Out of the Woodwork (Ryuzaki/Jude)

[Jude]

"GEEZ! Fine, fine! Whatever!" Jude scoffed at the man, curling his arm around some more expensive-looking possessions, dragging them into a cloth sack, packing it until it was full. Once it was he tied it off and slung it over his shoulder like the man had, then he listened carefully to this "Ryu" as he explained both himself and his plan to get them out safely. Damn, Jude thought, this man meant business... This wasn't a joke, like most of the things he'd been used to. It was almost like he was a pirate again, ready to plunder and pillage and destroy things for fun. That was okay, Jude thought. That's what he wanted out of life. Maybe he'd finally get back into the scene again.

And terrify the bride and her father like that? Absolutely. He wanted in. He needed in.

"Wow. That's a lot to take in, uh, Ryu. But hey, fair game, I'll take your word for it. Not that I have much choice, but it sounds fine to me. I'm all in." Jude walked over towards the false wall that had become a door into a dusty old staircase. How did Ryu know the layout of this place? He wouldn't ask. It didn't matter. He was glad they wouldn't have to deal with guards yet. They might not at all, if they played their cards right.

"Trust, right." Jude tossed off sarcastically. "Well if that's it, then I'm Jude. Been a pirate all my life. Don't know how to use a sword, I can fish with my mouth, and my right foot has six toes."

"Okay, maybe it doesn't. But that's about all for me."

He cracked his neck, moving it across both sides of its axis towards his shoulders, loosening his body. He stretched his limbs out and rested a hand on his hip, sighing greatly. "Far as connections go," he continued, detached, "I guess I ain't got many. But now I have you, I guess, so let's do this thing. Yeah?"

He fixed his red eyes on the man. He hadn't done something this cool before. He was ready."

"You lead, I follow."

[Ryuzaki]

"GEEZ! Fine, fine! Whatever!"

"Unless you are independently wealthy, I think the best thing to be is dependently wealthy. Or, of course, you could just not eat, but I think that would end poorly for you."

"Wow. That's a lot to take in, uh, Ryu. But hey, fair game, I'll take your word for it. Not that I have much choice, but it sounds fine to me. I'm all in."

"You'd better be. I don't fool around when I work. My playtime is killing people in style, and my Friday nights consist of drinking and moping about the girl I'll never see again. Learned that one from a good buddy. He's probably dead now from the gallons he'd drink daily. Well, it happens."

The kid opened up a little, and Ryu shook his head at the strange admission.

"Well if that's it, then I'm Jude. Been a pirate all my life. Don't know how to use a sword, I can fish with my mouth, and my right foot has six toes."

"You'll learn. Thing is, I don't have a spare on me, and you're sure as hell not getting half of Gemini. The alloy may be sharp, but it isn't shatterproof. Actually, wait, there's probably some old swords here, so... Lemme check."

As the 'pirate' kid explained his lack of connections, which Ryu already knew, the assassin nodded absently and rooted through an old cabinet filled with weapons on racks. Axes upon axes and lances upon lances. Were there no swords?

Ah... Wait.

A brief flicker of black caught Ryu's eye. Black did not flicker, nor did it pop out... But there it was again, a purplish-black flicker. It emanated from a sword... Old, and silvery, with a sheen that beckoned.

Ryu grabbed the sword, shoving it in a loop on his belt to examine later. A few more weapons down, there was a long, thin sword. Quite slim and light.

"Here, Jude. Take this. Don't bother fighting with it yet if we get into a jam, but take it. It's light and well made. Iron, of course, but not rusted yet. You're lucky."

The assassin nodded, hoisted his sack, and headed up the stairs, his feet padding almost noiselessly on the stone stairs. Up, up they went, and then they turned around the corners, moving blissfully unseen over to the room. Ryu opened it, looking around quickly, and then opened the glass door, dropping his loot and hooking two grappling hooks on the edge. He didn't drop the ropes to the lawn, but kept them ready and waiting for their return.

"Now. We have to get down to the Father of the Bride. I'll pose as a servant, and you as a guest. Lead me there, and give the excuse of presenting a gift... I'll hand him this."

Ryu took a sheet of parchment from the ornate bureau, scrawling on it with a piece of fine-tipped ochre:

"Be warned: I am Near. I am watching. Your crimes shall not go unpunished... My voice will sound for those who cannot speak up.

I am Death. Death is Near."

Folding the message once, Ryu wrapped it around the finger and then twisted the end, forming a rude package.

"Right. Let's go, Jude. Time to give a gift that will never be forgotten."

[Jude]

"Sounds like a you problem," Jude joked, flashing a playful smile at his new work companion. Friend? Did that term work? He wasn't sure. A few minutes ago, the man had nearly killed Jude, but he sensed some sort of strange, burgeoning friendship between the two. He'd be damned if he was some crapweed pupil or something, but it didn't matter right now. "Drink ain't no problem, but women sure are." Jude cooed as if he had any idea. He'd never been romantically involved, but typically he stayed away from the sappier things life had to offer. But then there was Mel... Whatever, none of it mattered.

They had a job to do.

As Ryu handed him a sword, Jude looked at it disgustedly and held the blade awkwardly, totally unsure of what to do with it. He hinged it on his hip for the time being, silently promising to never use such a heavy, crude-looking weapon. Daggers were fast and light, why couldn't he just do that? He decided that at some point he would show Ryu the benefits of using something smaller and faster... though with less range. Maybe that's why he had lost. He wasn't sure.

"Me, pose as a guest? I'm game." Jude smiled as he followed Ryu silently up the stairs, to the balcony where the man placed his grappling hooks to be used later. It seemed a fair escape; they would sprint back up here when they could and be off like lightning. But... What else was there to this? Were they going to kill someone, or simply deliver the message? Or was the message killing someone? Jude was excited, but sickened as well. He'd never killed anyone... Wounded, maimed, sure, but death? He wasn't experienced. He half hoped today wouldn't be his day, but he couldn't be sure. Looking over Ryu's shoulder as he scribbled, Jude started to think that murder was in his future.

Thankfully, he had no moral opposition to it... But his stomach may not have been as tough as his appearance. The pink-haired boy guessed he would find out before too long.

As the two went back down the stairs and into the main hall, Jude left his sword by the door. If they saw he was armed, especially at a wedding, there would be trouble. The boy fixed his red eyes on Ryu's menacing indigo ones and spoke softly. "Alright, follow my lead. Be sure your cloak hides your weapon or we're ****ed. Fortunately, I'm quite the little actor," Jude finished, a proud grin on his face. He leaned back up, walking into the midst of the room where stood a handful of guests, butlers, and the like, all partaking happily in the festivities and the refreshments as they have been provided.

Jude innocently approached a tall, beautiful woman and spoke with a feigned childish tone. "Excuse me ma'am, do you know where I might find the bride's father? My father, a Count in the service of the Marquess of Caelin himself, offers a gift that must be delivered with great haste. I bring with me my butler, a servant of sorts, to help deliver the prize. Might you help me?"

"Oh, of course, dear! He's right outside on the lawn, near the throne, talking with his daughter. Isn't it exciting? She's about to be--"

But then Jude quickly walked away, pulling Ryu by the wrist with him so as not to arouse any more suspicion. The duo approached the man, who was well dressed and carried an air of intense confidence. He was tall, dark, handsome, yet also brutish looking; his daughter, though, looked delicate and happy. Hah, Jude thought, this night was about to suck for her.

"My dearest sir," Jude began, bowing low, the fake tone still in his voice. "My father, Count Dulcha of Caelin, offers you his best wishes, for both you, your daughter, and also their budding family. May I present to you..."

He offered his hand out to Ryu, his "butler", with a smile.

[Ryuzaki]

"Sounds like a you problem."

Indeed it was. He'd spent but one glorious night with Mila, and now he could hardly focus on anything else. He wanted to chase after her, but something deep inside told him that she wouldn't be found until she wanted to be. Shame... She was addicting.

"Me, pose as a guest? I'm game."

The young one seemed decently versed in the art of trickery. How nice - one area they wouldn't have to start from scratch in.

"Alright, follow my lead. Be sure your cloak hides your weapon or we're ****ed. Fortunately, I'm quite the little actor."

"Don't worry about me - or if you do, don't tell me. I can't afford to be lazy, and neither can you. We cover each other - but the assumption is that we can each cover ourselves. Watch yourself, too... I don't want to lose you before you bear fruit."

The kid walked up to a guest, and his voice changed, effortlessly blending with the tones of the high society. Impressive. A veritable con artist, and with little more than twenty, if that...

"Oh, of course, dear! He's right outside on the lawn, near the throne, talking with his daughter. Isn't it exciting? She's about to be--"

As Jude pulled him away, Ryu whispered one last request.

"Once I start talking, get 'occupied' and drift back towards the house. Make sure you have a clean avenue to escape to the bags. That's the rendezvous point. I will be there. Don't worry - even if I disappear. Don't worry."

Ah, the father of the bride. He matched the description - "tall, dark, handsome," in the words of the bought-out servant.

"My dearest sir, my father, Count Dulcha of Caelin, offers you his best wishes, for both you, your daughter, and also their budding family. May I present to you..."

Oh, look. A cue! Time to act.

Ryu stepped forward, his voice eerie and calm as he held out the 'gift' almost mechanically.

"I bear tidings of great gravity, good sir. The Count says: May this gift bring you the most intense feelings you have ever known. May you look back on all you have done in your lives, and see all of the worth in your actions."

The faces were pleased, happy - they assumed the best. Then the assassin continued.

"The Count hopes that you are cursed beyond belief, that you fail in every respect, and that the cries of the poor and destitute, who you have oppressed and silenced, shall ring in your ears and haunt you forever. The Count hopes that you will die in agony, alone and friendless, and he hopes your souls are damned to eternal rot."

"How dare you?" the man sputtered, as his daughter looked on in obvious horror, speechless.

"I dare because I am not alive," Ryu answered, his voice ringing out loud and clear. "I am no man. I am Death. Death is Near!"

And then? He disappeared.

[Jude]

Jude mumbled something incomprehensible as the man spoke about getting back to the rendezvous point. Seriously, he would what, disappear like a magician? Whatever. Jude was smart-- he knew that no amount of magic could make a person disappear. That was ludicrous.

By and large, he ignored the comment made by Ryu. He didn't need to follow that guy's orders; he could take care of himself just fine. The two of them would wait for the father of the bride to open his little present, then they'd run off together, grab the stuff, and be gone. Looked like no killing needed to be done. That was fine... Intimidation is what Jude was best at anyways. This worked splendidly for him.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Jude's voice was loud; not a shout, but an irritated, loud call pierced the air. One of surprise and distaste. Ryu had literally disappeared.

The guests around Jude immediately started screaming, and the father opened the gift to see the severed finger; immediately, his face went pale. The bride ran off to the side somewhere, screaming something about finding her would-be husband, "he could solve all this mess" or something absurd like that. Jude was lost. With people almost literally swimming around him, and the father almost falling on his ass with surprise at the gift, in addition to not knowing where Ryu had gone, Jude was pissed and confused. Two things he seemed to be a lot.

Someone stopped to grab his shoulders and shake him. "Boy! You've got to get out of here! There's an assassin on the loose!"

"Tch!" Jude pushed the man off of him, heading in a sprint back to the main hall. Whatever, he would stick to the plan. Climb the stairs, head back to the balcony upon which they'd stored the goods, and they'd be off. Hell, he'd leave Ryu if he had to. The minute they found out he was associated with this...

"GUARDS!!!"

f**k me, Jude thought. He looked over, scanning the crowd, to see the father of the bride pointing viciously right at his pink little head. The guards tried to charge him, but there were far too many people running and screaming. Time to make his escape.

Slipping in between screaming partygoers, Jude found the stairs and sprinted up them. He turned around only briefly enough to notice that the guards were still pushing their way through the crowd, trying to make it to the stairs. He had to get moving.

Picking up his speed, Jude took three stairs at a time, made it to the top, then hit the next flight that would take him out to the hall with the balcony they'd used earlier. In no time he found himself there, with no guards at his tail. But they'd be here soon. "DAMN IT, WHERE ARE YOU?!" Jude cried out, looking through angry red eyes around him. He saw nothing. No one.

"Fine!"

Jude threw one of the grapplers off the balcony and onto the ground below, picked up his sack, and slid down it effortlessly. Screw Ryu; he had to get out of here. Damn magicians.

[Ryuzaki]

Damn it! There went the kid, shouting again... He'd warned him, damn it. Warned him. At least it served to be a good catalyst for starting the screaming. But in the commotion, he was bumped by a man, and he stumbled to the side, his concentration fading and his body flickering back into view.

Not good.

"GUARDS!!!"

Time to go... Time to go fast. Ryu sprinted, slamming people aside with his palms as he went towards the side of the house. He'd never make it through the inside. The flailing arms soon thinned, and Ryu was running, running, running. Blissfully alone. He curved around the building, glancing over his shoulder to see a handful still trying to keep up with him. Well, that would pose a bit of an issue when he came back down. But where was the kid?

Oh, another yell.

Ryu chose not to respond, instead jumping through the air, grabbing onto the rope a second after Jude had descended. Shimmying up, he grabbed the other sack, hooked the other grapple, and slid down, tossing the sack aside and then flicking the ropes, sending little pulses up until they popped free.

"Okay, mate, grab the sack and go... I'll hold them off for you for a second. Go! This time, trust me. GO!"

Jude had to take the loot and flee - Ryu didn't have time to escape with it. The guards were closing in, swords drawn, and the assassin smiled grimly. Five on one? Not good odds. If there was ever a time that he needed some pure and simple luck, this was it.

And then he saw Mila's face, smiling at him, shimmering in his view like a mirage. And the assassin did the thing he knew how to do best - fight hard, fast, and viciously... and then get the hell out. He swung both grapples, clearing a space, and backed up. As the guards advanced, he did so again, and the second Jude had enough distance, Ryu dropped them and whipped out Gemini, leaping at the closest swordsman, who raised his weapon to block. The unexpected attack gave Ryu his chance, and he kicked upward, catching the guard under the chin, and then scooped up the grapples and ran like hell.

[Jude]

"Gods, are you kidding me? You just gonna reappear like that and play hero? I don't f**k**g think so!" Jude shouted from down below, having landed softly on the grass beneath, sack in hand. As Ryu climbed back up and handed him the other sack, Jude became more upset. What kind of show was this, anyway? A one man rodeo where Jude was simple baggage? He didn't think so. When Ryu came back down and popped the grapples free, Jude knew he safest bet was to take the loot and haul ass into the forest, get somewhere safe, and wait for the man. But could he really do that?

Jude wasn't a man often guided by his moral compass, but a twinge of duty worked its way into his mind as Ryu drew his weapon, guards approaching. There were five... That was a lot. Jude hadn't ever faced five men before. Moral compass aside, Jude wasn't sure his pride would let him leave. But this loot had to get somewhere safe, right? Right?

"Ugh, damn it!" Jude wheeled around, taking off in a spring towards the forested area behind the house. He leaped over branches and clearings, ducked under low branches and hopped over shrubbery as he pushed his way into the forest. He found a small, lit clearing, set the loot down, and covered it with leaves. Huffing heavily, he weighed his options. Part of him said to get out, and the other part of him told him to go back. First off, he had no idea how to begin pawning most of the big stuff... The small stuff, the jewelry, he could do that. But the gold cars, the cutlery? Where does one even go for that, Jude thought.

He pressed his palms against his temples, ruffling his pink hair, and his brow became furrowed as he battled himself on what to do. But he didn't have time for this.

"That bastard had better be happy..." Jude breathed aloud, turning back towards the house. In another dead sprint, he took off the same way he'd come. This place would be no problem to find again, and he figured it was far enough away that the sacks were well hidden.

Once he cleared the forested area and came back into view of the house, the guards immediately saw him, though they were clearly engaged in a fight with Ryu already. Okay, Jude thought, stay calm. You can do this. Ryu can do this. No sweat, right? But he'd never taken a life before. Could he do so now? He figured he'd have to start somewhere.

With zero hesitation and the speed of a charging leopard, Jude ran towards the scuffle. As he was running, he drew in a fluid motion his last throwing life, tossing it off with great speed in the same forward motion he'd used to draw it. It whistled through the air and flew straight, piercing the sky around it, until it found itself firmly lodged in one of the guard's shoulders. He yelped in pain and stood back, away from Ryu, while the others were more occupied.

Following through, Jude leaped into the air and spun his body once, drawing his dagger from its leather sheath on the back of his hip as he did so. When he finished his spin and was almost upon the guard, he angled himself in line with the man's other shoulder, and came down hard, his legs wrapped around the man's waist, and he dug his long dagger into the man's shoulder.

"AGGHH!"

He stumbled back and fell, with Jude on top of him. The man was bringing his sword around, but Jude saw his window of opportunity. He could drag his dagger across the man's throat right this second, killing him instantly, even before the sword got anywhere near Jude.

But he couldn't do it. His red eyes filled with fear as he looked at the man he'd stab.

And instead of feeling a sword, Jude felt the arms of the man grab him around his sides and throw him back with all hell's might, causing him to stumble back and fall, rolling over a few times before he stopped. The man was holding his stabbed arm, the other arm still stuck with his throwing knife. He was breathing heavily. Fortunately, Jude got lucky-- it looked like he'd stabbed the man's sword arm, and swinging his blade was no longer an option.

The pink-haired boy stared at him, eyes wide open, as he lurched near Jude, his teeth gritted in anger. Jude scurried back a bit, still on the ground, trying to push himself up, dagger at the half-ready. Could he do it?

[Ryuzaki]

He just had to make it to the treeline, and then he could meet back up with Jude, who had stashed the bags and was now... Back.

Now it was Ryu's turn to yell.

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

He looked in absolute astonishment as the 'pirate' charged back out, nailed a guard with a knife, and then slammed his dagger into his shoulder, brought the guard to the ground, and then... didn't finish the job. F***. He'd picked up not only an overconfident kid thief, but one who'd never killed.

"Ah, hell. We need to clear out... Scram... Whatever. Get ready to move."

Ryu stared down the guards, raised his sword, and then turned, wheeling upon the downed one like a hyena on a lame animal.

"This is how it's done!"

One swift slash. One slice to the neck. Then it was over, and Ryu returned his attention to the four now moving to surround them. His fingers twitched and one guard leaped back, screaming.

"It's the ghost! The ghost! He has two swords now!"

Sure enough, each hand now held one Gemini Edge, and as all the guards stepped back, Ryu exploited their hesitation, leaping forward and slamming both blades parallel into the torso of one guard. The jagged, vicious spikes tore into flesh, and the man screamed like a small child as they ripped through him. The assassin merely jerked his blades out and turned to the other three.

"Okay, it's your moment to shine... Let's get the hell rid of them and then make ourselves scarce. Take the one who's backing away. He's afraid and easy to kill. I'll neutralize the others."

The two men built their courage, charging Ryu, and the assassin brought both blades up, blocking and then stepping back, blocking again. He began favoring his left side, hoping that the man would pick up on the 'weakness.' He didn't have long to wait. Soon, the right-hand guard swung a particularly strong, two-handed slash, and Ryu dropped his right sword arm down, leaning and letting the blade's momentum turn the wielder's back to the assassin. He stabbed one Gemini Edge through the man's back and then raised his now-empty right arm, blocking a thrust to the side with the iron sword blade concealed on his upper arm. The clang of metal on metal confused the guard, and Ryu leaped forward, attacking with more energy and purpose. They had to get out of here before more guards arrived.

[Jude]

Jude watched, almost in horror, as Ryu finished off the one he had injured so badly. He worked like it was nothing... He killed like it was no big deal, like it was an everyday chore. He worked with such skill and precision, and it would've intimidated Jude...

If it weren't for the fact that he wanted to be the same way. Morals aside, this was not only cool to him, but impressive. He was a proud young man, but even he couldn't put much stock in his ability to turn talk into action, to put his money where his mouth is. If he were asked to kill in any other time or place, he probably couldn't have done it. And maybe he would avoid it if he could, but this seemed different. This was unlike any of his other experiences in that, for once, this could be called life or death. He might die here today if he didn't do exactly as Ryu had instructed him.

The red-eyed boy watched in awe as Ryu literally ripped to shreds another one of the guards. A well-executed execution, a clean kill, and he thought nothing of it. "Wow," Jude breathed, strengthening his grip around the dagger in his hand. As the two guards approached Ryu with weapons drawn, Jude walked calmly over to the dead body and looked at the man's face. He hadn't been the one to kill him, but it almost felt like it had been him. He pulled his throwing knife from the man's shoulder, spun it around his pointed index finger a couple times, and looked at the guard who was now fleeing away slowly, stepping back, stumbling over himself.

"P-Please, don't kill me!" He cried out, declining to draw his weapon on Jude. He looked to be sweating. "I have a-a child! And a wife! A family!"

Jude sighed, continuing to walk towards the man. He didn't have that. He had a shithole dad, a sister in gods-know-where, a dead mom... He didn't have that. He didn't care. He didn't sympathize with the guard. He couldn't, not now. He couldn't afford to. Jude slid the throwing knife between his index, middle, and thumb, as he had before. He raised it high, and took aim in his head.

"PLEASE!"

"Oh, COME ON!" Jude shouted, running towards the man, declining to finish him from afar. Throwing knife still drawn and ready, he charged at the man, who screamed in horror. "I'm a pirate, damn it! We're not soft!"

And with that, he threw the knife with expert precision, and it caught the man in his neck. Immediately his hands flew up to try and stop his bleeding, but it was futile. Jude was on him, clinging to his torso, and brought him to the ground. He yelled loudly, angrily, and brought his dagger forcefully and clumsily across the man's neck. His blood splattered on Jude's face, and his red eyes grew fierce and wild.

As soon as the man's struggling ended, Jude fell off of him and dropped his dagger. Had he really... No, he didn't have have time. The blood still on his face, he turned to Ryu. "Let's get the hell out of here!"

He picked up his dagger and made one last dead sprint towards the treeline.

[Ryuzaki]

"Ah, you're better than most... You force me to work for this kill."

Ryuzaki had no time to waste, and no time to spare. He could not afford to watch Jude as he advanced and killed his mark, and so he did not. He focused on his own challenge.

A quick strike to the side was blocked by the guard, who expertly parried it and then returned his own. Ryu leaped back, letting the weapon swish through empty air. But unlike his counterpart, this guard did not let the momentum open a weakness - he controlled the swing, bending his arms to bring the blade down upon Ryu's next thrust, deflecting it harmlessly away.

The assassin chided himself. The man wouldn't be so hard any other time, but using his skill of concealment and neutralizing the others had begun to tire him. And so he was a bit slower than usual, a bit sloppier. It made him upset. He couldn't wait and dance with this man. He had to end the battle, NOW.

The assassin whipped out a throwing knife and hurled the dagger as hard as he could. The iron weapon swirled once, twice, and then embedded itself into the man's skull. The weapon punctured up to the hilt, and Ryu was splattered with a bit of mysterious fluid from the short-range impact.

There. Done.

The assassin grabbed the dagger, stowing it and then sticking his foot on the impaled guard's body and wrenching the half of Gemini out of the man. His hands moved together, his wrists turned, and the sword, still bloody, fused. He'd clean it later. Grabbing the two grappling hooks, Ryu gave one last look at the home. No guards coming yet... So he dragged the bodies into the shape of a letter "N" and then raced into the treeline with his newfound partner.

"Well, that's one way to start the day... Where'd you stash the loot?"

[Jude]

As he hustled faster than he ever had to the woods where he stashed the goods, Jude didn't look back. He could only assume Ryu had taken care of the rabble that was left, and in no time, without a doubt, the city guard would arrive on mounts, possibly even bringing the guard caravan. There was no sense in butchering the entirety of the guard patrol; they'd earn an even higher bounty, and they probably couldn't win.

While he was running, Jude tried to block out the thoughts of his first kill. It was the first time he had ever laid his hands on a man to actually kill him, and he had done just that. He hadn't hesitated, he hadn't thought twice... He had merely done what he thought was his present duty. Strangely, it didn't weigh on him. Jude figured that at some point or another, he would take a life... It was part of being a pirate. But the strange thing was, which he considered as he entered the treeline, he had almost enjoyed it. It was half sickening, half exciting. He had sliced the neck of a guard open, and was fiercely passionate about doing so. Did this mean he was a bad person?

Jude came to a halt, realizing Ryu was close behind him in no time. He stopped just short of the underbrush where he'd hidden the sacks earlier before coming back on the scene. Huffing, Jude just nodded and brushed away the leaves that were hiding their loot. They hadn't been touched, thankfully. Jude grabbed his sack and tossed it over his shoulder, finally giving himself a moment to breathe and collect himself after literally murdering someone. He sheathed his dagger and wiped some beads of sweat from his pink hair.

"Here, grab your bag," Jude said lifelessly, turning towards what he expected would be the path back to town. "What now?"

He didn't want to talk about his first kill. Not yet. He wasn't sure he understood what he had just done.

"Do you think the guards will give chase? We left a lot of people alive who could descriptions of us..."

[Ryuzaki]

The two disappeared into the trees, weaving and dodging until they finally arrived at the goods. Everything safe and sound. That was good. Very good. All in all, this had been a splendid success!

"What now? Now, we go home. We have to get out of the proximity. Pink hair doesn't blend well. But thankfully, we only killed a few guards, and stole a meaningless fraction of his wealth, so it shouldn't be too much of a bounty, or too long-lasting. I'll have to be careful about using Near for a little bit.

Home is Santaruz, so we've got a bit of a trek. We'll move as fast as you're able, lay low at home for a bit and get a sense of how much buzz we have... And we'll train. I'll get you good as anyone could hope to be, Jude. Sword, dagger, whatever. I don't care what you use, as long as you know how to use them all. Keeps you out of a jam, and that's what's crucial.

Hold for a second. Let me clean my weapons before the blood dries and gets all over. You'd better do the same."

The assassin drew and split Gemini, taking out a cloth and beginning to buff the blood off. The cloth itself, already stained dark in many places, was ragged and worn, and the assassin rubbed without even looking, staring at his companion, who seemed... Out of it. Dull. The fire had gone out of his eyes, and he seemed in some way older and less full of fearlessness than before.

"Jude.

Look at me, kid. What the hell is wrong with you? You look as if you have seen a ghost, and you're... trembling a little. What's going on?"

The thought of a first kill was nowhere near to the assassin's mind; by this point, he'd become almost totally impervious to the feelings the young thief was now feeling.

What could it be? Pure fear? The collapse of his bravado? What had set him off?

The answer was so near, but so far away...

[Jude]

"Right... Home." Jude said detachedly, wondering what exactly home meant for him. He took a cloth out of his own pocket, some crude and worn thing that he had primarily carried to wipe stuff down. But it was rare he'd ever needed to clean a weapon of the blood that stained it. He sighed heavily, spitting on his blade, then used the cloth to the best of his ability to get rid of the blood. Sooner the blood was gone, the sooner he could forget about it and move on.

Pink hair stood out. Whatever. f**k this guy, Jude thought. He didn't ask for it! Most of his family had pink hair. He glared at Ryu, but realized it wasn't meant to be an attack. He was always quick to anger; perhaps, Jude thought, he should work out that. Nah, maybe not. It didn't matter.

He looked back at Ryu, having finished cleaning his short, now shiny, blade. "Train me, oh yeah? Sounds all well and good, but I can hold my own just fine, thanks." He lied, looking away from the man and back down to his cloth, sheathing the blade back behind his hip. He tossed the cloth aside, deciding he didn't need it anymore. "Anyways... Let's--"

But then the assassin stopped him, looking over him quizzically as he pointed out Jude's current lifelessness. In an instant the fire was back, the angry snarl came out of his voice and ripped across his lips. "Wrong with me? Nothing! I'm fine, just drop it!" He snapped at the man. Jude folded his arms and looked back towards the direction they had come. No guards yet-- that was good. Maybe they would be safe. Caelin wouldn't be, and maybe not Laus, but Santaruz... if they laid low for a while to recuperate, Ryu might be right, they might be okay.

The boy sighed, rolled his eyes, and looked up towards the sky, displeased with himself for coming clean about this. "Look, I've never killed anybody before, alright? So get off my back. I just... need a minute." He scratched the back of his neck, trying not to deal with the thoughts whirling around in his head. In truth, he would be okay-- he didn't think it was a huge deal, and he was sure he'd have to kill more in his time, but having been his first one was really throwing him off.

"No big deal. I'm alright." Jude looked back at Ryu, cleared his throat, and refit his normal, half-angry glare to his red eyes. "Let's get outta here."

[Ryuzaki]

Much too quickly, the thief responded, flying to the defensive faster than Ryu under pressure. What sort of a nerve had he struck upon?

And then he snapped out hi response, which made matters no better.

"..." Ryu stayed silent, waiting... And then it came out.

"Oh. I see... I do apologize. I forgot all about that issue... It's been... A long time since I was in your shoes. The best way to combat it? The best way to come to terms? I cannot tell you that. That lies in your own mind. You must fight that battle alone. But here. This will help, for the short term - and so will training. Take it and enjoy. You've earned it."

Ryu threw the kid a small wineskin. Inside was fine, fine whiskey - he'd stolen it long ago from an upscale bar. He had saved it, only sipping in moments of true need - but this was true need for Jude. The young pirate - for Ryu felt him worthy of the title now, given his recent transition - needed the pick-me-up, and it would soothe his nerves and help him to relax.

"Let me tell you a story to ease the long walk... Perhaps we can trade stories.

Once upon a time, there was a young man. His name was Ryu, and he was filled with hope and purpose. He sought to destroy the rule of the rich, to equalize the world, to allow all an equal opportunity to achieve wealth and greatness.

His road led him to a life of thievery and crime, and when he was embroiled in a conflict that led to the defense of a village from a bandit group he'd defected from, he met a young woman. Her name was Vivian. She brought him to meet her grandfather, who shared his story of a similar aim. The man left, full of courage and hope once more.

But the road was hard, and the fates unkind. He was robbing a church when he met a man who was named Gus. Gus was a true friend, a brother in all but blood, and together they formed a powerful partnership. This attracted two women - One named Myscha and one named Burgid. The four of them became the Sanguinem Symbolem. Their rise was short and their fall unspectacular. Gus disappeared. Myscha turned away. Burgid too faded into the shadows. All but Myscha the man felt were dead.

Myscha popped up once more - but he could not confront her. That was much later. Instead, the man took up residence in Lycia, in Santaruz. He fought and stole and became strong. He even went to the City of Heroes, though he fled once his brother Rogus disappeared - presumably dead.

And then he returned to Lycia. He fought yet more, and then he met Myscha. Now he seeks to find out why she deserted their group - and he seeks to gain others for his own. To form a strong and mighty alliance. To be a group that inspires action and instills fear. He has found one. This one is called Jude."

Ryu looked up at the young man. He had not stopped to look at him until now, and his eyes were strange - old, it seemed, and sad.

[Jude]

"Don't apologize. I'm not weak." Jude shot back at the man, his eyes dark and serious, full of what might've been seen as hate, but was more accurately resilience. He sighed heavily, thinking about what he had done. Was it really such a big deal, after all? People died every day, and at hands more vicious than his own... If it was the man's life or his own, Jude would always choose his own... Maybe that was just part of life, he thought. To choose yourself over someone else in a life-or-death moment. If that was the case, he had no qualms with his choice. Not everyone got to live a comfortable life, and for those that didn't, maybe this was their fate. His fate.

Then Ryu threw him the bottle, and he offered a snark chuckle. Alcohol... Naturally. He opened it and sniffed inside-- the amber liquid smelled like aged wood and honey, and when he took a sip, he realized that wood was the dominant flavor. "Ugh," he said, a disgusted look curling across his lip as he looked back to Ryu. "This tastes like complete sh*t. Liquified wood? What even is this?"

He promptly finished the entire flask, and tossed it back to Ryu, wiping his mouth, and gave the man a nod. "...Thanks." he offered genuinely, the quietness in his voice ringing softly around them.

As the two walked, Jude didn't look at Ryu, but listened intently to his story, wondering how the man had come to be. Of course, since this was his own story, any part of it could have been fabricated, but even as reluctant as Jude was to trust anyone, this seemed authentic... No part of his tale sounded fraudulent. Before long, the two stepped out into a clearing, at the edge of the forest, where a town-- though Jude was not sure which-- could be made out in the distance. The night was falling now, the sky beginning to turn a deep blue hue. Jude took a seat on the ground outside the clearing, at the edge, and leaned against the trunk of a tree. His face was heavy with the weight of his actions, and he sighed as he took in Ryu's words, his normally-functioning defensive wall now down because of his weariness.

"Noble goals," he said almost sarcastically. "You think you can equalize a world this ruined? Really? With me?" Jude turned away, almost laughing. His eyes were broken, but his smile was genuine. "Action and fear, huh..." His voice trailed off.

"If I'm your 'one', and you want to keep fighting this... this whatever it is, fine. I'll play along. But I..." He looked down at his feet. "I don't know what causes in the world are left to fight for that can be won. I just... I'm looking for someone, and that's really all that's kept me going. And maybe that's not enough, but I... don't know what is. Maybe it's this. Maybe this is what I'm supposed to be doing. All this talk of piracy and pillaging... After a while, it gets old. I want to do something real, something worthwhile."

Jude sighed again. He was never this forthright with his feelings, ever. Not even with Bee or Mel. "I want to make evil people pay. But I'm not a godsdamned do-gooder. I'm no hero. I'm just a... I don't know. I'm tired of being complacent. Let's do something."