She strode toward them, black trench billowing behind in the winds of the coming storm, black, wide-brimmed hat over her midnight blue eyes.
"Is it too much to ask, just for one night...." She extended her arms, blades making a hissing sound as they shot out from her sleeves. ".... not to have to take this damned trench to the cleaners?"
The three men drew their own weapons- scythe on chains, katana, naginata- and made ready for her assault, which came like the lightning that struck the sky, swift, clean, and furious. She was a whirlwind of steel, blocking with one blade and striking with the other, slicing the naginata in half before slicing the wielder's face in the same fashion, blood spraying her as she veered off to the side to block the katana aiming for her head. Pushing the man off of her, she came across his neck with both blades, severing his head cleanly, sending it flying into his comrade's oncoming attack. She raised her eyebrow, impressed with the way the man swung his scythe to split the head in two with no emotion, no regard to the loss of his partner, clearing the way for the chain to wrap around one of her blades.
The man growled, jerking back on the chain, his turn to be impressed as she stood her ground, arm like stone as she tugged on the chain slightly, then with one great heave pulling him forward and onto the ground beneath her feet. She drove the blade still wrapped in the chain through his back, ripping open the jugular with her other and cleaning the blade on his shirt.
"Amateurs." Yanking the blade from the man's back, she flung it out to cast off the blood and gore, cleaned it on his shirt, then extended her arms so both could retract within her sleeves.
Continuing along the walkway, she entered a noisy tavern, people barely looking up to take notice as she made her way to the back table to sit with a man, shoulder-length, raven hair tied back in a ponytail.
"Smells like you had fun," he said, taking a drought from his mug, mahogany eyes twinkling.
"Why I always wear black- can't see the red, only the wet," she replied, taking up the ceramic pitcher and sniffing it, shaking her head. "They serve your kind here?"
"Me and the family are- old friends." He raised his mug to the bartender, who nodded with a smile. "And is that any way to speak to one who left you such worthy gifts?"
She looked up at him eyes narrowing. "You knew they were there?"
"Mmmm hmmm." He grinned, pouring another draught of red liquid into his mug.
"You realize I just got this thing back from the cleaners?" she snarled, tugging at the collar of her trench.
"Yep."
"You do know Sanji's a crook and will charge me double this time?"
"But, did you or did you not have fun?" He leaned into her, grin spreading across his face, canines gleaming.
She glared at him, at the smirk playing about his lips. "Eff you Yosh."
"Love you, too, Val."
Copyright ©2009-2010 Spiritwind Studios Ltd.
Photography by
Jun Tuazon
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