "Well, I should probably get on that shopping so
that it'll be done and I can finish making my preparations."
Taishita hands Ichiro his cup and the note, "That sounds like a
plan, thanks for the sake and thanks for clearin' out those
guys a bit for me."
Ichiro takes the note, slips it under his right bracer, then
puts the cup away in its place.
Taishita waves to Ichiro, lays his head back on a couple books
and drifts into a light sleep.
Ichiro stands, placing his mask upon his face, and departs the
library.