Ionian Nights- Part 5
###Part 5
Sixteen hours since champion meeting in the Chamber of the Council...
Utsusemimaru yawned softly, wiping his eyes just outside of the small fishing village. In addition to making the trek to Osimaka, the entire group composed of himself, Shen, Akali and Kennen had spent a good few hours asking around about Yasuo's whereabouts. Most of the information that had been given related to the ronin defending the village from a group of bandits, making him a village hero despite the dishonorable past that stuck to his name like a horrid stench.
On the positive side, however, the group was able to find a key fact that would help them: Every night, around nine or ten in the evening, Yasuo would go to the "Kappa's Tail" bar and enjoy some alcohol. Asides from that, not much was known about him in the village. He did some odd jobs around town, he'd step up if the village was ever in danger but besides that Yasuo only kept to himself.
Shen was the one who took the lead on this mission without anyone's complaint. As Shen did have the most experience and the loyalty of both Akali and Kennen, the Kinkou ninja was fast at work devising a plan. "Yasuo does not recognize you, Utsusemimaru, so you won't need to disguise yourself. The three of us will require disguises though," Shen said to Akali and Utsusemimaru. Kennen had left to perform a quick scouting of the Kappa's Tail, getting a layout of the bar.
"Are you sure we need to go to these lengths? Yasuo's a hero to these people, I don't think he'd go and put them in danger, right?" Utsusemimaru said, questioning Shen's plan. Shen gave the young monk a slight glare, shaking his head.
Akali stepped forward, placing a hand on Utsusemimaru's shoulder. "Yasuo's a danger and I doubt he would EVER be willing to talk so freely with us, even with non-combat intentions." Despite disagreeing with Akali, Utsusemimaru nodded softly. Best not to aggravate the Kinkou, especially if he was working with them.
As they spoke, the air around them felt different. The only way to truly describe it was the faintest smell of ozone, as if one was flying high in the clouds or there was a storm coming. All three turned, seeing Kennen perched upon the branch in his trademark violet suit. The speedy little yordle hopped from branch to branch before landing on the ground, drawing his shuriken and etching in the dirt.
"Right, ok, so here is the layout of the bar," the yordle began, speaking a tad quickly for the group to comprehend fully. "Small place so not many places to hide, as you can see!" With that, Kennen took his shuriken and began to draw small X's on the map. One he placed by the dirt-patch that served as the bar's entrance. Another he placed in the upper-left corner and yet another placed by something that looked to be a window. Finally, at the "counter", Kennen made a final X as well as a capital Y right next to each other.
"Shen goes here, blocking the door so Yasuo can't escape if things turn sour," Kennen spoke as he pointed at the X by the door. "Next, Akali goes here so she's within range to jump on him if he tries any funny business," Kennen pointed at the upper left X. "I'll be by the window, ready to zap him if he tries to jump out the window," Kennen tapped the X by the makeshift window. "And finally, Utsusemimaru will be right next to him...try not to get killed, by the way," Kennen concluded, tapping the finally X that sat adjacent to the Y.
Everyone paused, looking at each other before Shen spoke: "Repeat that, Kennen. You are speaking WAY too fast." Kennen rolled his eyes so fast it almost made a ring around his face. Again he outlaid the plan, this time speaking almost childishly slow so everyone could understand his speech. It did the trick, however, everyone clear with their roles. "Utsusemimaru, we'll need you to go into town and buy some clothing for us. Aim for things that mask our visible features, ok?"
The monk nodded softly, drumming through the group's coin purse to fetch some gold pieces. Each group (sans the Karma and Soraka duo) had been given a small purse of coins to pay for any expenses relative to the missions each group had been given. "Take your time, by the way. Yasuo doesn't show up at the bar until it's late so there's no point in rushing there," Akali added, Utsusemimaru counting out all the coins he'd need to purchase disguises for the Kinkou.
"I'll be back shortly, everyone. Just try to keep a low profile until then. Hopefully noone has spread word that the Kinkou were spotted outside the village asking about Yasuo," Utsusemimaru said before placing the coins in his pocket and heading into the village.
Twenty one hours since champion meeting in the Chamber of the Council...
With the night looming overhead, Utsusemimaru waited opposite of the bar, tapping his foot. Shen, Akali and Kennen (All wearing this disguises) were already in the bar. Utsusemimaru just had to wait until Yasuo arrived for his nightly drink. The young monk tapped his foot, looking up at the glimmering stars of Ionia among the clouds. For a split second it looked like there was something in the clouds but, just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished. Probably one of the beautiful ionian birds tha-
His thoughts paused as Utsusemimaru saw an azure-cloaked figure lazily walk toward the bar. If his outfit wasn't a dead giveaway, the ornate yet holstered blade or the lazily-put-together topknot would serve as further indicators: The Unforgiven had arrived. With relaxed steps, Yasuo pushed open the door to the bar and faded from sight. With Yasuo inside, Utsusemimaru waited a few minutes before trailing after him.
Being the only place that served alcohol in the village, "The Kappa's Tail" was sufficiently filled. Locals spoke amongst each other, ranging from the latest League match to this year's harvest to who's proposing to who. Utsusemimaru passed through the door, looking to his left. Leaning on the doorway keeping to himself was Shen, wearing a vest, slacks and a conical hat to hide his features. Utsusemimaru nodded slightly to him as he passed by, looking left and right.
As planned, Akali and Kennen were both in position. Akali had let her hair flow downward, wearing an elegant dress that made her look far more regal than usual. She brushed a fan in front of her face, covering her lips as she locked eyes with Utsusemimaru. He nodded and checked to the right, seeing Kennen wearing a farmer's outfit with some mahjong tiles on the table next to him. As planned, he was blocking the window exit. Everyone was in place, now it was up to Utsusemimaru to perform his part in this play.
Yasuo sat at the bar, alone, his hand wrapped around a small cup filled with sake. Utsusemimaru took a deep breath before walking over, taking the seat next to him as the bartender approached him. "Right kid, what are you having?" he questioned, Utsusemimaru wracking his brain for some drink that would seem natural as can be.
"Water, please," the monk said, the bartender giving him a confused look before shrugging.
"Who goes to a bar and orders water? 'Ey, Kenpachi, round of sake for my new friend here," Yasuo spoke up, making Utsusemimaru turn and blink in surprise. Yasuo nodded to the lad, raising his cup as the bartender went off to grab some sake. "No need to thank me. First time havin' sake?"
Utsusemimaru coughed a bit and nodded. "Um, yeah. Not much of a drinker sir. Who do I have to thank for-"
Yasuo shook his head, interrupting Utsusemimaru as he spoke. The bartender dropped the cup at Utsusemimaru's place, the monk giving the glass an uneasy look before picking it up and bringing it to his lips. Mere seconds after drinking Utsusemimaru sputtered, covering his mouth with his sleeve as Yasuo gave a small chuckle. "No kidding, you really don't drink do ya'?"
"No, sir, I-"
This time Yasuo beckoned him closer, Utsusemimaru leaning in as the ronin spoke. "You can quit with the act now, kid. I know exactly why you're here," he said, whispering low as the bar seemed to calm down. Utsusemimaru froze, eyes wide as he locked eyes with Yasuo. His mouth opened, trying to make words but everything seemed to be out-of-order.
Yasuo reached over, patting Utsusemimaru's shoulders. "Not your fault kid. For one thing, why is that guy blocking the door. Been here for hours and hasn't gotten one drink. Twin short-swords aren't exactly a common fighting style either," He said, motioning slightly to Shen. Shen didn't notice, looking up from just the brim of his hat.
"Then you got the sexy little number over there, never seen her in the village before. Gotta say, it's kind of an oversight to give her a fan. I've seen those eyes and that hair more than enough times on the fields of justice. ESPECIALLY how she seems just within range for a leaping kick," Utsusemimaru nodded softly. The biggest mistake the entire group had made was assuming Yasuo was the lazy, uncaring ronin he often portrayed himself to be. No, this man was a cold and calculating warrior under that drunkard's guise.
"Biggest giveaway had to be the smell, however. Take a deep breath, what's it smell like?" Yasuo asked. Utsusemimaru did as asked, taking a small breath. It was incredibly hard to sense and even harder to put a finger on but he had caught a wiff of that scent before: Damp, like a storm. "Only three guys I know who make it smell like a typhoon. Shame I don't see Ryze or electric coffin around here," he joked, Yasuo chuckling to himself.
Utsusemimaru sighed, keeping his voice low. "Alright, you got us. I'm here with the Kinkou. Look, we don't want to fight so-"
Yasuo raised an eyebrow, whispering. "Of course you don't, why else would you send some innocent monk to chat me up. After all, I'm not allowed to cut up any of the Kinkou due to League rules. You, on the other hand..." Yasuo warned, flicking his thumb as the faintest glimmer of steel shined in the dim light. Utsusemimaru swallowed all the spit in his throat before Yasuo moved his thumb, re-holstering his blade. "But you got heart, kid, and some incredible balls too. I'll answer one question before I take my leave,"
Utsusemimaru steeled himself, peering right at Yasuo before speaking: "A few days ago the Ionian council was attacked and one of them suspects you had a hand in this. On your honor, Yasuo, answer me if you had a part in this," the monk said. Yasuo gave him a good long stare before laughing, bringing his cup to his lips and downing what remained of the sake.
"On my honor eh? Damn kid, you must not read the news about 'the honorless ronin' that I am. No, my friend, I didn't know a damn thing about the council until you told me. Already got enough problems on my plate, don't need to give them a solid reason to cut my head off," Yasuo placed his cup down, cracking his neck as he pat Utsusemimaru's shoulder.
The monk sighed, nodding at Yasuo. "Thank you for your cooperation, Yasuo."
Yasuo nodded back. "No problem kid. Might want to close your eyes, by the way."
Without even time to ask why, Yasuo bolted from his chair. Fast as the wind he commanded, Yasuo drew his blade in a flash of steel. The winds inside the bar roared as Utsusemimaru placed his head down, the feeling akin to that of being in a typhoon. "HASAGIIIIIII!" was the last thing anyone heard of Yasuo, the ronin sparking what felt like a tornado inside the small bar. It only lasted for a few seconds but, by the time the winds had died down, Yasuo was gone. Shen, Akali and Kennen had all turned, looking for however Yasuo had eluded them before rushing to Utsusemimaru.
There, on the floor, was a circular hole cut in the wooden boards to the cellar. From the pale moonlight shining, it was clear Yasuo had already bolted out from the cellar. "Damn him, we must have waited too long!" Shen said, grimacing at the hole in the floor. "Utsusemimaru, did you at least hear if he had anything to do with the council?"
All six eyes turned to Utsusemimaru as he shook his head. "Yasuo said he didn't and, for what it's worth, I'm liable to believe him. It'd be stupid for him to attack the council, especially with the rumors that surround his criminal status."
Kennen huffed, crossing his tiny arms. "Shouldn't have sat by the window. Master of winds would probably pick up the scent of my tempest at a moment's notice."
Akali, however, spoke as the mediator. "We completed our mission and we should return to the Placidium. Regardless of if he's telling the truth or not, wasting time on our inability to capture Yasuo is not going to solve a damned thing."
With that, all four nodded and left the bar. Kenpachi, that poor bartender, looked at the mess the tornado had caused and rolled his eyes. "Gods damn these champions making such a disaster of my bar!" He hollered. The next day, Kenpachi would write a strongly worded letter to the Ionian council about how Ionian's champions had destroyed his bar and how he demanded money to fix the place.
The letter is still being processed.
End Part 5
