Tatsu: Well that's much different than what you were wearing earlier.
Hikari: It's nice to know that what I'm wearing has to be the basis of conversation.
Tatsu: (Giving Hikari and glance and smiles, handing her the juice.) Well, you sure are a pleasant lady.
Hikari: (Grabbing the juice and taking a big gulp of it.) You have no idea...
Tatsu: (Sitting down opposite of her.) Where are you from anyway?
Hikari: (An odd look upon her face.) You're gonna think this is odd, but I'm not entirely sure...
Tatsu: (Smiling at her.) No I don't think it's odd. I own a tavern. And at this tavern many people come through, looking for answers,
Hikari looks at him, slightly intrigued by what he just said, not sure what to say herself. Should she ask questions? Seek out her answers through this bartender? She reaches her hand up to her neck, touching her necklace, still unsure what to say. She drifts off again, lost in thought, but not completly sure what she's thinking. Could he know some answers? Perhaps where this necklace came from? Or what had happened to her family? All she knew was that she was raised in an orphanage from the time she was 14 till about a year ago, when she had turned 18 and recieved a sort of life insurance fund from her parents, of whom she had assumed was dead. So many questions, but not a single idea where to start. Finally she returns back to reality, back to the tavern, where she was brought, led here unkowningly. She looks at Tatsu, into those mysterious eye, feeling as if he could help her with anything.
Hikari: I have some questions of my own. I was led here, I don't know how or why, but I ended up at this tavern last night. I had never been here prior, nor heard of this place. But yet I still came, maybe because I'm seeing answers. Answers to my past... present... futures. I have no memory of much of anything. (She pauses, looking at him to see if he's following her. He nods to go on, so she continues.) I was brought up in an orphanage. I had been there since age 14, with no memory or recollection of anything, not my faimly, friends, whereabouts, nothing. For the past 6 months I've been searching for answers I'm not even sure I'll fine, and then I was brought here... (She drifts off again, not sure what else to say. Should she tell him about the necklace? Or should she keep it secret, so not to hurt herself?)
Tatsu places his hand over her right, which lay on the table clutched in a tiny fist, while her other still rests at her throat. Noticing his hand on hers, she looks up at him. Still unsure what to say, she smiles at him. Why had he made her feel so comfortable, so open for this sort of conversation? She never got like this, definitely not with a man, and not one as dangerous looking as he was. He hadn't said much to her to make her believe he was a good guy, or even one she could trust. Why was she opening up to him? Then she decided it was a good idea to back off. How could she know she could trust him? He hadn't made her believe he was trustworthy.
She closes her eyes at just that moment, letting all her thoughts mix together. Looking down at her glass of juice she wondered if she was right. Did he have the answers she had been looking for? If so, would he help her on her journey? Shaking her head, she pulls her hand out from under his, picking up her glass and swigging the rest of the juice. She stands, nodding her head in his direction, and exits to the second floor, her room.
When she finally reaches her room she throws herself on her bed in a quiet fit of tears. All that talk of her in the orphanage, with no family, no memories, all came crashing down on her at that moment. She could do nothing but think of all her troubles and losses. She had no one. Just a cat, and a close friend. And finally, at that thought of the close friend, she perked up. Sitting straight up she lets out a little sigh.
Hikari: (She mumbles softly) Toradoshi...
Quickly she gets up, moving over to the desk at the far left of the room. Sitting down, she takes out a piece of parchment and a quill, swifty writing a letter to her dear friend. Every so often, pausing, she looks up seeing Akira, pets him a bit, and then returns to her writing. After she finishes, she reads it aloud.
Hikari: Dear Toradoshi, Hey. How're things with you? My journey seems to be at a halt. I'm not sure how much further I can go. I need you here with me. I'm staying at a tavern far up in the north called "Murasaki Natsu". You shouldn't have too much of a hard time finding it. But I'll see what I can do with finding a map or getting directions for you, although tI warn you, it's pretty deserted. I was just brought here yesturday. The bartender seems to fancy me. Or I fancy him, I'm not quite sure. I think he could be of some use to me, but I'm not sure if I can trust him or not. I already blurted out the majority of my problems, and that's not like me. I had to stop myself before I went to far. I don't know who to trust and who not to. All I know is I can trust you, and I need your help. So please get your butt here! With Love, Hikari
Letting out a sigh, she seems quite pleased with her letter. She searches her small bag for an envelope. Finding one, she lets out a little squeal of joy The sooner the letter got mailed out, the sooner Toradoshi would come to her rescue. That was always like her. She always took care of Hikari. They met in the orphanage, had shared a room, and Toradoshi had always helped her stay together, even after Toradoshi left the orphanage. She was always there for her, visiting everyday, to make sure she was alright.
Rushing downstairs, after sealing the letter in the envelope and marking it's destination, she heads of toward Tatsu.
Hikari: I need this mailed out immediately. (She slaps the envelope down on the counter.)
Tatsu: (Looking at her, he smiles, taking the envelope.) I'll do the best I can. Mail won't go out or come back in till tomorrow. (He walks around the bar, to a small box, and slips the envelope inside.) It'll go out with the rest.
Hikari smiles and lets out a little chuckle. Looking at him, she thanks him with her eyes and orders something to eat. She wasn't quite sure what she wanted, or what was good to eat here, so she told him to bring her whatever he thought would be best. Wandering over to a table in the bar area, she sits down, smiling to herself.
About a half hour later Tatsu comes over toward her carrying two plates.
Tatsu: I was pretty hungry myself, and this place will be pretty dead all day. Mind if I join ya? (Setting her plate in front of her and his plate across from her, he takes a seat, then realizes they have nothing to drink so he stands back up.) What would you like to drink?
Hikari: (Looking down at her food, she ponders what to drink, not even sure what he brought her.) Um... red wine sounds good.
Tatsu: Red wine it is.
And off he was to the bar, leaving her with a smile on her face. Coming back, he sets two empty glasses on the table, along with an ice bucket and the bottle of red wine. Sitting down across from her, he begins to pour some in each glass, handing her glass to her, then pouring his own. He watches as she sips her wine, and then gracefully she picks up her fork and plopping a nice big chunk of meat into her mouth.
She hadn't eaten for a few days, as you could tell by watching her eat. But that didn't bother Tatsu. A girl with a healthy appetite was a good thing. She wasn't ashamed of the way she was shoveling the food into her mouth almost as fast as she could get the food on the fork. She still wasn't sure what it was, but it sure did taste good. As far as she could tell it was a steak, but there were other things on the plate that she was shoving into her mouth that she wasn't quite sure what it was. Gulping the rest of her wine after she had finished her meal she looks over at him. He still hadn't finished eating, but he was close behind her.
Hikari: What was that I just ate? (She smiles, wiping off her mouth with her napkin.)
Tatsu: (Letting out a muffled chuckle as he finishes his last bite.) You mean devoured? It was a prime rib steak, medium well, pasta and cheese sauce with vegetables, broccoli, onions, carrots, good shit, huh?
Hikari: (She smiles at him, blushing slightly. She hadn't realized how she had been eating, but was amused that he had been paying attention and didn't seem too bothered by it.) Well it was quite good. I haven't eaten in a while. I've been on the road a lot, in the country-like area, and there aren't many places to get food.
Tatsu: How long will you be staying here?
Hikari: As long as I can afford to. Then I'm off on the road again.
Tatsu: Well, even if you can't afford to, you can stay here.
Hikari: I couldn't do that.
Tatsu: Why not? If I'm allowing it, you can. I am the owner. You don't seem to be any threat to me. I'd like to help you out.
Hikari: (Blushing, she looks at him.) You do?
Tatsu: Sure. What kind of guy would I be to send a pretty lady like you out on the streets, especially one that's in need of assistance?
She laughs softly, looking at him. Should she accept his offer? As she sat there thinking about it she came to the conclusion that she'd wait and see what happened with Toradoshi. She still was unsure of whether she could trust this guy or not. Although he did seem like a very nice, down to earth sort of guy, but anyone that was after her could have easily pulled it off, and she was eating it right out of his hand.
Looking around the bar, she notices the bright afternoon sun gleaming in the windows of the tavern. She gets the feel for some adventure and looks at Tatsu. Should she include him? Maybe he could show her some sights. Then she thought to herself, well he is the bartender; he probably has some work to do. So she stood up, grabbing her plate and heading to a dishpan that was set on the bar. Placing it in the dishpan, she looks back at Tatsu. He had been watching her every move.
Hikari: I think I'll go wander around outsuide. I should be here a while and I want to be familiar with my surroundings.
Tatsu: (Smiling at her.) Well, I can already tell you it's beautiful. You should enjoy what you see. But don't stray to far off into the woods. I'd like you to come back in one piece, and with all the hunters out there, you're liable to get hunted yourself.
She nods, accepting his advice. She leaves him a smile and a twirl of her hair, heading upstairs to change into something a little more comfortable for exploring. She always enjoyed the outdoors. It was the only place she could go, living at the orphanage, where she could be alone and free. She would sit in the woods and write stories, or just play games with Toradoshi. At the thought of those fond memories Hikari smiles, reminiscing on old thought that had all once been forgotten. She was thankful for the bit of memories she did have remaining. She wasn't sure how long they would last because of this odd necklace, which had seemed to change her life in many different ways. She wasn't sure what the deal was with the necklace, but she hoped to find out... soon...
