A Lion's Claws

[Ashken]

Wataru rolled his eyes as the boy started singing and guiding the three of them to the scene of his crime. Haru humored the boy by singing and fallowing along. To which Raitaro, only became more exited and sung louder, he was unperturbed by the clouds or the weather, just marching along and hoping people where keeping up.   

Wataru on the other hand was a little concerned about the weather, initially he was going to jump into conclusions and assume it was the kid, but he could not feel the tale tell, tug of Raitaro utilizing his abilities and using him as the battery. 

"So.. That phone, who's is it?"

"It's mine", Wataru responded, "It looks like the weather is getting rough..." he said it a little loudly to see what Raitaro would do. The little one turned around stopping his song while marching backwards. "Fun weather!" turning to a side he pointed at the stream, "Here" 

[Umbraflamma]

As they got to their location, he raised his hands up with Raitaro. "we're here!" he said as he turned to momiji,

"Say, what classes do you all have? I know I graduated last month, but I will likely be around here a bit to help my sensei."

Haru thought for a second before deciding honesty was the best policy. "I'm in the Adept course." he admitted almsot sheepishly. The adept course was for those who were expected to develop advanced abilities early on, it was the toughest track the school offered, and it often drove students to their limits both physically and mentally as well as spiritually. Powers and limits were well established early on, so that they would know their limits well by the time they graduated. Part of their course was even to go on Yokai hunts with members of the Shinsengumi, Shogunate military representatives, imperial army representatives etc. If you were hand picked for the program it was done through a blood test rather than anything else. One needed to test in with A or S rank potential. "Though to be honest even thought i'm not convinced they placed me in the right track i'm gonna swim, no matter what. Sinking just isn't an option... speaking of which." he turned and started undoing his tie as he kicked off his shoes. He turned to Raitaro, "i'm gonna need you to protect my clothes before i go in. There might be clothes thieves around." he said with a small chuckle.

That was when the took his shirt off, small scars and bruises touched it in places, but what was most surprising was how defined his back was. His musculature was actually very well defined, even though with his clothes on he looked somewhat scrawny. He tossed his own phone wallet and keys into a pocket of his blazer. "Momiji can i trust you with these?" he asked as he handed her his pair of sheathed blades, then he turned to raitaro. The only thing left he was wearing were his pants and a necklace of a shiisa. "I want you to show me exactly how and where you threw it as best you can remember." He gave Raitaro a rock about the size shape and weight of a closed flip phone. "Give it a throw for me."

He said as he waited for Raitaro to throw the rock, watching where the rock would make a splash. He would then try to guesstimate where it would have drifted based on the current and how long it had been there. He could actually wade until its deepest point, at which point he would have to swim or dive.

[mermalaide]

She listened to this explanation and thought about it. If he didn't have the potential, he would not have been sorted there. The classes were brutal and she could attest to that. The blood tests that the shrine network gave out where pretty accurate. Scarily so. "I admire your commitment Sato-san. Most people would give up or break, I have traveled down that path, and it is a rough hike." Her glasses slipped down her nose and she pushed them up, ruby lenses catching the light. " You are right that sinking just is not an option." She was proud of this, and thought that her mentor would appreciate Sato much.

"There is no try. Do or do not."

This was a stark statement, but the Shinsengumi were a formidable bunch, at least in her experience. They fought yokai and other things that go bump in the night. When handed the swords, she nodded. "Certainly I can. Shame it was tossed into the stream. The scent is likely removed from it. Maybe a color if it has one, could help us look as Sato-san swims?" Momiji offers to Wataru as they stand there. She holds the swords carefully as she would have her own. They were the extension of the swordsman in her mind. This was the height of respect, and in her mind very trusting for someone that had just met. She got the impression that he was pure hearted and hard working. Though, something was under her nostrils and she could not quite place it. It was like an itch that one could feel on the roof of their mouth, yet not reach with their tongue.

Her eyes searched over him, committing him to memory. All the scars and bruises that had bloomed like malignant flowers. These were the marks of hardship and effort in her mind. She did not stare, simply made note. Her body always had similar marks, though, they were lesser now, mostly through the path of experience, though, the form of some of them were a tad different. She watched him hand Raitaro a phone sized rock to throw, somewhat amused. "Sound logic, Sato-san." She said, quietly and with patience. The inugami within her stirred a little, her gaze would follow the trajectory of the rock.

[Ashken]

Wataru was not trying to overhear in the conversations being had, not that he had much to add, he technically was in the school, though his schedule was modified and adapted so that he could juggle the Yokai and the bookstore, though recently they had gotten pushy about him returning to a somewhat regular schedule now that Raitaro was mature enough not to set off the sprinkler system every time he threw a tantrum. As Haru started to take off his clothing in order to jump into the stream, he noticed the scars and bruises, some fresh, other older, it reminded him of the people he had met in cage fights, this is why this kid was in the Adept track even if he though he didn't belong there. Many slight through life through their powers, yet never truly master them, he could see that he had the dedication to master his skill. 

"I want you to show me exactly how and where you threw it as best you can remember."

Raitaro took the rock, looking at it and then the stream, he walked closer to the edge and tried to think about how it felt, first he had tossed his stick, splash, and lazily drifted down, it made him curious if other things could make a bigger splash. The kid lobbed the rock roughly towards the middle of the stream. "Uhm almost there" 

"Certainly I can. Shame it was tossed into the stream. The scent is likely removed from it. Maybe a color if it has one, could help us look as Sato-san swims?"

"Basic black," he responded knowing it would not be very helpful, "Sparks!" piped up Raitaro, "He's right, there a bunch of little charms attached to it that look like lightning bolts and stars" an addition that Raitaro was very proud in having a hand in their addition to the bland phone. 

"It's honestly fine" Wataru said to Haru, "No need to do this" he appreciated the effort, but he had only checked on him and given him a water bottle he did not feel like he deserved this level of assistance. 

[Umbraflamma]

The blades themselves were somewhat interesting in their design, they weren't exactly lighter, but if she examined it the weapon's balance was superb. They were weapons crafted with one thing in mind, reactivity and alacrity. It was clear the cutting power and durability of the blades were average at best, but changing forms and stances with weapons like this would be surprisingly fluid.

Haru's mind and focus of course had turned to Raitaro as he threw the rock and Haru ran after it. He heard the word sparks before he jumped in, starting from the point of impact he turned with the current dipping inder the water every few feet. The water wasn't very clear but he found himself scooping things up tossing them towards the group as he powered through. It was pretty clear rather than a careful approach or a precision one, he was essentially manually dredging it. On the plus side the stream was man made, the bottom of it concrete so it was unlikely to get buried, however the number of small denomination coins that were gathering in a pile was a bit disconcerting.

His swimming form was effective, he was no championship swimmer but it was clear he had some training. His skin and muscles flexing as he moved he felt them loosening from the shock therapy earlier. and his motions became clearer and clearer.

As he did this the clouds grew darker and darker, and it began to rain. Even so Haru did not slow or stop. much like a focused predator he let nothing distract him.

By the time he leapt out of the water with a triumphant expression the rain had already begun in earnest, it wasn't a downpour yet but it was intensifying. And yet his lifted the thing above his head, a bit grimy, and clearly having seen better days and yet the bolts and sparks weren't ruined, though in need of some careful washing. "GOT IT!" he said his face brightening with excitement as he moved towards the shoreline, only now noticing it was raining. and here he was not only without an umbrella but all his other clothes he had hoped to keep somewhat dry were exposed. he just chuckled with a simple "It is what it is."

[mermalaide]

Momiji played with the balance of the blade a little as she stood there. The charms were eye-catching in the water and it was the only way she and likely Haru had seen it in the moving stream. They rattled in the water, and she was reminded of how humid and cloying the air seemed to be getting. She watched Haru swim, and wished that there was a breeze. She should have joined him, surely. But the sky was turning over. It was the end of summer and there was unpredictable weather. 

She did a bit of a balancing act, watching him and pulled an old umbrella from where her sword was also tied up. It had the old look of a waxed Japanese umbrella, with it's red waxed paper and it's black lacquer body. As he started to climb out, Momiji opened the umbrella. It was like a bucket of water was poured onto it. She tired to keep the swords under the same arm that she had the umbrella in extending her free arm to help him out or at least shield him. 

"Do you have training garb? We could walk to the training rooms to get some dry clothing. The kendo club has a burner and things to make tea, I remember." It was a suggestion. The little boy/yokai(?) Reitaro was definitely having a good time. "As for the phone..maybe rice would be appropriate." Her ruby colored eyes looked over Haru and she bit her lip. Something about him got her blood a bit pumping. She wanted to train, to spar, and to run. To pump her lungs to the limit of burning and the intolerant. 

[Ashken]

Raitaro waited at the edge of the stream quite impatiently, he paced, tapped and fidget and with every glob of Tresure discovered by Haru, he would approach with expectation, it was obvious that the boy wanted to join in, and at least twice did he try is best puppy dog look in hopes to break through the armor of his father figure, but if anything Wataru seem uninterested in the phone hunt and more focused on the quick change of the weather.    

"GOT IT!"

Once Haru exited the stream, Wataru offered his assistance, "You better be hungry" he told Hary, with a tool that said he was not allowed to turn down the food that was about to be offered. Raitaro knelt at the edge of the stream washing each and every coin trying to scrub them clean with his little claws, once he felt that they were all cleaned enough, he tugged on Haru's pants. "Thank you!" he beamed as he offered the handful of coins, work needed to paid for, and this was his way of paying at this time. 

Momiji seem to be the most prepared for the weather, Wataru had a small modern umbrella in his bag that he pulled out, but he knew that the kid would avoid it, "Kiddo your going to get wet" the kid smiled and spun around arms in the air, "I know!"  he practically squealed in excitement, "great!" 

"Do you have training garb? We could walk to the training rooms to get some dry clothing. The kendo club has a burner and things to make tea, I remember."

"That is a plan. We are by the academy" he agreed that getting all of them out of the rain would be good, "I know a place not too far, food, warmth, shelter," giving the exuberant, yet slightly electrocuted youth a side eye, "Plus I have a feeling that if you take him to the academy, he will want to do some training instead of resting." 

At the mention of rice Raitaro scrunched up his nose, "Blah" he stuck his tongue out "Boring." the kind found rice bland, preferring stuff with a bit more kick. Wataro rolled his eyes at the boy and turned to both Haru and Momiji, "Its up to you, " he was currently off work and this would drain the kid and hopefully bring him many hours of peace at the end of the day.

[Umbraflamma]

The rain came down hard, Haru was soaking wet, and shivered a bit. His body reacting to the cold of the water and now the rain. He pushed his water logged bangs out of the way, and grinned, as he turned to Wataru, "Don't mention it! It was good training and it helped with the stiffness. It was mutual." he said with a bright tone to his voice. He then noticed the kid tugging at his pants, haru reached down and patted Raitaro on the head, "You are welcome, but remember these things are important, always ask before checking, if you want to do an experiment, tell wataru-san about it, he might be able to help you get a good test." haru said as he noticed the coins being proffered at him. Among them were an unfamiliar looking coin. "Huh what's this?" Haru asked, holding it up to the others.

While puzzling the coin he turned to Momiji, seeing her trying to balance quite a bit. "Oh you don't need to worry about me, it wouldn't be right if i let a girl get wet in a rainstorm for me." He said a bit of his prideful nature signing. "Well My garb is at the academy..." he admitted. "Not sure if it's really worth it going back there for my clothes especially because well..." his other clothes had been left in the rain, so he would have to walk through the gates and poast his peers mostly disrobed. He wasn't sure what would happen, but he was pretty sure he'd end up getting made fun of. "Not sure what I should do honestly." he said as he reached out to retrieve his swords at least. He felt more naked than he was before momiji, he felt something strange in her gaze even behind the sunglasses he felt a quickening of his heart.

[mermalaide]

She wasn't sure how she felt about the comment about her being a girl. It made her blood run hot. It was a mix of anger and hot embarrassment. She took her glasses off and stared at him. Her garnet colored irises shown in the low light. She spun the umbrella a little and moved it to the side, snapping it shut and embracing the rain. "Is that so Sato-san. Do you find me lacking in strength or stamina? Enough to be counted as fragile."

Her skin was pale and slick. The storm began to roll above their heads and she stared at him pointedly.  

"A fragile flower poisons
Eye catching colors lie
But we were built different."

Her voice was not a whisper but a suggestion. The wind blew her hair, splashing her neck with rain. She looked at his undressed form.  When he denied wanting to go back there, she new and felt the inugami inside her rage, she stuffed it down hard, not wanting to scare the others, but the hair on the back of her neck stood, despite rain. "Tell me, Sato-san, it was the boy who fled wasn't it? Were there others too? I get that it's a man's pride."

She wanted badly to hunt and could smell a little tinge of blood in her nose. Her back straightened. She dig and offered him a dry wad of thick cloth and when he looked down in was a pair of navy colored men's hakuma pants. She must have had them in her bag. They seemed something for training, and they were a good size.  She gave him a look like if he refused she would be most insulted.

When she heard the comment from Raitaro about the rice she turned her head. "The rice is for the phone to dry out. We can alsways have something else. If I must, pperhaps I can call for pizza."

[Ashken]

Nature cared not for the for the mortals bellow as the sky's poured down, Haru who was already wet from his swim on the stream gave him the image of a wet feline, one that had gotten their pray, and much like a powerful feline, beneath the layers of fluff was powerful muscle. It seems that he would not be able to even the scale with him, Haru kept putting his thumb. Wataru was not sure if it was pride or humbleness, but it was annoying. 
 
"Don't mention it! It was good training and it helped with the stiffness. It was mutual."

A defeated sigh, "Okay, you win" he would make sure to make a mental note to repay Haro in due time, but it was clear he would not easily accept a thank you. 

"You are welcome, but remember these things are important, always ask before checking, if you want to do an experiment, tell wataru-san about it, he might be able to help you get a good test."

"Yes, sir......" Raitaro said softly as he pouted, but he remembered Wataru saying something similar in the past, he would try to do better, not that he was trying to do bad, his stick floated. He looked up into the cloudy sky allowing the water to wash over him, smelling the air and trying to not cry, he didn't want to cry in front of Haru and Momijo, only babies cried. The emotion didn't last long between the rain and curiosity he was quickly off that track and into the next one. 

"Huh what's this?" 

"Huh?" Raitaro moved closer, tiptoeing. To get a better look, he cleaned the coins and nicknacks before offering them, but didn't spend time looking at each individual items. 

Wataru gestured for Raitaro to get under the umbrella, as much as the kid liked the rain, the last thing he needed was a sick kid, or a passerby, informing him how he was going to get sick and how terrible he was. It also served as a distraction from the tension forming between Haru and Momiji, he was not ready to answer the questions the boy might ask. The boy shuffled under the umbrella, purposefully splashing on small puddles forming, if he could not in the rain, then he was bringing the rain with himself, his soggy socks, squishing with every step. 

"The rice is for the phone to dry out. We can alsways have something else. If I must, perhaps I can call for pizza."

The kid looked at Momiji, "Pizza?" Wataru had kept the kids diet relatively simple, mostly because he rarely had the extra money to splurge on, unless it was something they already did at the kitchen in the bookstore. "What is Pizza?" the boy's imagination running wild, "Is it like Takoyaki?"

[Umbraflamma]

Haru's mouth dropped open as she closed the umbrella allowing it to pour over her. Not only was it surprising, but as the rain was intensifying the fact that she was wearing a white shirt was well. Haru's face went red as he looked away. "It had nothing to do with your ability or strength, just how i was taught to act. Even a strong or tough lady should be treated like a lady even if she's stronger or tougher than you... and my mom is definitely stronger than my dad... she just likes it when he treats her that way... so uh... i thought girls like it... thats all, at least thats what i was told."

He seemed embarrassed in more ways than one.

"Even the fierce wolf
Enjoys having it's fur brushed
by someone it trusts."

he responded while looking down at the puddles forming on the ground. "He's always got his lackey's likes to have em hold people while he strikes them. something about a leader being propper up by good and loyal subordinates, hoenstly sounds like junk to me but you know... can't argue with the results." he sighed looking down at his hands, "If only my powers would come out..."

"alright, i'll take them but let's get somewhere dry for me to change and uh... private." he said flushing a bit more. After all, he wasn't supposed to show his naked form to anyone except his future wife right? at least that's what his mom said.

He turned to wataru, "why don't you get this appraised it might be worth something, I dont know anyone myself." he admitted.

Thats when she mentioned pizza and he had it once or twice himself, "Its different it's like a baked cheese sandwich you slice up and fold i think. It's from America." he said as he shrugged, "It is tasty."

[mermalaide]

This was something she had not considered, her temper had flared gloriously, and then was put out, either by rain or by what he had said. She remembers something that made the whole situation like a bucket of ice water. The Honda and by it's merit the Fujiwara were very superstitious folk. They prized the looks of women and those women were educated and raised a bit as social currency, as diplomats or for marriage, but usually both. Initially, Momiji stood to walk this path. As a little girl she was what her mother had thought of as a small pearl. Though, by the time the inugami had touched her, those looks changed, if only slightly, and this caused her a loss of status. A grave one. She would not be educated in the things most girls in the family were, if anything, she was barred from it. Not allowed the dancing, tea ceremonies, the bridal training, or the education. While her parents could not change this, she was given other things. A path through martial arts, some home schooling and later high school. The clan had things they could not take. But never once had she been referred to as a lady. If anything, she had been treated as a man, or more fittingly a pariah.

So here she was faced with what he had said, not the insult but rather the idea of herself as a lady. And it almost stilled her very breath. When she found it, haiku sprung to mind and would not let go unless spoken. Her words were soft and quiet, almost as if it was more thought than actual words, but they were clear.

"And what of the Lady that
Has never had such
Or treated as much as one?"

It was a question and a rebuttal in one. She had never, yet she had the classic looks, despite such red irises as a classic hime. It was actually a shame.

Raitaro caught her attention. She craned her pale neck to look. "Pizza is a flat bread that is covered with cheese and tomato. It sometimes has meat. It is very good. My uncle brought it for us once." She could not help but look to him again, see that he averted his gaze somewhat, wondering why. She looked down to see the transparency, and realized that she too needed a change. This would be fine. Upon hearing Haru describe his bully more, the man fell past even slug status in her view.

"A leader, much less a man, a real one does not need his minions to stand tall against someone else. He sounds like a coward. I am offended for you, Sato-san. Even a Gaki is more preferable to this Ciabatta. Wait- Shibata, not Ciabata, that is a bread. Bread is at least useful."

[Ashken]

"He's always got his lackey's likes to have em hold people while he strikes them. something about a leader being propper up by good and loyal subordinates, hoenstly sounds like junk to me but you know... can't argue with the results."

There was some recognition in Wataru's face, he was not sure if they were talking about the same person, but he was almost certain they were talking about him, which explained the lackeys and electrical abilities, if he had the right person in mind, Wataru had crossed path with him when he was first informed that he needed to go to the academy to learn how to master his connection with Raitaro. This would eventually be delayed as the realized that the Yokai he had been contracted too was in many ways a too young to tap into its powers. He firmly remembered this elite student making it clear that as the 'monsters' master, I should ensure it knew its place. Wataru was not happy with his situation, but he refused to treat Raitaro as a monster and a tool, sure he could do better for Raitaro, and there is still much growth for the two of them, but he refused the premise that the only relationship that could exist was one of master and subordinate. 

"If only my powers would come out..."

"Powers don't solve all problems" Wataru said, "I know I don't have to tell you how it takes more strength to have restraint." Something Wataru was working on, he knew he could easily let his emotions take over, but his grandfather insisted in how those with true strength don't need to flaunt it, and how it required much more strength to protect others than to destroy.He stayed away from Haru's and Momiji's interactions, opting to focus on Raitaro who was bouncing on the heel of his feet feeling his wet socks squish with every bounce.  


"why don't you get this appraised it might be worth something, I dont know anyone myself."

Wataru took the coin? "My grandfather might know someone" he mentioned as he carefully stored it in one of the pockets of his bag, even if it was worth nothing, Raitaro might appreciate it as keepsake and reminder of today and his new friends.

Raitaro looked back and forward between the two as they tried to describe pizza to him, somethings he understood, like cheese and tomato, though he was not exactly sure what Haru meant about America, he wondered if it was something else edible, either way, both of them described something that he was looking forward to trying unlike the bland rice. Momiji spoke about leader and bread and other stuff, but Raitaro could only think of one thing, the small grumble on his stomach, "PIIIZZZAAAAAA" he declared in a exaggerated manner, "Fooooodddd" he stopped himself for a moment as he gave a big smile and added "PLEASE!" he attempted his best most powerful technique, to try to melt their hearts with the biggest eyes and brightest smile he could muster. 

[Umbraflamma]

Haru nodded to raitaro, "I dont really want to flaunt em, but I also don't want to be a liability, lots of people have been expecting a lot from me, would be nice to stop letting them down."

When momiji said another haiku haru quirked his head, as if confused. Like the thought had never occured to him,
"Every single man
you met are nothing more than
failures to be men"

He said this with conviction, a look of slight anger on his face. Whatever that was about it wasn't right, and now he would double his efforts. "Okay if I ever awaken to my powers, i'm going to walk up to his face and call him Pan-chan." Haru said giggling a bit at her mistake. his laughter was almost musical fitting to his usually almost serene sounding tenor.

He smiled as Raitaro got excited for pizza. "Yup, i just need somewhere safe to change." Haru admitted. "As my mom said, only my future wife should see me naked." He said this proudly, as if it were some kind of weird virtue. "My house is a bit far from here, I could make it there if you'd like but i don't want to be an inconvenience."

[mermalaide]

"Expectations are heavy
Yet we carry them
We are stronger than most men."

She said this about expectations, hoping to ease him a little. Momiji understood pressure. She really did. When you had abilities, family, friends, teachers, they all pressured you. She had a pact, and that carried it's own baggage, but she could imagine a bloodline. She knew a handful of people, now Haru included in that, that had one.  The idea that all the men she met were failures made her smile a big sharp grin. "Well some of them were women as well. Unfortunately the Honda are a rough lot. My father, Uncle, and Brother seem like the only men to not be so horrible." She felt that in her gut though. Being changed by the pact had open and slammed doors right in her face. But she felt good about it. To be marked freed her, even if they looked down on her. It was a blessing to be unfettered to hunt and train.


"PIIIZZZAAAAAA" Raitaro was wobbling and jumping about which drew her eye. "I suggested it, so Pizza we will have. It's on me, so don't worry." She said this to Wataru, who had all the weariness of any parent when their child has clearly discovered a new thing. "I can order with my phone, so let me know where we are going and I will place an order. They can cook it while we walk." It would be nice to have a hot meal of pizza and dry off in doors. The last training exercise was in the rain and mud, which turned freezing and miserable really quick. The point had been learning to handle these things with environmental hazards.

When she heard the comment about Pan-chan she snickered.  That was more than earned. He would be be lucky if it was only that. It was terrible how the names she often made stuck. But then she learned that from Shinsengumi culture was like that. The military was also like that. She raised her eyebrow again at his comment about changing. But then she was used to communal locker rooms and to an extent baths. "Is that so? Well I will not look, but I think it should be a place close for the changing and pizza. The storm seems like it getting so much worse." 

"We should get going."