A thick smog blanketed the air, smothering any clean air and drowning the sun behind its dark waves. Despite the sun rays being asphyxiated by the smog, it had been incredibly hot here. Sweat would cling to every man, women and child’s back, causing the clothes to stick against the skin as if hot glue. The stench that danced in the air was that of stale smoke, booze and old blood… but most of the townsfolk who lived in this great town had their noses to held high in the air to smell it. The streets had been carved in thick grey stone, one of the first of its kind….but many more would follow its path any would be able to tell.

Great steel walls had been on every side of the great town, the walls had been tall and rather ominous and it was obvious no beauty could ever grow in this ground. The grass had been a weak shade of green, clearly dying because it was too hot, maybe it was because there was no light here…. But what it was for sure was because Autumn would fall soon, you wouldn’t be able to tell it from the great town that hides behind such walls, but far before the great town, there lays a stream and on the other side of the stream had been a forest. The forest had already been painted ready for Fall, the oranges danced perfectly with the red leaves, and even the dead brown leaves on the ground would kick up and dance with life every now and then.. When there was a strong enough breeze.

A figure would be seen walking through the woods. Walking ever so silently it was as if they hadn’t even been there, walking past a grazing deer who hadn’t even been able to hear the soft pitter patter of foot steps.

In Hatsumina; this great town armored with it’s great metal walls had been the first city in Japan, and had been considered the future. In the future there were no need for samurai.. you had a police force equipped with these new weapons called Rifles.. in the future, there was no honor. The very police force that protected the first city… had been dirty. Given their supplies by a powerful and dangerous man…but in his future, there had been no such things as demons. Hatsumina had no time for such minuscule things of the past, if it’s eyes were always on the past how could it keep it’s present… or protect its future?

So… if there was no such things as demons… if they didn’t belong. A red haired woman stood infront of the gates. Why was one inviting herself in Pitch black eyes would stare at the open gates. They had no guard.. no one to react to the fact the woman had no whites in her eyes… no one to react to the dancing kanji engraved into her skin. The disparity had been at minimum here, right now. The dark eyes would stare to the foreboding city. The creature- no woman could feel the sadness… it was hard to breath… or perhaps it had been the smog, her eyebrow would **** as she would take a step forward.

The woman was adorned in red, with black horns sticking out from her head. Her hands had been placed on her the hilts of her blades, as if she had been shaped this way. She walked with her hands on her blades, she moved with the hilt tightly gripped between her fingers yet her movement seemed quick and graceful, a sadness seemed to however follow after it as if it had been her very shadow.

A demon samurai at that. Two things that never should have step foot in the city of the future.

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Another Figure, an Different Figure, strides through those woods. He leads an horse of snow white hide through them, sighing at the dead and dying trees, at the rustle in the wind. Shining eyes stare out from beneath an wide brimmed, straw hat worn over long, silver hair. He is clad in old Kimono of similar white purity, and his hair flows gently. An sword, rests at his hip- and another, across his back crossed with an bow. Sandalled feet tread through the leaves and soft dirt, and he frowns.

Beauty seems to be dying or dead, in the city of tomorrow, in the land around it, he thinks as he looks on with an sigh, as he walks through the forest. Eyes hidden by the low brim of his hat keep their eyes forwards, as he wonders why the woman he seeks, would have come to such an horrendous, soulless place. It reeks to the Yokai Samurai, reeks of sin, of pain. It stirs his rage, as he ponders what the other clans would make of the world with places such as this, and he sighs.

And soon, he too is standing at the gates with no guards... as he sighs, looking to his horse. "This is no place for animals. Go, my friend." he says softly, as he removes his pack to carry it himself, and slaps the horse on the ass- sending it away as he turns to enter this damned city.

The thick sound of clapping against the hard ground could be heard. Police officers on their horses no doubt. The streets had been covered in people, soft foot steps slowly echoed with the hard clapping. The crowds had all blended into one form, she didn’t care for their faces. The dark orbs had stayed focused to in front of her. A scream, “Demon!” it was an elderly woman.. of course non of the younger generations paid attention. They were too busy with their own lives, shopping, going to work or courting young maidens. The wicked demon wasn’t bothering them, it wasn’t their problem.

The red haired youkai continued her travel through the city, going deeper and deeper into the great village. The buildings had been towering over her, they had been beautifully created. The architecture of the entire village seemed to appear more like a grand castle of the future. Another sadness entered the village not long after her. It was a familiar emotion, and it would be one she could never forget. Her hands gripped her blades tightly and she would quicken her pace.

The red outfit would flutter behind her as she quickly made her way through the village. SH ewas sure no samurai would follow her here, was he here to end her. If she could, the dark orbs would narrow into small slits- alas.. not. However the distinct annoyance could be seen within the dark shimmers of her pupils. “Demon!” another would call to her, this voice had been more strict and younger.

“Demon!” it was mocking now and closer, she would turn to see a young officer no doubt, his rifle hugging his back. A broad smirk on the large soldier, he towered the demoness even with the horns adorned on her forehead, and she was still small to this man. “How did you get your eyes like that?” he would circle her, his eyes obviously scanning her body. “Are you some temple priestess..” his eyes went over the kanji engraved over one side of her body. She bowed her head, as to cover her eyes.. her red bangs curtaining her face.

“Di you not hear me?” he’d bark, “How’d you get your eyes..” “I am a samurai, not priestess.. please step aside.” She spoke calmly. “A samurai?” he laughed, “A demon is more believable then you being a samurai...” she’d look at him through her bangs. “I am not to play with, I should warn you.” She spoke calmly as she felt the darkness start to consume her heart. She has no friends here, no home to go too anywhere- her hands would grip the hilt tightly as her leg would slide behind her, getting in a defensive stance.

“Girl, you don’t even know how to use those toothpicks.” He mocked as his hands went to grab his rifle. “But if you wanna play hardass, I guess I should treat you like a samurai.” He grinned. By this time the streets had cleared up, the people of this village had been use to the dirty officers doing whatever and whoever they pleased without consequence. The minute his hands had rested on his weapon she would run.

A quiet storm sword, fights like a lion’s roar.

The man made a slip, it seemed the tension in the air would make it hard to breathe, as if a person had been deep in the ocean drowning at the darkest depths. Blood would begin to splatter, and then suddenly the officer’s head would roll off his shoulders, the woman’s head bowed low; it would appear she had never even drew her weapon. She would continue walking, she couldn’t afford to waste any time.. Who knew how far behind from her he had been.

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Not Very Far at All- the Strawhat Samurai drawing closer, the hat hiding his face- drawing one kind of suspicion as it deflects another... but he finds it hard to care for the opinions of the strange, pathetic folk looking worriedly to his passage. The young ones who run and scurry with no thought for their honor, their obligations- for the most part.

His lips curl faintly in a smile, as he spots a man wooing a maiden with a poem. A boy, helping an older woman cross the street. Perhaps they are not all ignoble laziness- but still.. he feels uncomfortable, wrong. No one is training, people are in places simply... lazing about. There is a hum, but it is not the steady pulse of the Castle town he knows and loves so well.

It feels wrong- the sun does not shine through the smoke, and the air is heavy. He sighs, as he walks on, blades buckled at hip and at back, eyes scanning about constantly beneath the Brim of his hat. He stops, as he looks to a number of policemen investigating a body- a headless man, severed by expert Iajutsu it would seem to his eyes. A smile, and a chuckle. He knows not the injustices here- but the men who investigate the body have a look, a feel about them. They look like no men of honor.

And more importantly- his Quarry. His friend. His opponent? The Traitor to his clan he hunts- it is her handiwork, has to be- he is certain... and he continues to follow the Trail....

Until she hears sandalled footsteps, wood against the stone floor of this city- so unlike the footfalls of the native inhabitants. It's closing- it's close... but it's not there for her yet.

Her head would hang low as she walked slowly, passing through large crowds and turning almost every corner, the fearful but curious eyes of passerbyers would watch her but only in quick glances before quickly going on their way acting as if she couldn’t hear them whispering about her. She paid no mind to them though, something had caught her attention, her nose would twitch and she would stop. A breeze would kick up and for an instant the sun light had broken through the clouds and rays of its beauty would illuminate the dark place; a beauty hid somewhere deep in this city.

As if she would be able to ignore such a smell, as if he could hide it from her. This city had a dead smell too it, everything cold and hollow... but this scent was one of home, nothing like this alien city where a demoness had no place being in. She would smile softly and breath in the scent before walking again her eyes closed as she listened; she would hear it soon.

The soft footsteps, wooden shoes against the ground.

She would glance behind her a thick crowd would flood throughout the main road as if it had been a river full of koi fish swimming beautifully with the waves. A straw hat? She could hardly contain her giggle as she would turn into an alley way just as she heard a group of heavy footsteps following the wooden shoes, her eyesbrows would raise slightly as she leaned against the wall and she felt something else... she felt powerful.. Why?

The power was surging through her, the sadness the despair… the hopelessness, her lip would quiver as she shut her eyes tight shivering at the power.. she could hardly contain herself her hands trembling as they moved to grip the hilt of her blade as if ready to pull it out at any time.

“Halt!”

The voice would echo powerfully through the crowds. “You with the straw hat!” it would boom again. A large man; well man wouldn’t be correct… he looked like someone put his head on a stone wall. No shirt could ever fit around his broad frame that was atleast three men long, the muscles had been pulsing and the only thing that verified him as a police officer was the symbol hanging on the bottom of his kimono, two rifles to his hips and a blade behind one of them.

“You know how to use that thing?” the police officer would motion to the silver haired man’s weapons. He would smirk as more officers would form from behind him. “Because, we got a report of a strange person… but you hardly look demon!” he laughed.

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