The New West: The Constable's Raw Deal

[TheBlindMime]

You heard of a small town, supposed to be a quite little place, you could hang up your hat and take it easy for a spell. It wasn't far neither; just a hop, skip and a jump... and you were there.

Headed in from the North: As you march a bitter autumn wind blows right into your back chilling you to the bone. Although the wind keeps blowing the smell of cut grass still lingers heavily in the air; there is not a soul to be seen. You'd almost swear there was an echo as the sound of another breeze caught your ear. There was nothing to see here, the crops had been gathered and the gatherer's seemed intent on leaving no trace they were ever here, save for a few property line fences that were getting rather close to being nothing more then timber strewn carelessly through fields. As you cross over a final hillside and the town comes into full view it is obviously of poorer quality then you had hoped. You can't make out what buildings are what yet but from even the distance you can make out the figure of a man standing at the town’s entrance with a wooden sword.

Headed in from the Southwest: A brook's gentle flow sounds just to your right, its the perfect white noise for your travels, loud enough to keep your mind off the cold, but not too loud to hide dangers from you. You'd almost swear there was a bird singing in the distance, a happy go-lucky tune to brighten your day. The fields around you were obviously harvested recently but the combination of grass and the brook in the air is an almost too pleasant smelling concoction. As you follow the river's bends and sways you see a man standing at what appears to be the entrance of a Japanese style inn, he appears to be dressed as a deputy with rifle in hand.

Headed in from the Southeast: Your stroll towards the town is not marked in the trivial notes of your surroundings, but by the wagon which you passed but moments ago; a single covered wagon made of a mix of wood and the frame of a former SUV quickly drove by being pulled by six oxen, it was filled to the brim with possessions and people.
In addition a woman dressed as a simple farmer’s wife chased after the clinging on to various somewhat fine fabrics screamed after them calling for them to stop. Just as you pass the oxen they pull to a stop, the driver leaps from the seat and charges towards the woman catching up to her before she could even reach the wagon. "Dammit Evelyn, I said leave that garbage. There is absolutely no room for this stuff."

"But honey the fabric is so fine I couldn't help bu-" The man sweeps the stuff out of her hands and onto the ground. Evelyn gasps for a moment before leaning down to pick the items back up. The man merely yanks her away by her hair.

"Evelyn have you lost your senses, there aint nothing left for us here." He tossed her roughly into the wagon and started his train up once more, Evelyn's crying was muffled by the oxen's charge, but it was not stifled.

Now as you march towards town all you can see for certain is a deputy sitting in a rocking chair just after the bridged entrance into town with a rifle across his lap.

OOC: These are more or less examples of what would occur to your character, you do not need to hold every piece of it true, just the important ones. :)

[PyrosNine]

Nein picked up the fallen fabric as the man and woman left on their way down the road. It wasn't exactly alot of fabric, and would not have been as much a burden upon the load of the former SUV as the man said it would. He probably was just nervous as well as upset and was merely taking it out on his wife.

A shame. One had to wonder what sort of town would produce these people, then make them refugees of them...but what could Nein do about it? Shoot lazer beams of love at them? Get real!

Nein watched them leave, spectating this small snippet of the drama that was somebody else's life, then looked away to attend to the more pressing action of his own life.

There was a man in a rocker upon the bridge, a law man from the looks of it. He didn't look like trouble, and Nein wasn't expecting any. He'd moved quietly for the last few days, especially after that bout' in Tallascee. It was always annoying when you came to a town and already had a gun pointing at you.

Nein didn't expect the town to have heard of his coming, nor for them to recognize him, so he figured he'd just walk on in.

If this deputy had a problem with that, surely a solution could be easily made.

Nein waltzed down the bridge to deputy, not visibly paying him any mind.

[TheBlindMime]

This bridge had been carefully put together, not one of those lame ropebridges, no siree, this was the real deal, a solid wooden bridge. It appeared to be made of some form of oak, it wasn't polished, but it seemed well maintained, after all it barely creaked under Nein's weight. Not that Nein weighed much, nor did he want to pay such particular attention to the bridge but he simply had to look at something and the spectacular view of the river was not his first choice.

He just had to make sure not to pay to much attention to that deputy, the very still one, who must've had a very calm man he hadn't even reacted to Nein at all. Another casual glance and Nein saw that the man wasn't rocking his chair at all, nor was he stirring about Nein's approach. Then Nein finally noticed the stain and the mud, just under the mans vest barely visible from afar was a browned stain, and beneath him was the only patch of wet dirt even as close as he was to a river.

It took only a fraction of a second for Nein to put it together, this man was clearly a jerk.

[PyrosNine]

Nein actually didn't put it together. Was he dead? Who just left him there?

Did that Man and his Wife do this?

And lastly, If he was dead, was anybody watching so Nein could rob his corpse?
Nein was fairly sure he left his money pouch in his other pair of pants, which at this moment were soaked in blood and lying on top of two dead men some 300 miles south.

[Azisien]

He'd made the walk a dozen times before. Why people so frequently placed towns behind steep hills, Nathan would never know. Still, there was a unique feeling to climbing up the hill, knowing with each moment your destination was just beyond and getting closer. The weather was ruining this walk so far. If he didn't get inside soon, he might fall ill, and at his age recovery was hit or miss depending on what he got landed with. Even so, sometimes the enduring walks through cold climates made the town that much more impressive. Like all the effort to get there transferred into all the comfort of looking out over it at the top. He made the last few steps.

He blinked. "What...a shithole." It was small, like most towns were these days. Cities were a rare sight, and Nathan wasn't on speaking terms with the kind of people that governed them. Actually, he wasn't on living terms with them for the most part. Still, the town looked very drab from his distance. Hopefully, it would improve as he got closer. Hesitation gripped him, and he glanced back the way he'd came.

A cold gust and brown, empty fields greeted him with the nature's version of a middle finger. "Fuck it, it's a warm place." He looked back to the town, then squinted.

There was a man standing at the town's entrance with what looked like a sword of some kind. He wouldn't know specifics until he got closer. Probably another dime-a-dozen sentry or badass looking to freak out arrivals. Nathan made his way down the slope and slowed down gradually as he got closer to the man.

When he was within reasonable shouting distance, he slowed to a crawl. One arm dropped from its hold on his backpack and was ready to reach for the 9mm at a moments notice.

[Mintaro]

A man walked slowly moving north east along a well traveled road. His steps making not a sound over the babble of the nearby brook. His face was well hidden under the straw hat he wore. A cold wind blew his loose clothing. The man didn't shudder, nor give any reaction at all to his surroundings. Had there been anyone around they would have certainly thought him a dangerous person. The swords he wore reflected the sun light off their sheaths. Creating a small pattern of flashes as he walked. He left surprisingly light tracks in the mud he traversed. His clothing looked pristine. An amazing accomplishment given the many mud puddles and soggy spots that came with the country road.

The man stopped and pulled back his hat from his eyes for a moment. He surveyed the land around him. Looking over to the river he carefully made his way through the wild grass and a break in the brush lining the cold bed. He surveyed the water for a moment then tied up his right sleeve. Dipping a hand into the water he brought some to his lips. The cold liquid his his mouth like a blizzard. The sweet taste of the water told him that there was likely a spring nearby that fed into the river which he knew extended back for some ways. He reached in twice more before deciding he had drank his fill. Shaking his hand twice he unbound his jacket sleeve and turned to head back to the road. Returning his hat to its proper place once again.

The man walked for some time more before coming to a gentle turn in the rivers course. A small Japanese Inn became revealed to him. Emerging from behind a copse of trees that had grown smartly close to there source of life. Each step brought more and more of the building into view. He saw smoke comming from a chimney pipe, and could smell roasting fish on the air. It looked like a small cozy place to stay. Dirty but home like and friendly. The man hated places like that.

Another man, standing at the entrance to the building, watched his approach. The glint of silver on his chest identified him as a deputy. As all sheriff badges were made of a gold or bronze. The deputy fingered his rifle, watching the approaching stranger. Who never faltered and headed steadily and quietly toward the Inn.

[TheBlindMime]

At closer inspection of the body, it became obvious to Nein that the man had been stabbed from behind as he sat in the chair. Furthermore it was quite apparent the mans money pouch was stashed in his left pocket, but was nearly falling out at the moment. Neither the body, nor anything else around stirred by Nein. But the sense he was being watched could not be shaken.

*********

As Nathan slowed to a crawl he could see the Sheriff's face twitch. The man was dressed exactly as you'd expect a western cowboy to be, boots, jeans, dirtied shirt and vest with a bright sheriff's badge, a bold duster hat and of course a giant handlebar mustache. The only thing out of place was his suburito, which he now raised and rested upon his shoulder.

"GREETINGS FRIEND! IF'N YOU GOT BUSINESS HERE AT THE SALOON, C'MON IN." The sheriff seemed quite cheery for a moment, but then the smiling facade fell from his face. "IF'N NOT, I'D START HEADING BACK THE T'OTHER WAY, IF'N I WAS YOU."

********

The deputy quickly charged into the path, before raising his rifle to his shoulder. The distance between them was twenty yards, the deputy wagered it was more then enough distance to fire at least two rounds before the man reached him. He smiled mockingly as he spoke, "So if you've got business at the saloon I'm gonna be gunning you down right now, if not, I'll gun you down unless you turn tail and leave this place right now you scum-sucking samurai."

He tightened his grip on the rifle and let his finger drift from the housing down to the trigger itself.

[PyrosNine]

The eerieness of it all gave Nein's sense of danger a plucking, as he stood there next to a dead body. Oh sure, it was bad that if anyone saw him near it, they would think he'd done the deed, but at the same time, there was also a chance the guy who did it was still there, eager to cover his tracks with another body.

But Nein needed money for food, and possibly ammo, so he reached out with his left hand and gave the dead man a poke, as if checking for life.

Then with one quick hand movement, Nein yanked the money pouch off the man, shoved it into the folds of his jacket, and walked into town, ready for any reciprocation of his actions.

[Mintaro]

The man continued on his walk unabated. Raising one hand he flicked the rim of his hat up. The removal of the obstruction revealed a pair of peircing eyes. Eyes that looked straight into the deputies. "I am a servent of the Great emperor Damu Ramu Boukun. Make way before me. My journey has been long and I have no patience for you." The deputy couldnt be sure. But it seemed almost as though there were storm clouds following behind the man.

[TheBlindMime]

"Bravo!" Nein was surprised by a happy looking fellow stumbling through the tavern doors, clearly drunk. "You won me a 50 cent piece my boy!"

He was followed soon after by a rather large group of men from the building, a short man with a long sword on his shoulder stepped forward to speak for the group, "Pardon his rudeness, we were watching from within the Saloon."

"Yeh! and I bet on you to pretend to care whether he was living and then steal his shit! I'd buy you a drink if you didn't already have munny!" The drunk let out a rather loud gaffaw as he stumbled back into the Saloon.

A man dressed as a samurai with rifle in hand stepped forward, "Sorry to have such fun at your expense, how bout you buy us a drink for our troubles?" He smiled simply.

*******

The deputy's gun lowered quickly, dropping to his side as if he no longer had the urge to shoot. His face revealed his shock quite plainly, looking as though the wind had been knocked out of him entirely. His eyes followed the samurai because he couldn't tear them away while the rest of his body was held in place by fear.

[Azisien]

Nathan stood still, gauging the sheriff's suggestion. Was it a secret message of some kind, or did the man just really want newcomers to buy shit in his saloon?

Either way, Nathan wanted a drink, and saloons were good places to find work. Bloody work normally; but work nonetheless. "The Saloon, that sounds like the right choice." Nathan shouted back. His arm still remained ready to grab for his holster, though the sheriff was in no position to attack anyway. He started walking into the town, scanning around as covertly as possible to try and catch any movement, signs, or objects of interest in the little town.

In his gut, Nathan already knew he would be leaving this town with blood on his hands.

[PyrosNine]

"Yeh! and I bet on you to pretend to care whether he was living and then steal his shit! I'd buy you a drink if you didn't already have munny!" The drunk let out a rather loud gaffaw as he stumbled back into the Saloon.

A man dressed as a samurai with rifle in hand stepped forward, "Sorry to have such fun at your expense, how bout you buy us a drink for our troubles?" He smiled simply.

Nein was no miser and would certainly buy them a drink, but this was certainly strange. How smashed did you have to be before you betted on some lawmaker's corpse and a vagabond who rolls into town?

It could very well be a trap. Despite this, Nein decided to take his chances. Nein was not a drinker by any means, but he would buy these men a drink. And if they were to try anything, he did have ways of dealing with them...

His hands ready for either his sword or guns, he smiled at the men. "Sure. No harm in buying some drinks when you come into town."

He walked with them towards the door, ready for anything.

[Mintaro]

As the man began walking past the Deputy, he uttered two words in a low voice "Good choice." With that the man continued off toward the Inn. He reached the doors and swept through them. A chill wind flowing in past him. A man in a chair, his back to the door, shivered slightly. The samurai slowly surveyed Inn. Looking it over as though he were the owner checking in on his investment. The building smelled of cooked fish, sweet Saki, and burning cedar. It repulsed him. Pushing his hat back to hang behind him he walked up to the bar. "I require a bottle of Saki and fried eel." He informed the old man behind the bar, who stared quietly. The samurai could feel everyones eyes on him. No doubt they too had heard his declaration.

The old man replied. "We do not have eel here sir. We carry only the fish that can be caught in our river."

The samurai did not change his expression, but an air of annoyance emanated from him. "Then give me a platter of your finest fish." He said in the same even tone. With that the old man ducked her head in a bowing nod and walked off to the back room. The samurai shot his leg out to the left and brought a stool over to him in a deft movement. Sitting down gracefully he waited quietly for his meal. It arrived quickly. The bottle was placed on his left and the platter in front of him. The Saki cup was placed on the left. The samurai looked at it with displeasure. "Such serving manners must be adjusted" He thought to himself as he reached for the bottle and poured himself a cup. Drinking it caused him to make a face of disgust. The Saki was poorly made and watered down at best. It was amazing the people here did not die from constant exposure to it. Another thing that would have to be attended too.

The old man coughed gently, still staring at the samurai. The samurai understood the gesture. As uncultured as it was. He reached into his clothes and pulled out a coin purse. Pulling a single coin from it he flicked it onto the table where it spun. The golden coin glinted and reflected the light as it settled down onto the table. On the side up it showed the face of a strong looking man. On it was written 'In service of the God king'. The man picked up the coin and looked at it, turning it over in his hands.

"What sort of Money is this?" He asked confused.

The samurai looked at him gravely, "That is the currency of the daimyo. That coin may save your life someday. Keep the extra, as generosity from Emperor Boukun" He turned back to his meal and began to eat the fish. Leaving the Saki untouched to sit there. The fish had too much salt on it and tasted of char signifying that the grill was not cleaned often enough. "There is much work to do when we take this town." He thought to himself.

[PyrosNine]

Nein entered the Saloon, to find that he was not the only newcomer in town. Of course, as a newcomer it would have been difficult for him to know that, but the newcomer in this case was a samurai who was heavily marked as being under the Daimyo.

Nein had gone through several Daimyo states, and from what he could gather on his travels, the Daimyo was gathering more and more land for itself.

Which meant this samurai was here for this town. It was not unheard of for only one samurai to be sent instead of a squad of them, especially for a dungheap like this one.

Nein sat down calmly, and pointed to his newfound 'friends.' "2 of whatever beverage meets their fancy, sir."

The barkeep nodded and started pouring. He was as unnerved as anyone else about the samurai, but there was another scary paying customer so he might as well do his job. "And for you?"

Nein sighed. "I'll just have a loaf of bread, and whatever cooked meat you have that's cheap." He opened the pouch and dropped a suitable amount of money from it.

The barkeep gave the men their drinks, and got Neins food ready along with the Samurai's fish.

Nein gave the samurai a further glance, then looked back to the bar.
There may be trouble ahead.

Nein mentally counted his bullets.

[TheBlindMime]

As Nathan began marching down the street the sheriff began to follow him, not in an aggressive manner, just as if they had both decided to walk the same path. Only difference was they were seperated by a good fifteen feet and neither one would probably see fit to change that. As the two walked down the street a small giggling boy ran out of the General Goods Store, he stopped immediately with a look of fright when he spotted the pair of men.

The sheriff charged to the boy waving his arms, "Back in the store now Derek!!" The boy tightened up as he spun to the door. Within seconds the door shut its door and barred its windows, soon after the same noises of shutting and barring came from every building on the street.

The sheriff had a shamed look in his eyes as he took his place to continue following Nathan.

*******

As Nein moved to follow his newfound friends into their saloon of choice a few more gunmen spilled out of it. "OY!" The first one out declared, "He should buy 'us' a drink for 'our' troubles. Just because you didn't win the big money does not mean you lost yours. We lost ours, so he owes us."

"Yeah!" The second chimed in.

"So pay up or else!" The third exclaimed as he went for his gun. It was then that Nein's new friends decided to cast their votes.

"Johnston!" The samurai of the first group yelled bitterly, "If you have a fight with the man whose going to buy us a drink. Then he'll kill you all."

"I'll say, he looks like a murderin' machine that one!"

"A real killer that stranger!"

"A slayer of men decent and otherwise."

"I heard the stranger kills without mercy or glee!"

"I'd say he'd get two of you before the third even fired a shot."

"I'll lay odd's on that."

"2-1 odds against the stranger!" A man began quickly taking a collection.

Suddenly the three men who challenged Nein looked very angry. The first stepped forward again right into the face of the samurai. "Do not think you can gamble with my life Kleiner. Especially when I don't have any money to put in on it. C'mon boys, will deal with 'the stranger' later."

The three marched off like dogs with their tails between their legs, as the gambling group just sighed in disappointment before taking their money back excitedly. The samurai Kleiner turned to Nein with a look of anger in his eyes. "You going to buy us drinks or what?"

********

The old man calmly set the coin on the table and slowly backed through the kitchen flaps. Much screaming was to be had, as two voice suddenly echoed through the tiny inn.

"A WHAT!?!"

"HE SAID HE'S A DAIMYO!"

"HERE! WHY'S HE HERE!"

"I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T ASK!"

"WELL ASK HIM FOR LORD'S SAKE YOU OLD FOOL!"

"FOOL? I'M NOT THE ONE WORKING AT HIS FATHER'S INN, WITH NO WIFE!"

"I TOLD YOU CINDY WANTS TO WAIT TILL I'M MORE RESPONSIBLE."

"HMPH! YOU'LL BE LONG DEAD BEFORE THEN!"

"SO WILL YOU, YOU OLD BAT WHAT WITH THAT DAmiyo...."

As the two men in the kitchen realized the volume of their voices was easily carrying into the street a hush came over them. After a few moments of whispers a stalk young man in shambles of a kimono strolled out of the kitchen with a rather large and fake smile on his face. "Hi sir!" his breath reaked of sake, as if he'd just had a rather large drink to stiffen his resolve. "We've been thinking that since you are from the Damiyo and all, that you might want to see Mayor Matsuda.... or perhaps Yakuza boss Sumida."

[Azisien]

There was a certain amount of crap Nathan could take, and so far he had swallowed it down in the two minutes since he'd come to the town, but his limit was near. He stopped. The sheriff would know, slightly behind him to his left. He adjusted his posture to ensure there was no immediate hostile intent in his arrest and glanced to his left, spotting the sheriff in his peripheral vision.

"It's cold so I'll keep this story short. I've been to a lot of towns in my time. Most rundown, some not. Even in the rundown ones, there's life to them. People walk out on the streets, go to work, kids go to school if there is one. And in all my travels, I've come to know one fucking thing that pretty much defines trouble. That's when I walk into town to find everybody barring up the buildings, and when the only people on the streets are the ones with weapons or a badge. Both in your case."

Nathan turned around, slowly, to face the sheriff.

"Now I'm going to go into this saloon, because I'm freezing my ass off out here, and I'm going to get some chow and a drink. Then, I'm going to get a room and stay the night. Since this doesn't seem like much of a working town at the moment, I'll probably be off after that. But before I do that, are you going to tell me what the hell is going on? I haven't seen a place like this in months, and that's coming from Daimyo territory too."

He really was curious, but as these entrances often foreshadowed, things would probably get ugly soon. And ammunition was expensive.

[TheBlindMime]

The sheriff wrapped his arms around his chest pinning his suburito to his side, and slowly strode over to Nathan. His eyes came to Nathan's with a deep sense of pleading, "You have to tell me...... are you a yakuza?"

[Azisien]

Memories hit Nathan like a brick. It wasn't something he could help, and they had become worse with each passing year. Soon they would feel like a freight train.

The pitter-patter of rain buzzed in the background. Fat droplets plopped onto his head, and the water was streaming steadily down his face.

"Please, please, don't do this!" A woman in soaked farmer's clothes cried, not even out of her twenties yet.

The yakuza said something to each other in japanese. Nathan had never bothered to learn the language. A dumb move that had got him into a lot of fights. The gesture was clear, though. One of the suits held the child out by the hair, with a tanto ready to stab into the neck. An obese suit laughed grossly, brandishing a pistol.

Nathan had already noted who had guns and who had swords. He formed a triangle with the yakuzas to his right and the woman to his left. The child shrieked, and the mother shrieked as if in mimicry. The Yakuza. When they have a grudge, they really have a grudge, and it doesn't matter who you are.

He didn't even know this woman or her child, and he could still tell the difference between tears and rain on is face. This was simply inhuman. Nathan raised his magnum, ready to line up on them. "Put that kid down, right fucking now, or you're all going to die right here. She doesn't have any money to pay you, you fucking animals."

The blade of the tanto slid into the kid like his flesh was gelatin. The mother wailed and ran forward. "NOOOO!"

Nathan was screaming too, but it was inaudible over the boom of his magnum.

Nathan shuddered visibly, losing eye contact with the sheriff for a brief moment. It took a moment to compose himself, then he looked back into the sheriff's eyes. "No. I'm not Yakuza."

[PyrosNine]

Nein mulled over his memories which had appeared just recently, in the midst of his meal. Sure, it was probably his fault for narrating his interactions within the Saloon before the GM could describe it to him, but Nein was never one to let other say what he sees.

It just goes against his whole dark and serious persona. Aside from y'know, his superpowers.

Nein was fairly sure the men he was with were a gambling lot, for they did not only bet for him, against him, and for and against those other three, but they also had the look of people who would gamble off their own grandmothers...

[Mintaro]

The samurai continued eating his meal quietly compleatly ignoring the young man in the meantime. When he finished he looked up to an angry young man attempting to look polite. "The mayor is of no concern to me right now. And While Sumida is the man I am here to meet I have no need of your company or assitance to do so."

"yes, yes quite right, of course sir." The young man responded. "Do you require anything else? A room? Maybe some favorable company?" He said with a sly smile.

The samurai's expression darkened. "You think I need your help to attain eaither of these things?" he said coldly causing the young man to back off a little.

"No no sir, didn't mean to imply anything of the sort. Just want to...help..." He said seeing the samurai had no intrest in what he was saying.

The samurai stood up from the stool and walked over to the door. Shoving it roughly aside he strode out onto the street. The deputy was sitting in a rocking chair to his right drinking a bottle of whiskey. Looking out into the distance with dead eyes. The samurai walked down the small steps and continued on into town. Keeping his eyes open for the building he had been told to meet the Yakuza at.

[TheBlindMime]

A brief gust whistled as it passed over Nathan and the sheriff before either one spoke again. "I'm...." The sheriff wanted to apologize for asking such a question, but in these times.... he had no other choice. "I'm Austin Grey, the sheriff of Low Hill, or as its become known Lawless. Come, its not safe to speak here. I'll take you somewhere we can get out of the cold and get a drink."

As they march down the street it becomes apparent the only places with their doors still open are abandoned, the sword merchant's place and the gun store.

*********

Nein was quite right about the men around him, though the saloon was still a mystery until he actually opened his eyes in the place. It was a massive two story, building with all the fineries one would expect in such a place, poker tables, booze, hookers and a rather expansive board which listed various odd's and statistics as well as odd title's such as; "The morning wood", "One egg, two egg", "Knight Rider", "Dead men never change" and of course "Johnny jump-up".

There seemed to be a man rushing from table to table his clothes were entirely white save for all the blood, then there were the gaurds, they were everywhere. In fact as Nein looked around it became more and more apparent almost everyone had a weapon.

"HEYA SUGA!" From out of nowhere a very hefty woman with very large br-..... assests nearly pinned Nein against the bar, "IF'N You got some money I could trade you sum hunny-" She broke off into a sudden and awkward giggling fit that jiggled her ti-..... assests.

*********

As Nathan and Sheriff Grey trudged down the path a solitary figure seemed to be coming from out of a Japanese style inn (Which as you well know is entirely different from say... a saloon.) he was a samurai.

[Azisien]

Nathan slitted his eyes as he saw the samurai step out onto the main road in the distance. It was hard to say, but the warrior seemed well-armed. Not a lucky kid that had fell upon them, since those lucky kids quickly became unlucky. Their weapons would be stolen and they would probably be killed by someone stronger or more skillful. It was the natural selection of this broken world. Caution slowed Nathan's pace fractionally, even though they were almost two hundred feet from the samurai.

Fucking samurais. And this one probably meant business too. Nathan started to wonder if Sheriff Grey was actually worthy of the badge on his chest, or if he would just get in the way. He really wasn't in the mood for a confrontation. A bottle of whisky would suffice.

Nathan turned his head to look at Sheriff Grey. "You know him?"

[TheBlindMime]

"No he's as new to me as you friend." Sheriff Grey replied simply before adding, "I'm no good with my stick either... they gave it to me as a joke."

As there pace slowed a loud clammer began behind them. "OH CONSTABLE!"

"Why aren't you at your post!" Another voice rang out, both seemed to pain Grey as he heard them.

"And whose your friend?"

It seemed as if there was no limit to the shame Sheriff Grey could bear in his eyes. "Maybe you should go onto the inn ahead, its just on the left, you can't mistake it. I'll.... I'll just catch up." And with that he turned to face the three men, he walked slowly like a child moving to a parent for a punishment. A voice of cheer that was entirely unfit to be the Sheriff's suddenly foamed up from his mouth. "Hello again Mr. Johnston, its good to see you again, how fare's your mother?"

"Shut up constable, we have more important things to talk about."

"Like what sir?" Sheriff Grey asked knowingly but still brightly.

"About my boots, they look a might dirty doncha think?" Johnston's cronies snickered generously. "Why don't you give them a nice shine."

"Right away sir!" Grey sighed, as he pulled out a handkerchief and began polishing the man's shoes.

[PyrosNine]

Nein figured that once he opened his eyes, he must have let out one of those accursed beams. Of course, at the moment he could see or hear nothing, as his entire head, nay, his entire existence had been consumed by the woman's ti-...assets.

With great effort, Nein pushed away from the woman lest he become forever entrapped in the abyss that was her cleavage. Holding her from a distance, he replied, calmly (despite his hat still being on her chest, and his hair incredibly messed up, and his face a bright red)

"Sorry Miss, but I think I'm married, possibly. Maybe."

Of course Nein wasn't settled down yet, but as unsettled as he was, lying was kinda hard.

[Mintaro]

The Samurai continued to walk in a straight line through the middle of town. Though he was looking straight ahead it was apparent he was very aware of the things happening around him. The samurai listened to the conversation the sheriff was having with the three men from where he was and altered course just slightly, so that he would walk to the group of men. He continued on however in the same even stride. Seeming to be a man with all the time in the world.

[Azisien]

Nathan couldn't help but feel a small pang of guilt at turning away from the sheriff. The man was often tormented, he could tell, but it was his suggestion to go to the inn alone. There were challenges in this world you simply couldn't face by yourself. In Grey's case, that was probably a lot of challenges. But everyone had their limit. It took a certain amount of spine to ask for help in those situations. Nathan would have helped the sheriff, had he asked. It probably wouldn't net him much physical benefit, but he didn't like assholes. And assholes generally caused the degradation of towns like this. That made it harder for Nathan to survive, too.

He gave sheriff Grey a final glance as the man bent over to scrub the leader of the trio's shoe. He memorized all of their faces, then turned away and started walking. The samurai was on a collision course with all of them. Something would probably happen. This one didn't look like a joke, either. Nathan strafed casually to ensure some distance between him and the samurai when they crossed paths. He looked straight to the inn, using his peripheral senses to keep a tab on everything else.

The samurai's hat rim was concealing his eyes. This one was a real badass. As near as Nathan could tell, the samurai was doing exactly the same thing he was. Feint focus on the straight path ahead; be aware of absolutely everything going on around you. Peripheral awareness was among the first thing any combat veteran taught you, that went for gunslingers or samurais. It helped give you the initiative in so many situations.

Nathan and the samurai passed each other. He squinted at the inn, but was really focusing more on whatever was about to happen at his flank. Warmth, food, and drink were only a few more strides away, but curiousity and some concern slowed his pace.

[Mintaro]

As the samurai walked past the gunman he could have sworn he heard a Flash, followed by a cross screen shot of each of there perceptions of each other. Probably in negatives of the worlds normal colors. Of course that was impossible, this wasn't a comic book. The samurai made a note of the man and continued on his path towards the four men.

[TheBlindMime]

"Don't you know sugah! All the girls here are married." She casually waved ring with a rock worthy of her.... stature and.... assets. "See now there comes our husband right now. OH SUMIDA HUBBY DARLING!!" She quickly removed a silken hankerchief from he bosom and waved it excitedly to the man coming down the stairs.

The man she was waving to did not in fact look like a Sumida, as he was a 6'5 balding black man. He wore a fine black kimono and seemed to be one of the only people in the room not sporting a weapon. The only thing he was carrying in fact was a cute little white girl who was riding on his shoulders and appeared to be talking his ear off quite thoroughly. Following just behind Sumida was a Samurai whose glare seemed to cut anyone who gazed to deeply into it, his beard was thick and shaggy and his kimono was unkempt as well. Not one of them seemed to notice the busty woman or her silken hankerchief.

"Hmmm... I guess Sumida baby's busy, but now that we know we are both commited individuals why don't we commit to something a little more fun." She masterfully undid three buttons in a single sweep of Nein's shirt.

*******

"There, shine's like new." Sheriff Grey tried stand back up only to have the boot he'd just shined swing into his face.

"Nope, looks like its got a spot of blood on it to me." Johnston sniggered.

"Better clean it again Constable." Said the one holding the sheriff's suburito.

"Yeah but this time clean it right!" The two cronies were exceptionally eager to chime in now.

The sheriff raised himself up off the ground, his entire body nearly shaking now, "Y'know if it hadn't been for me your mother woulda left you to die."

"Whats that Constable?" Johnston looked a little angry now.

"Hmph, your mother was a whore, all her life till she had you. She was gonna pitch you into the river and woulda too, if it weren't for me talking her out of it."

"That's a lie." Johnston took a step forward and placed his hand on his gun.

Common sense quickly leaked back into the Sheriff Grey's mind. "Apologies sir, I hadn't meant to say that. A simple slip of the tongue." Grey attempted to bow his apology, but heard only the clicking back of a gun's hammer as a response. The gun was raised and pointed straight at his head.

[Mintaro]

The samurai narrowed his eyes as he approched the group. The events that unfolded were not to his liking. No good men would be assaulting the sheriff in this way. And no good sheriff would allow such an infraction. The samurai got within noticable distance from the group right about the time the sheriff began to appologise. The two cronnies looked at the strange man headed straight toward them. Then nudged there boss lightly whispering for him to look.

The samurai reached one hand up and flicked his hat back. Giving him a compleatly unobstructed view of the situation. He noted the two in the rear were armed. "What is all this about?" He asked in a dark tone. He held his hands out to eaither side in an easy pose, but one a trained fighter would know, meant he was ready to take action. "Has the sheriff broken a law here?"

[PyrosNine]

As quickly as his shirt was unbuttoned, Nein found it imperative that he was to be on his way out the door.

"Sorry, I am not interested in such a pastime at this moment, no offence, but I am just not in the mood right now. I have...a headache. Yeah." He said as he pulled away.

"Any chance you could be a dear and tell me where the nearest arms store is? So I can be sure that I will still be alive...for next time, when I might be in the mood?"

[TheBlindMime]

"There ain't no laws in lawless." Johnston said plainly wiping a bit of spit from his lip.

"Yeah, I reckon we could shoot you dead and the Constable wouldn't do anything at all to stop us, not that he could if he tried."

"Why reckon when we can." Said the third with a foul snicker, dropping the suburito and raising his rifle up, his compatriots were moving to follow suit as well.

*********

The girl looked a little hurt that Nein wanted to leave until he mentioned he would be back for a 'next time', "Well then sugah what you want to do is march out that door go all the way to the ... now what do they call them things, ah, the introsection then its the first building on the new left. If'n you get to the Jap's inn you've gone to far. Then come right back here and if you ain't in the mood, I'll put you into it."

She draped the silken hankerchief across her chest seductively all the while trying to lock her eyes to Nein's.

*********

As Nathan grew closer to the Inn he could see a rather old man and a gawkier younger one peeking through the doorway trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening, all the while whispering insults back and forth.

[Azisien]

"Yeah, I reckon we could shoot you dead and the Constable wouldn't do anything at all to stop us, not that he could if he tried." Nathan slowed dramatically, but resisted the urge to turn around and watch the scene. Ahead of him, two men were already watching and gawking at each other at the Inn doorway.

"Why reckon when we can." Fuck it. Nathan stopped in his tracks. Silence crept in the air, even the wind had died down. He glared at the two men in the Inn doorway obviously enough for both of them to notice, then turned around to watch the scene unfolding.

Slowly, he sidestepped to the nearest building, two down from the Inn, and put his right hand on the poorly sanded wooden wall. His backpack lid down his right arm and he let it drop softly onto the ground at his feet.

Squinting at Sheriff Grey, the three men, and the samurai, Nathan brought his left hand up, unbuttoned the strap on his holster, and lightly gripped the 9mm.

[Mintaro]

Without any warning the samurai's hand snapped over to his hilt. Dropping low he drew the sword in an upward arc. There was a moments pause when the sword reached its apex and the samurai's arm was at full extension. Then a spurt of blood marked that Johnston's hand had been removed at the wrist. Spinning to the left and past Johnston the samurai brought his sword around; to make a quick three slashes in a flicker of motion. The first cut one of the cronies rifles in half. The second sliced open his neck. The third cut the second cronies chest wide open. His guts tumbling out onto the dirt street. Then bringing his sword back around he thrust it behind him stabbing upward through Johnston's heart. The samurai paused for a moment, waiting to see if any of his opponents moved then jerked the sword out of Johnston's chest. Letting his lifeless body fall to the ground. He removed a bloodied cloth with his off hand and smoothly whipped the blood off his blade as he sheathed it. Turning around he looked at the sheriff. Holding out one hand he gave a quiet command "Hand me your stick." He said the word stick with obvious disdain for the instrument. When the sheriff did so he tossed it in the air and pulled his sword free again slicing it through the air and then placing it back to his sheath so fast that one would scarcely beleive he had just cut it in half.

[PyrosNine]

Nein avoided her eye contact like the plague. Damn his eyes! Why couldn't he have been born with more threatening ones...

Nein was out the door, gave the Barkeep a nod, and was out into the street. The woman had said he had to go straight until he reached a "introsection" and then the first building on the left.

Part of him wondered why she would know where the arm's shop was, but then again in this sort of town, everyone had a weapon. Probably even the preacher.

Nein would also have to steer clear of the Japanese Inn too, lest he meet an asian equivalent of that woman...

He headed down the road at a calm pace, despite the uneasy feeling he had.

He could deal with crooks, cuthroats, drunken cowboys, nigh-demonic swordsmen, and devilish Shogunate, but women....there was his own failing.

Sure, he'd killed women before, but once they began to try and get a certain reaction out of him....it's just something he wasn't used to. Sometimes being treated as a demon was preferred...

[TheBlindMime]

The two men ducked their heads back into the inn and leapt down to the floor in a single move, it was a graceful move due to their repeated practice of the art.

*****

As the final body dropped and the blood pooled around him the Sheriff had become a bit panicked furthermore watching the man split his suburito in a super quick swipe hadn't helped calm him at all. All the Sheriff could think to do was bow his head to the ground, it dipped into one of the streams of crimson, but he dare not move it. "Thank you sir, thank you for saving my life." When he was younger the Sheriff would have never thought that humility would be a strong suit for him later in life.

******

As Nein marched down the street he found what he could only identify as the womans introsection, the town was built in the shape of a 'T' with the Saloon and Inn on either side of the top and the gun store just to the left of the path that diverged from main street. Though that was good information to have, Nein had also arrived just in time to see the Samurai display his skill by cutting through the suburito in a dazzling slash. As a swordsman himself, Nein could tell immediately this Samurai was first class.

[Azisien]

Nathan watched as the samurai cut down the men, his hand never faltering from the pistol grip. He was good. Very, very good. Nathan even had trouble following several of the attacks. Sheriff Grey looked dumbfounded even from this distance.

The samurai had done good, one could plainly see. But Nathan saw through it. The Code of Horseshit of the Samurais. His thoughts darkened. He remembered where he was. Daimyo territory wasn't all that far away. He would know; the past year of travel was always through it. He had no definitive proof, but samurais that powerful were few and far between if they were part of another, smaller faction, or one of those freelancing Ronin.

His left hand twitched while still attached to the pistol grip. At least a part of him wanted to pull the gun free right now and put three shots into the samurai's back before he could even think about moving or throwing the wakazashi. The twitch faded. He loosened his grip and finally let go of the pistol with a small sigh.

The two men. He eyed fractionally left, towards the Inn. With one motion and a shrug, he buttoned his holster and picked up his backpack. Suddenly, he felt tired. Five minutes into this town, Low Hill, and at least a dozen organs were already splattered into the mud. What he would do for a really god damn boring over-the-counter job right about now...Maybe just for a week or so.

With a final glance at the samurai, Grey, and the corpses, he noted the appearance of another stranger coming up the road. Meeting more people on the street wasn't high on his list of priorities right now. In the Inn, on the other hand...

He turned and made for the Inn, which was only a short walk. The two men were looking through a rather dirty window, and both ducked as Nathan came into clear view. Losers. He walked through the door as if it was his own house, and looked at the two men to his left. "Join me for a meal?" Nathan smiled. "Over there." He pointed to the end of the bar by the door to what was probably the kitchen. "Now." His smile widened into a grin.

Without waiting for their response, he strode over to one of the seats where he'd pointed to. He chose the farthest seat, which would let him watch both men and the entrance to the Inn. "Uh. Whoever the barkeep is around here: two full bottles of Saki, some meat, and beans if you have those...Ah..." He remembered where he was. "Bread. I have a shiny dime with your name on it."

[Mintaro]

The samurai looked down at the sheriff bowing down to the ground. It didn't seem right somehow, though he understood the motive. "Why is it the sheriff of this town goes unarmed?" He demanded.

The sheriff kept his head to the ground and spoke up a bit to make sure the samurai could hear him. "I am sorry sir but I cannot tell you. If I did it would surely mean the death of..." he trailed off for a minute realising he had almost let it slip out.

The samurai sighed "Stand." He commanded and the sheriff did so quickly. The samurai tossed him his blood rag. "wipe your forehead, then I need you to take me to the Yakuza headquarters quickly. I have buisness there."

[PyrosNine]

Pyros paid the first class Samurai no mind. He reeked of the Daimyo, and the Daimyo already probably also had a nice dislike of a wanderer like Nein. Secondly, this town was going to be under Daimyo rule soon if a samurai like this was here.

So, Nein wanted to get while the getting was good, then get the hell out of Dodge. Or whatever the heck this place was named.

Nein browsed about for the suitable building.

[TheBlindMime]

The younger man looked a little bitter about the terse instructions being provided by the gunman until the nickel was mentioned. Suddenly he whipped out a plastic smile and quickened his pace into the kitchen, "Very good choices sir."

The old man was a little less enthusiastic but almost as quick when he set down the two bottles of warm sake complete with chipped ochoko. The sounds of the grill in the kitchen quickly livened as the younger man began cooking furiously. After only a few moments the man called from the kitchen for his elder, the elder returned with steaming plate in hand.

The plate held a fairly fatty cut of stea (poorly butchered), rice, beans, a piece of sourdough attempting to disguise itself as a roll and for some unknown reason a fortune cookie. The old man forced a smile, "Anything else?" the smile's reason was obvious as he displayed his hand palm up.

*******

Sheriff Grey wiped his forehead quickly with the rag it seemed to be quite a relief to him, until he realized the rag had been soaked in more blood then a battlefield. He held the rag as a blankie as he started towards the Saloon, "Its just this way sir." From the Samurai's attire and additude Grey was as aware as everyone else was that this man was in fact a member of the Damiyo.

Still he led him to the saloon without hesitation, it was probably fear that drove him to move without questioning him. It was probably for the best, holding that rag was probably more then enough to convince Grey that too many questions would mean the inclusion of his own blood into its freyed material. As they reached the Saloon the sheriff interrupted the long silence they had marched in. "So you have some business with Mr. Sumida?"

Grey regretted it immediately.

********

As Nein ignored the Samurai and the Sheriff passing him, it seemed they had ignored him as well. For the better one would assume.

It didn't take long for Nein to find the gun store, it was one of the only buildings left open. "Johanson's Gun's!" The title seemed to be a little extreme for such a small gun store, especially with its sparce selection, then again at closer inspection; there were some very rare guns throughout the store. Bullets lined the entire wall behind the counter and seemed to curve around into the back, different caliber's, types, you name the difference in the bullet it was there.

And to complete the package sitting in the very center of it all was a petite little girl in plaid with the slightest smile of pride. "Howdy sir, reckon I can help ya'll today?"

[Mintaro]

The samurai spoke frankly with the sheriff. "My presence here means that the Yakuza here have done their job. As you are aware they control this town. However they hold control for the Godking. I am here to take control from them and hold it until I am releaved by the battalion I have preceded. I am also here to make sure the Yakuza did their job correctly. By the amount of boarded buildings, and those three I just delt with, I beleive they have not. You see our reputation for ruthlessness is well earned. However we are also generouse and kind. This town is of no use to us empty. I am very angry to see so many abandoned homes." The samurai looks over at the sheriff, and gives him a rare cold smile. "However I may just have to kill everyone here, one can never tell."

When they arrived at the building the samurai looked at the sheriff. "Wait here and try to stay out of trouble." With that the Samurai pushed open the doors and walked inside.

[PyrosNine]

Nein nodded with a casual air. This was a gun store, and while it was new to him, all gun stores were the same when you got down to it. The really good stuff was in the back, behind the counter, and no matter how sweet looking that girl was, she was packing enough ammunition on her body to take out a small army.

Nein didn't say anything until he'd walked up to the counter, his feet stirring up dust with every step. At the counter, all Nein did was pull open his jacket to reveal one of his guns, and then reached into a pocket to pull out a spare bulllet. He gave it a toss and the girl caught it.

"I'll be needing a few more of these, if you have some like it." Nein finally spoke. Nein used normal revolver bullets, though when he could find some armor piercing rounds made by skilled gunsmiths, he usually bought a few.
"And probably a quarter-pound bag of fresh gunpowder, if you don't mind."

[Azisien]

Nathan took up a scoop full of beans and deposited them in his mouth. He looked at the plate as if it was somehow requiring his full attention as he chewed, then came back to reality. He saw the old man's hand. "Ah, right." He shuffled into his pocket and came out with a nickel. The man's hand twitched as if anxious to try and grab it with a life of its own. "Nickel for the chow." Nathan said at regular volume, then dropped to something resembling a whisper, while at the same time revealing the dime concealed behind the nickel. "Dime for information. The town's situation, the politics, the real politics," he winked, hoping the man would understand his meaning.

Suddenly the beans became less appetizing as he remembered the scene he'd just witnessed outside. The man had seen it too. "And the samurai. Who is he and why were you so interested in him?" With gore on the mind, Nathan went to work on the sake.

[TheBlindMime]

As the doors swung shut behind the samurai and his figure was swallowed up by the swaying of the crowd Sheriff Grey watched with all his might. The sheriff quickly turned away and began running from the saloon at full tilt. He tossed aside the bloodied rag as he ran, hoping all the while that the simple act of running would be enough to drive that man from memory.

*********

The saloon was quite full, of patrons, of whores, of scum and of course more scum. It wasn't easy to navigate as some seemed to be preparing for fights, others seemed content to bump into everyone while carelessly swinging a frothy mug to and fro. In the far corner sat Sumida, his bodyguard and a little girl. Sumida and the girl seemed to be playing an outrightly hilarious game of war, cards flying back and forth between their quick shuffling hands.

*******

The girl looked down at the bullet as though it was a red herring. "Oh, so you use the same bullet as everyone else. Ne'er seen one of those before, nope, ne'er a one!" She stands up in a huff as she moves a small rolling wheel ladder across the wall to access the bullets in question all the while continuing her very annoyed speech. "Juss cause I'm a woman e'ery one thinks I can't know a bullet unless I see it. I could tell what you used by the very guns on your......"

As she held a few boxes in her hand she looked back down at Nein's hips. She was down to the counter in a second flat as the boxes dropped and bullets scattered everywhere. "IS THAT A RELIC OF THE GOOD OL' GUNS! NO? THAT'S SUMPTIN NEW AIN'T IT? I CAN TELL!!!" She looked sweetly to Nein's face, "S'cuse me Mister, but what kind of guns are those?"

A small black and white cat jumped onto the counter, sniffing at the guns as well. The girl smiled further, "Y'see even Ichabod wants to know!"

*********

The old man grumbled to himself for a minute, before snatching the nickel and only the nickel from Nathan. "Not even for a fifty piece!" He declared angrily before marching into the kitchen. There was a minor squabble inside the kitchen for only a second before the younger man sprang forth. "Didja say a dime?"

He grabbed a stool excitedly as Nathan gave a simple nod, he leaned in real close as he held up an extra bottle of sake. "Y'see this sir, this right here is a genuine bottle of fine, very fine Van Brunt Sake.....", he leaned closer still, "This town is ripe with peril friend, firstly you got the Yakuza, worst gamblers and most evil henchmen these parts have ever seen. And their leader Sumida, is a real tough mother, I grew up with him matter o' fact, broke his right leg some years ago. Didn't cry, didn't even flinch, just smiled and then marched without any help to the doctor almost a mile away."

"Humph, half mile at most." The old man's grumble could be heard from the kitchen.

"Hey old man, shutup, whose telling the story here." The young man sighed angrily before picking up a glass for his sake. "Anyhow, kid grows up under the name Franklin, yakuza comes in, then he takes over and renames himself Sumida; nobody says anything bout it these days. Like he was always a Sumida it is. Then you got Matsuda who tries to organize a mob bout once an election, his detractors are on the front line if you catch the drift. Though some say he doesn't mean it, but the yakuza loves him, so I don't." A quick pour and drink of the sake, "Y'see he helps get rid of those who would go to someone who could do someone, not that theirs many of them these days."

The old man shot out of the kitchen like a dart slamming his hand down on the counter, "Do not speak ill of Sheriff Grey or so help me-"

"Or so help you what?!" The old man merely grumbled as his younger, stronger and taller son stood up, before marching sullenly back into the kitchen. The younger man brightened up as he poured himself a drink, "Then you got our Constable out there. He tried to stop the Yakuza only after Sumida took over because they were only gamblers before that, after Sumida though... they got aggressive, real aggressive. Robbing the bank then hiding just down the street at the saloon right. Well Grey marches in there like an idgit and demands they return the money, they overpower him then he just gives up."

"That is not how it happened," The old man pops out of the kitchen again, his resolve strengthened by the recent slight, "If you tell a story you tell it right."

"OH yeah old- AUGH" The young man was cut off as his father slammed a bottle into the boys crotch. All the son could do was cough and fall of the stool, though he still had the precence of mind to set his bottle on the counter rather then spilling the precious sake.

The old mans worn hands slammed down on the counter again as did a few tears, "The Sheriff has done everything and more for this town, ain't no one here whose down more, that includes yours truly..." The old man kept his head down as the tears began to pick up pace.

The inn became completely silent, save for the cough's of a man in complete and utter agony.

[PyrosNine]

Nein blushed. Darn! Not another woman! "These are nothing too fancy....I made them myself....somewhere." Nein just pulled them out more and even slid out the barrels to show their seven shooting nature.

"I'm afraid there's not much more I want to say about these. It's a personal matter." Nein said idly spinning the barrel. "I will say the left gun's called Heilos. As for the other one....that's personal too."

[Azisien]

Nathan took a few cuts out of the cheap steak as the young man sat down. He really didn't like the two owners of the Inn so far, but all he wanted was information. The kid told his story about Sumida, and it was as Nathan feared. Typical degradation of small towns all over the place, spreading like a plague.

The Yakuza or some less powerful gang would move into a town and if they had a mean enough leader, the town was theirs. Law was hit-or-miss in the Wild, and there were a hundred other towns with men like Sheriff Grey pretending to be law when they were really just puppets. And speaking of puppets, it seemed the mayor here was one for Sumida. Perhaps not directly, but that was how politics worked now. If this Matsuda person didn't stay in line with the Yakuza, there would probably be a decapitation or bullet-ridden corpse floating down the river.

It was all the same to Nathan these days. The names changed, but ultimately everything was the same. Corruption, bad men, and exploited innocents. He reached for the first bottle of sake and poured himself a glass. By that time the old man had barged out into the lounge again, arguing with his son or servant or whatever. Nathan downed the glass and found it lighter and cheaper than he expected even from this place. He almost shrugged; whatever got him drunk. The argument was heating up now. Nathan poured himself a second glass and drained it immediately.

Then, even surprising him, the old man smashed the younger one in the balls. The entire lounge went silence and the old man was crying. Nathan started counting all the armed people he could see, just in case. He looked at up the old man, who had his head bowed low to hide the tears in vain. It jogged memories Nathan didn't want back in the present. He had tried to help a man like this once against a bunch of rogue swordsmen claiming to be samurai. They didn't follow any code, they were just goons, but they had skill and numbers. The town had been a bit bigger than this one. Nathan had been working in the local quarry for the past few weeks when they showed up in the town and took over in a matter of hours. Two lawmen were killed and both the sheriff and the deputy were at their mercy when the mayor, the man he knew briefly, surrendered control and gave them whatever they wanted. Crime exploded overnight. More than the usual; looting, assault, rape. There were certain limits for Nathan, and they were crossed then. He ended up killing one of the twenty-some goons who had just about had his way with some of the young farmgirls. It was the mayor's daughter.

Well, that was the whole fuel tank on the fire then. The remaining twenty goons assembled and it was a classic showdown on the main street. Nathan would have been dead if it wasn't for the six or so people that stood up for him, including the mayor. It was definitely the only time he had seen the mayor of a town take up a 12-gauge shotgun and take on the bad guys that had barged in and taken over. Unfortunately, the story didn't end well. The fight seemed to last a millisecond, even though it was more like half an hour. Nathan killed eight of them himself and his allies killed three or four. The mayor got one, even. Not long after, his organs were spilled out over the ground, not too unlike what Nathan had just witnessed outside the Inn. The rest of them died, and the goons ran off into the night.

Slowly and carefully, Nathan turned and propped up the stool kicked over when the old man hit the young man in the crotch. He turned back and faced his plate, then poured himself a third glass of sake. "Maybe it's better if you do talk, old man. But I'm not paying shit anymore."

[Mintaro]

The samurai moved a sleeve to his nose. The stench in the place was unbearable. He would be happy to leave this place as soon as possible. One of the whores brushed up against him, having amazingly large... assets

"Hey hunny washa say we have a good time?" She said drunkenly as she ran a hand on his chest.

The samurai's eyebrow twitched, as did his sword hand. "I'd have a better time with a trash heap. Why don't you try bathing once in awhile." he responded coldly.

The woman balked at the remark and reared back to slap him. When she did however she caught another patrons arm and was pulled backward. Being rather top heavy she fell over a nearby stool and the samurai moved on, past the new commotion. From the snide remarks he had a feeling her assets were showing quite well at the moment. Alcoholic beverages of every variety splashed around the samurai. When he got to a small clearing around Sumida he still seemed to not have a stain on him.

The bodyguard took one look at him and stood up. Moving to place a hand to his chest. The samurai's eyes narrowed, stopping the bodyguard in mid step with his gaze. "I am here to see Sumida." He proclaimed rather loudly. After all he knew not who Sumida was, he had simply moved to the most important looking man in the building. After all a man with an opening around him, in a place like this, had to at least be connected.

Sumida looked up at him from his card game. His eyes drawn down crossly. A glance at the samurai told him all he needed. The seal on his clothing told him clearly who he was from. However he wasn't happy to see him. "Who are you?" He asked.

The samurai froze for a moment. Then he suddenly kicked his leg out to the left. Pulling back sharply a stool came out from underneath a man, dropping him unceremoniously to the floor. The samurai caused the stool to slide right in front of him. Placing his foot atop it he looked Sumida square in the eyes. He spoke his name proudly pronouncing each syllable as though it were the most important thing in the world. "I am Rikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo. I have come with orders from the GodKing himself." A flick of his wrist had the letter in his hand. Sealed with the emperor's mark.

There was a silence that followed the samurai's little speech. A silence that hadn't been heard in that place for a very long time. The suddenly the room filled with laughter. Surely the man had been joking. Such a ridiculous name.

"Ha ha, the daimyo, ha ha."

"Sumida did you set this up for us?"

"OH man and I thought we were in real trouble for a minute."\

"I was just about to get out my gun and blow him away for knocking over Carl there."

"Oh ho ho, you couldn't hit ole richy, michy chery penny there if he stood two feet from you."

Rikki* stood there, his face turning bright red from anger. His sword hand twitched once, then moved. He drew his blade before anyone in the bar could drunkenly react. His cold steel lashed out into the crowd of people. One man fell, his neck cut in half. Another fell as his guts were spilled to the alcohol stained floors. One was impaled through the heart. Another simply had his eyes slit open. Still more fell one mans hand was removed at the wrist. Another had his nose sliced off and then three fingers. The people began to run then. Pushing and trampling each other, trying to get away from the flashing steel. A few men tried to stand there ground, each one fell quickly. One pulled a gun from across the room. Only to have a tanto blossom in his chest. Soon the room was clear save Rikki* Standing amid the carnage in the center of the room. In total he had killed 7 people. 8 more were badly injured and would likely die if not treated soon. Not one woman had been touched however, so great was his mercy. He plucked a scarf out of the air. It had flown up amid the commotion. He calmly whipped his blade and then sheathed it. Rikki* was standing with one eye looking at the black man he had first approached. The other eye was looking at the cuff of his Haori, a moderate splatter of blood had hit it. "I seem to have dirtied my clothes. I will require a new set."


(*Insert 'tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo')

[PyrosNine]

After some more persuading, Nein was compelled to explain his guns. "Welll, it's a remodeled design with a sharp corkscrewed cylinder, along with a magnetic strips built into the gun to both speed up my reload and to propel the bullet faster."

The cat, during this detailed explanation, had decided to climb atop Nein's head. "Please get off." Nein asked a bit roughly as he disliked cats on his hat, working his cat mojo. Of course, this only caused the cat to placate him as it began to hug his hat tighter and make purring noises.

(NEIN!) continued. "The design is based off of some old manuscripts that depict..umm, the world ending."

[TheBlindMime]

“Well Gadzooks! Those are some fancy shooters you have there and the only need the regular shells.... oh that reminds me, Ichabod gather shells for mommy now.” The small cat stopped its psuedo-soothing purr and leapt to the floor behind the girl, every few moments it returned to the counter dropping off a single bullet with each trip. “So this manuscript of the end of the world, does it have any rifles in it?”

**********

Just across the ‘introsection’ of the road from “Johanson’s Gun’s” sat a small little shop that was too well known, “Sam’s Gen-u-ine Katana’s” were something of a novelty in Low Hills. After all whenever you needed some second rate samurai you could find them right here, perusing third rate blades. It was strangely empty today, the place had suddenly emptied when the ruckus at the Saloon began. Only one person remained, Sam, an old fat semi-bearded man wearing a dingy wife-beater lazily fanning himself. Sam eyed the door with a strong sense of malaise.

Till Grey shot through the doorway as though he’d seen a ghost, the old man nearly shot bolt upright, “Auzz’n wut yuh doin’ hurr?” Grey moved without even acknowledging the man, leaning right over the counter and lifting up from behind it a rather large bottle of Tequila. He eyed it for a moment like it was an old friend, some would say he had a tear in his eye. Sam wouldn’t though, “Auzz’n yoo schur yuh wannt tah drink?”

Austin Grey had sworn off drinking long ago, at his wife’s request. He promised to never drink again. Promised. Before the cap even hit the floor a large portion of the bottle was empty, when Grey finally let the bottle free from his lips, it was nearly all gone. “My stick ready.”

Sam nodded simply as he handed over a slightly misshapen looking suburito, “Auzz’n yuh gunnah be ‘lright?”

“No, Sam.” Austin went back out the way he came, he finished the bottle’s contents with an unsatisfied look upon his face. “I’m not.”

**********

The old man sat down calmly on the stool, keeping his head bowed as he laid his hands into his lap. “This story starts long ago, little more then twenty years now I’d say, the town was nothing more then poor farmers with barely an ear of corn to their name, whores who’d spend more time on their backs then light does in the day and no good lawmen who took everyone for all they were worth. The town was about as bad then as it is now, save for it was called Law Bills then, because there would be no way to go through a day without getting fined for something you did ‘wrong’. People made due though, we always do.”

He wiped a few tears from his cheeks, “Seemed like it would always be this way, then Grey wandered into town. Heh, he was more dead then alive, but he demanded, heh, demanded that we patch him up.” The tears seemed to be of a more joyful sort now, “He was dressed like an outlaw, with the demeanor to match. No one stepped forward to take care of him save for Madeline, she was our school marm, tough as nails to boot. He nearly married her on the spot, heh, after she patched him up he proposed or at least that is the story I was told.”

“After he healed up they were wed in the chapel.... it....” His hands tensed for a moment before he skipped over that last bit. “Day after that Grey marched into the Sheriff’s office all alone, told all of them that their services in Low Hills wasn’t necessary anymore. From what I heard, all the lawmen just started laughing and carrying on.”

The old man turned to a grimy window and pointed his wizened finger beyond it, “We buried the lot of them out there, never marked the graves though, Sheriff Grey said they didn’t deserve it. He was right. For years after that the Sheriff would hear about a problem, march right into it head on and deal with it right then and there. Nothing was too big for him, he got the farmers their land rights, turned the whores into proper ladies, he saved this town from the brink of damnation.”

“The kids looked up to him as a god, so did some of us adults, he just seemed... bigger then most people. Like he could lift the sky if he needed to.” He tightened his kimono just a bit, “Turned out though that the Sheriff was human, he had all the failings of humanity too. He had to grow old like the rest of us. That’s when the Yakuza snuck in, doing back door dealings and other hush-hush acts. Lot’s of money started pouring into town because of this, I heard that Mayor Matsuda asked Grey to overlook them. Heh, in his old day’s he’d of just laughed it off and wrangled them up.”

“But it wasn’t his old day’s anymore, he was growing tired and he had a daughter on the way. So he overlooked it, the money was so good, everyone did. It was our dirty little secret. Then our kids started joining, most of whom had learned to ride and shoot from the Sheriff himself. Again, we all overlooked it until.... until one of our own boys took over the Yakuza and renamed himself Sumida. Now I can’t prove it, but I know that he had help. Daimyo help. That was when we knew they had to be stopped the Sheriff was the first to move on it but.... but..........” A fresh stream of tears began pouring down his cheeks.

**********

The Saloon nearly cleaned out entirely for a moment as people scrambled to grab the wounded and move them to safety or simply left them to rot. Although the moment after that the room refilled twice as quickly with gunman and samurai seeming come up out of the floorboards. They surrounded Rikki* quickly, even Sumida’s one-eyed bodyguard had moved to his feet. Sumida held up a single hand and forced a smile, “Gentlemen calm yourselves just a simple misunderstanding. I’m sure our friend has no intention of furthering the bloodshed or else he wouldn’t have stopped. Harry go get our friend a new kimono, a very fine one; Bernard go and fetch his tanto, a true samurai cannot have his weapons left lying around and Kenji would you please take Alice up to her room.”

The one-eyed samurai seemed to strain for a moment as if it hurt him, “Very well sir, come along Alice.” He reached his hand under the table and gently pulled out the little girl who was still covering her eyes. He led her gently through the crowd and up the stairs.

Sumida then bowed his head to Rikki* and motioned to a seat, “Please, join me.”

[Mintaro]

Rikki* Bowed graciously then moved to the table, a small path opening up before him. Distrustful eyes watched him as he moved but he payed them no heed. He moved silently and sat in the chair across from Sumida. "The Daimyo is moving." He said as he handed the letter over to Sumida.

Rikki* hesitated a moment. He did not believe anyone else would claim to be Sumida but this man did not fit the name. Relinquishing the letter he continued speaking. "In one week the escort I left in Katamana city will be arriving here. At that time another will replace me and become Intendant. You shall remain Yakuza boss with full territory rights. The Sheriff will be kept on as lawman to help adjust the people to the changes. Speaking of the sheriff, how exactly did you placate him?" Rikki* was very curious of this fact indeed. The instructions had been to buy his loyalty, but he had seemed a man broken not a man bridled.

[TheBlindMime]

Just before he spoke Sumida's eye's darted up the staircase to Kenji and the little girl named Alice, before relocking his eyes to Rikki's*, he spoke as though his eyes had never moved at all. "You see, when a man who is a thorn in your side has no price tag, you must out-think him. Ponder his existance and think only of what drives him, what he loves, what he lives for. And you keep it from him."

"But I have a question for you," Sumida slipped another letter out of his vestments, "Our original agreement included an additional two years of complete control to me." He slid the two notes back to Rikki*, "Explain this contradiction please."

**********

The old man continued, "Sumida's men ammassed, they were everywhere and they wanted the chapel as their base of operations. Sheriff Grey couldn't let this happen, so he gathered up a posse. The two groups met just outside of town, only to find out the fight was already over. When Grey had left his home that morning Sumida and his men were there to pounce, they killed his wife and took ... they took his only daughter."

The younger man had regained his composure and was no sullenly drinking his sake far from his father, never daring to say a word. He only listened to the story his father told and drank, "Sumida walked out of the crowd with a gun to young Alice's head, he promised right then and there that if the people fought the yakuza, their children would suffer for it. The posse dispearsed save for Grey, who was then told his wife was dead. Sheriff Grey was never the same after that. That was almost five years ago now."

The old man looked right into Nathan's eyes for a moment, "When Grey first came into town, he had eyes like yours, the eyes of a killer, of a drifter, the eyes of a man who will do whatever it takes to win. He lost those on that day, since then he's been a lapdog for the yakuza. Having to live by their ridiculous rules; he can't ever hold a gun, tell a yakuza what to do, or stop a yakuza from doing anything they want, if he did they will kill his daughter."

"That's how he lives now, lives like that every day, lives a life not even befit for a dog and all for his daughter." The old man was standing now, he bowed his head once more, "Now I've said my piece." The old man walked back into the kitchen without another word.

Just then a sudden arguement could be heard outside, followed by the sound of punches and then, the door swung open a deputy fell into the building just next to Nathan. The deputy scrambled to his feet as he began speaking nearly incoherently, "Ainnowayhimmmagoinearthat that...Daimyo!"

Two yakuza followed him in, both carried swords that gleamed in the inn's pale light, "What do you mean you ain't coming with us?"

"That guy killed and its your job to help us stop him. Now get moving, or else."

The deputy stuttered for a moment until he spat out a defiant, "Never."

One of the two men went to lunge.

**********

As Nein began to make his move on the little lady, (or just stood there awkwardly.) Grey marched in, and slammed his hand down on the counter. "Rifle shells now Maggie!" The girl seemed frightened suddenly, grasping under the counter and handing over to boxes to the Sheriff. He opened a box immediately and slid a single shell into his suburito before they all heard a march of footsteps at the door.

Three men charged in and pulled Grey away from the counter, "Rifles, now!" They all declared to Maggie, all knowing full well she had the best stuff in the back.

"But-" One of them slapped her to the floor without even waiting for the rest of the response. As he leapt up onto the counter the sound of broken glass followed by a shot rang out and his heart painted the shelves a deep shade of crimson. His fall was followed by the shocked turn of his two compatriots, who spotted him.

The Sheriff stood there with a smile on his lips and a dangerous gleam in his eye, his suburito was smoking and it appeared he had somehow added a trigger housing to it. "Welcome to judgement day boys, I hope you've said all your prayers."

The two men made to draw their guns.

[PyrosNine]

Nein whipped out his guns faster than a bullet train and shot both of men point blank. Naturally they'd just shoved him to the side and ignored him when they had entered, and so he'd had mind to ignore their intrusion on his purchase. But when they slapped the very person whom he'd bought them from he felt like shooting them. And as is usually the case, he went and did it.

His revolvers still out and still smoking, Nein pointed his gun at the Sheriff. "I don't suppose you were with them, or you were here for me?" he asked.

Mentally, he had to admit though that the Sheriff's rifle disguised as a large bokken* was particularly cool.

*While skilled with a sword, Nein had never been taught with anything too heavy or unbalanced, so he'd never seen a suburito before. So naturally he just took it for what a suburito basically is: A large bokken (Wooden Sword).

[Mintaro]

Rikki* thought on what Sumida had said before responding to the question. It was likely the girl wasn't his daughter given his race. Kidnapping a young girl however, and killing a defenseless woman. Neither sat well with him. However the results he had gotten were not entirely displeasing. So perhaps the entire situation could be salvaged. After all they had not yet gone and killed the girl.

"The Great Emperor Damu Ramu Boukun has received word that our enemies. The so called 'coalition of true Americans'. Has just made a large move inland They apparently are beginning work on a railway system. We must move inland faster then expected. So that we may crush this before it begins. The Godking wishes to bring all into the fold as quickly as we can manage. Starting with seed towns like this one. Then we will move, like a crushing wave. Indeed like a monsoon summoned by the Godking himself! Taking by force all who do not join us! Those that stand against will be crushed beneath the might of the Emperor!" Rikki*'s voice had risen noticeably in the last throws of his speech.

[Azisien]

Nathan moved to pour himself another glass, only to find the first of his two bottles of sake empty. The alcohol was already loosening him up, and it was allowing painful memories to flood past his usual blocks as the old man continued his story. Shrill cries of a young girl as he rounded the alley corner...

"Sumida's men ammassed, they were everywhere and they wanted the chapel as their base of operations. Sheriff Grey couldn't let this happen, so he gathered up a posse. The two groups met just outside of town, only to find out the fight was already over." Nathan reached for the second bottle of sake. "Madeline," he said to himself, or perhaps he only thought it. The ending to the story was pretty predictable. This was the world now.

"Don't you fucking dare go out there, Liz, you hear me? If you're caught outside by a Watchdog after curfew, he'll shoot you on the spot."

A woman shifted in the darkness of the room. No electricity or oil since the Coalition took over. "Fuck you, Nathan. You're one to talk about shooting people on the spot. I can't live with it anymore, I can't!" Moonlight lit the room slightly as the door swung open. Nathan grabbed for his jacket instinctively. "Don't you fucki-" The door slammed shut.

"When Grey had left his home that morning Sumida and his men were there to pounce, they killed his wife and took ... they took his only daughter."

Nathan missed the glass and spilled sake onto the counter and into his half-eaten meal. He straightened the bottle up and gripped its neck. Children being tagged away from their parents in the full light of day; loaded onto a waiting wagon. A child resisted, broke free from his captive's grip and started running back to his stunned family. Presumably his father and mother broke out and ran to meet him. Two shots hit the father and a wakazashi impaled the mother. The white-suited Yakuza looked to the Daimyo samurai whom the child had escaped from. The samurai nodded as the kid kneeled down at the bodies of his parents. A third gunshot echoed out.

"Sumida walked out of the crowd with a gun to young Alice's head, he promised right then and there that if the people fought the yakuza, their children would suffer for it. The posse dispearsed save for Grey, who was then told his wife was dead. Sheriff Grey was never the same after that. That was almost five years ago now."

Nathan poured the sake properly this time, taking extra care, but he didn't release his grip from the bottle. The town was small, maybe he could...Smoke plumed into the sky as he passed the ruined fields. About the poisoned earth he could see the bodies. At least three adults, probably the farmhands. A swift reminder to those who disobeyed Daimyo rule. The destruction would stay as an example for several days, until the fields were refurbished by Daimyo-ruled serfs.

The old man has stopped talking, and looked right at Nathan. Nathan stared back, wondering if his eyes were watering. They probably were. "When Grey first came into town, he had eyes like yours, the eyes of a killer, of a drifter, the eyes of a man who will do whatever it takes to win. He lost those on that day, since then he's been a lapdog for the yakuza. Having to live by their ridiculous rules; he can't ever hold a gun, tell a yakuza what to do, or stop a yakuza from doing anything they want, if he did they will kill his daughter. That's how he lives now, lives like that every day, lives a life not even befit for a dog and all for his daughter." The old man stood and bowed. "Now I've said my piece," and he left the lounge.

"Bullshit." Nathan said to himself quite loudly. He noticed the old man's son look at him in is peripheral vision. He smiled morbidly, not looking at from his plate. His hand still hadn't left the sake bottle. "I said, bullshit. Grey had brown eyes."

It looked like the young man was almost going to say something when there was a commotion outside. The lounge quieted down even more than it had earlier as the sound of flesh hitting flesh resounded into the room from the outside. Nathan turned his head fractionally, still swimming in memories. Feet pounding on the packed dirt; it was over. "Liz!" The watchman stepped out of the shadows, brandishing an assault rifle and smirking like the truest of sadists. Liz was between the two of them, and turned to look at Nathan; her bulging belly was apparent even at night. "Bet you wish you had your guns now?" A tear rolled out of one eye.

Presumably a Law man, if Nathan could call them 'Law' around here, fell into the lounge and continued to stumble until he was near Nathan's feet. Blood trickled out of the deputy's nose and his lip was swelling. Blood squirted out of her neck. It seemed to glimmer in the moonlight.

"Ainnowayhimmmagoinearthat that...Daimyo!" Someone by Nathan's feet said. His grip tightened on the sake bottle. Two white suits stepped into the Inn, though their attire wasn't as immaculate as the upper class goons. They were armed with katanas. "What do you mean you ain't coming with us?"

The deputy was going to die. Nathan considered letting him. The second sake bottle would be enough to get him fully drunk. More commotion; the deputy didn't look armed. He was screwed, even if those were third rates. Others in the lounge had cowered away from the Yakuza. There were no heroes here today, or for the last five year's by the sounds of it.

Without any warning the samurai's hand snapped over to his hilt. Dropping low he drew the sword in an upward arc. There was a moments pause when the sword reached its apex and the samurai's arm was at full extension. Then a spurt of blood marked that Johnston's hand had been removed at the wrist. Spinning to the left and past Johnston the samurai brought his sword around; to make a quick three slashes in a flicker of motion. The first cut one of the cronies rifles in half. The second sliced open his neck. The third cut the second cronies chest wide open. His guts tumbling out onto the dirt street. Then bringing his sword back around he thrust it behind him stabbing upward through Johnston's heart. The samurai paused for a moment, waiting to see if any of his opponents moved then jerked the sword out of Johnston's chest. Letting his lifeless body fall to the ground. He removed a bloodied cloth with his off hand and smoothly whipped the blood off his blade as he sheathed it.

Nathan looked at the deputy. "Ainnowayhimmmagoinearthat that...Daimyo!"

"Never."

The samurai nodded as the kid kneeled down at the bodies of his parents. A third gunshot echoed out.

One of the two Yakuza lunged at the deputy before Nathan's feet. Even with the light buzz of the sake his mind was spinning with calculations. The goons were twenty feet away. The lunging one was standing still, he'd take about five seconds to reach the deputy and kill him. The other one was still standing there, watching his partner about to murder in cold blood.

The sake bottle was in the air and flying before the Yakuza had taken a third step. It flew past the lunger and smashed into the forehead of the second. Sake spilled everywhere, but the bottle didn't shatter; the hardened section had struck first. The second Yakuza stumbled back and Nathan felt a smile spread across his lips as the eyes of the lunging one widened. Halfway to the deputy.

The 9mm was out and in the hand that had thrown the sake. The charging Yakuza gunned for Nathan now. Idiot. The pistol snapped back slightly and the Yakuza dropped his sword immediately. "AHHHHH!" The surprised goon stumbled to a stop a few feet before Nathan, gripped his wrist and looked at his three-fingered hand in horror. Nathan kicked the stool the old man had sat in and jumped to his feet simultaneously. The stool smashed into the three-fingered Yakuza, who hadn't maintained much balance to begin with, and he tripped onto the floor, succumbing to the pain now. A second loud boom drowned the Inn in noise as Nathan stepped over the Yakuza and fired again, splattering the fucker's brains across the floor.

The first Yakuza was recovering now; blood was trickling down his forehead and the wound had swelled up even in the few short seconds. The goon raised his katana and Nathan let him. Let the bastard think he has a shot; just for a second. The 9mm deafened the room once more as Nathan put one in the man's gut. He fell over from the shock. Nathan kicked the katana away from them and picked up the spilled sake bottle. The Yakuza groaned in pain.

Nathan kneeled. "This cost me a penny, you know." He jabbed the gunshot wound with the butt end of the empty bottle. Pain turned to agony. "They call me The Gutter for a reason. You aren't going to die from that wound, but it's going to hurt. A lot. And you won't be able to do shit about it." The Yakuza tried to roll up into a fetal ball but another jab to the wound straightened him out and made him shriek. Nathan made sure he wasn't packing any other weapons besides the disarmed katana, then turned to the young man sitting at the counter. "I want a room. And lots of towels. Right fucking now."

He stood up and walked over to the first goon's corpse. He kneeled down and looked at the deputy a few feet away, still on the ground looking dumbfounded. "Can you use a sword?"

The deputy shook his head. "Only-" The katana of the fallen Yakuza clanged at the deputy's feet. Nathan grunted. "Now you can." Nearly pouncing, Nathan pushed up less than an inch away from the deputy's face. His breath was awful. "Now you listen to me. You're going to take everybody, everybody, and lock them somewhere safe. Children first, women second, men last. Everybody, right fucking now." Nathan looked up at the faces around the Inn. "Did I stutter, motherfuckers? Get the fuck out of here!"

Nathan stood up and walked back over to the Yakuza, whose groaning had become almost steady background noise. The boom of the 9mm resonated through the Inn once more as another round stabbed into the goon's gut. The man made a sound that resembled a dying baby cat. Nathan grabbed him by the leg and started dragging him to the back of the Inn, where his room would be ready. "You're going to start by telling me where Sumida is. Then everything you know about him. What he's like, how he fights, and who fights for him. How many and where. You're going to tell me everything you know about the Daimyo in regards to this little town. You can try and be all noble about it if you want. Then, and only then, will you learn the true meaning of pain."

[TheBlindMime]

"Heh heh heh ehheheeheee," Grey lowered his disguised rifle with a hearty giggle, "No mister I had no intent of bothering you, but now I was wonderin' If'n I could hire you." Grey marched to the counter as though a gun wasn't being pointed at him at all,"Y'see I'm the Sheriff of Low Hills and I'm in need of a few deputies."

Grey chambered quite more then a few rounds in a few seconds as though he'd been practicing this act for say... five years or so. "So you could make a couple of bucks, thats two hundred pennies mind you. Heck, after that save of yours, I'll even cover whatever you're buying." Grey leaned in with a smile, his breath reaked of the tequila he funneled down his throat moments ago. "What d'ya say pardner?"

************

"I must say... this displeases me greatly." Sumida said as he lit a pipe up and began taking a few generous puffs, somewhere in the crowd a man pulled back the hammer on his pistol the audible noise was followed by a series of 'echoes' throughout the crowd. "That is to say, I was hoping to line my pockets a little further before our honorable godking's taxes came into full effect. My retirement age is coming up you know, we yakuza are not so long lived."

"Nor are the Daimyo." A voice rang out from the crowd, but this voice was strong, bold and it was fueled by a defiant attitude. The mob surrounding Rikki* quickly seperated to reveal the one-eyed samurai Kenji.

"Kenji I believe I told you t-" Sumida was cut off by the samurai all too quickly.

"Silence. When I stayed with you after all was settled did you not believe I had intentions of my own." Kenji turned to face Rikki more directly, "Such as training for a duel where there would be no prying eyes to catch me. When I was last in the daimyo, you became the 312 best sword and killed my brother in the process. He was a pig-dog but he was my brother all the same. So you see why."

Kenji rested a hand on his blade and took a graceful step back. "I cannot let you live a moment longer in my precence Rikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo!"

************

It didn't take much for the information to spill out of the cronies mouth, everything and anything came spewing from it; His post in the saloon, his mother's maiden name, the fact there was a fight brewing in the saloon, the brewery in the back of the saloon, the first time he'd made love, how the door to the brewery remains ungaurded in the day but all doors of the saloon are watched at all times, the floor plans of the second story including the only two spots a man could shoot down from and be unseen, the strength of the samurai there(weak), and the gunman(average), his rash, the fully loaded shotgun behind the bartender's counter, the fact the front of the Saloon is as good as a fortress, a hidden stash of ammo just beneath the still in the brewery, what spices went into that particular brew, the amount of men in the building (35 [16 samurai/19 gunman]), the hookers (7) and of course Alice who lives in Sumida's room in the furthest back hallway on the left of the Saloon's second story. He spat up a little more blood to add to the general pool forming around him, "The daimyo haven't been here since Sumida took over, he always said they were too afraid to run a town ripe with yakuza. Sumida favors the pistol but hasn't carried one since Grey gave inta him. He has a small knife in his kimono he uses for carving apples sometimes, he fights with kicks, kicked me more then a few times mister. Then there is Sumida's samurai Kenji, I think hell itself spat that man up to fight, never cross blades with him or else." the man huffed for a few minutes as he looked through his memory for anything else useful. "Please Mister thats all I know, honest, so just let me go like you promised."

[PyrosNine]

"Sounds reasonable enough. I feel like it." Nein said, his eyelids so close together he was either happy or couldn't see at all. He gave a look at the gunstore lady. "You okay? And if you are, you heard the man. He's paying. So how about you extend the cost a bit and fetch me two extra bags of gunpowder and something I can use as a fuse."

Nein opened the barrel and replaced the recently used bullets. "Oh, and there may be some not-so-far off explosions in a bit. Pay them no mind."

[Mintaro]

Rikki* stood up gracefully. "Very well, if you wish to throw your life away. Let us however move onto the street. I would hate for you to die without getting one last look at the sky." Rikki walked calmly for the door to the street. A path opening around him as he did. After taking three steps on the dirt ground he heard Kenji's quick footsteps running towards him in a heated approach. Spinning elegantly he drew his sword out. Blocking Kenji's blade in a flash of light and a clash of steel. Pushing firmly he forced Kenji to hop backwards from his awkward stance. Both took up an opposing stance.

Kenji held his blade up along side his face. Two arms gripping the hilt, looking ready to thrust. Rikki* held his blade low and to the side. Crouching slightly. A wind kicked up suddenly. Bringing light trails of dust flowing through the street. The sun glinting off the two blades.

[TheBlindMime]

It was no time at all before Nein recieved the items he asked for, why if he hadn't known better he might have assumed the production of the bags, the collecting of the bullets and the organization of the group was held in some sort of montage fashion. They were out the door and Nein almost started towards the Saloon when Grey laughed.

"No no no, heh heh, this way." It was obvious that Grey was drunk, but while his mannerisms were exaggerated he still had a keen eye. He froze suddenly only to twist and fire towards a rooftop, a gunman's corpse fell to the earth far below the roof he had been patroling moments earlier. Grey swinged his suburito down the path with a laugh, "We've got another deputy awaiting for us this way, so this is the way." Grey whistled a light and fanciful tune, loaded another shot and stumbled down the street as he led his new deputy to the Inn.

***********

Kenji didn't move an inch as he waited for his opponents reaction; Kenji's kimono on the other hand, ripped open just a hair as the moment wained on.

[Azisien]

Nathan sat on the bed, devoting what seemed like his undivided attention to filing his nails with his knife. He was actually deep in thought; still somewhat buzzed in the aftermath of the sake and the rush of nightmareish memories, but busy digesting what he'd just been told.

The goon turned out to be much younger than he had first noticed too. He hadn't even resorted to the knife. Seconds after shutting the door the cronie had spilled out absolutely everything he wanted to know, and even a few things he didn't want to know. Killing him was still on the table, but Nathan did as much as throw the kid the towels that had been placed in the wound. The Yakuza immediately started soaking up some of the blood and attempted to clean the wound, but he was noticeably weak.

Nathan had made his decision when he had stopped the Yakuza from killing the deputy, so retreat wasn't really an option anymore. The only questions now involved approaching the situation that was clearly stacked against him. Right now, his edge was probably surprise, and to some extent he knew the surroundings too, but Sumida and the natives would know it better. To his left he had removed his double holster belt and laid it out on the sheets, as well as removed both of his guns from the holster and all his ammunition from his backpack. It was a standard ritual before he used all of it extensively, and he couldn't think of a scenario where he wouldn't at this point.

The rough plan was to enter through the brewery and get up to the second floor, then into the second floor of the Saloon, perhaps through the roof if necessary. If it really was unguarded, he would be able to take out plenty of Sumida's men before they figured out where the shots were coming from and waded through the initial chaos. He would have to secure Grey's daughter first and remove her from harm. He had also considered rigging the brewery to explode, but there were civilians in the Saloon to consider. If there was going to be blood on his hands today, he wanted it to be exclusively bad guy blood.

Nathan aligned all of his magazines and looked at them intently. With that many adversaries, he would have to reload them at some point, and even at his skill level that took time. This wasn't looking good, but it was something he had to do. Maybe it was the day, maybe it was his life up until now, but his conscience just wouldn't have it any other way. He smirked; Liz would have bitched him out for using violence to try and stop violence. Well I suppose I could just ask. Yeah, I'm sure asking politely will make them stop. Maybe the ultimate answer wasn't violence, but Nathan had learned a few things in his life. One of them was that dealing with the Yakuza, the Daimyo, the Coalition, and any of the other miscellaneous psychopathic factions and dictators in the world required revolt. And revolt required spilling blood, and that was through either guns or swords, so...

Nathan looked at the Yakuza thug. "Did you know you were going to let a man die today? Watch a man get murdered in cold blood by your friend? Doesn't that matter to you?"

Even in the weakness of the bullet wounds, the kid was at least smart enough to know there was no correct answer to the questions. The beginnings of fear worked onto his expression. Nathan smiled flatly. "You're afraid of death, aren't you? And you clearly dislike pain," he nodded at the man's gut. "So why would you condone doing it to someone else?"

"He's Law around here...he can't just sit back and..."

"Oh, shut the fuck up. There is no Law in this town, and if there is, it's the Yakuza, you guys. Look what your boss has done to Sheriff Grey, and I'm not even sure if the deputies actually know how to use any weapons. Then again, I know you guys can't use a sword, so..."

"Are you going to kill me?" The kid said. Nathan was surprised he had the courage to bring it up, though if he thought he was going to die, why not, right?

Nathan slid the knife into its sheath and picked his 9mm up off the bed, holding it in his right hand. He stood up and took a step towards the Yakuza. "I asked you if you'd condone letting your partner kill a man in cold blood. I'm a bit of a hypocrite sometimes myself. I don't mind killing if I think I have a good reason for it. And given my history with the Yakuza, I'd say I have a pretty good reason to shoot you all dead." He took a few more steps forward, several feet away from the Yakuza now. The kid cringed and his eyes closed slightly, but he didn't try to move or get up and run; possibly because he couldn't.

Nathan clicked off the safety and lined up the sight, then brought put his finger on the trigger. "Sorry to hear about your rash." He pulled the trigger. The sound of the gunshot drowned the room in thunder, and anybody near the Inn probably heard it. His ears started ringing slightly.

The Yakuza poked one eye open, then turned to look at the bullet hole that had appeared in the wall a few millimeters from his head. Nathan drew the gun up away from the cronie and grinned stupidly. "On the other hand, you've been pretty helpful. We'll talk later about your future. Right now, I've got a town to clean up." He waited for the shock of the moment to pass, and as the Yakuza relaxed he rushed lunged forward as fast as possible, clicked the safety on, and smashed kid over the head with the butt of the weapon. Out like a light.

He walked back over to the bed and surveyed his armory. First, he checked the 9mm for any damage from the smash. It looked fine, fed ammo fine, and ejected the magazine as smoothly as ever. He loaded five bullets into the magazine and popped it back into the gun, then cocked the first into the chamber, safety on, and down on the bed. He strapped his holster back on, and threw the backpack aside. The coveted magnum lay glimmering in the dim light of the wall scones. The nickel-plated beauty was worth a fortune, though he wouldn't sell it. It was his cut of the loot when they took down the Sheree Gang; previous weapon of their head enforcer, and his most high-profile kill. It was also a really, really powerful gun.

He slipped the magnum into the left holster and shoved the extra magnum magazines into his left pocket, extra 9mm magazines into his right pocket. He emptied out everything from his backpack, and put all his loose ammunition in it for easy access, then slung it over his back and stepped out of the room.

Back in the Inn lounge, he noticed it had all but cleared out, but the father and son were still there. They were both clearly wondering about the gunshot. "I changed my mind, mid-shot. He's still alive. He told me everything he knew about Sumida and his gang; I'm going to go see what I can do about them. If you think he deserves to live, I suggest you treat his wounds or take him to the local doctor while I'm gone."

With that, Nathan walked across the lounge and pushed through the exit into the main street.

[PyrosNine]

Nein followed the Sheriff. "Lead on, but just now this place'll have only one sleeping establishment, or my name's Jim. And it isn't."

Nein looked ahead, eyeing the road in case there was someone awaiting them, or someone who wanted trouble. With Nein's guns fully loaded, they would certainly find it.

[TheBlindMime]

"OH, isszzz youu." Grey straightened up a bit as the group assembled just outside the bar. Grey pointed to Nathan, "This here is...." Grey focused for a minute only to come up empty. "Y'know I don't think I ever caught his name, but thats ok right Mr...." Grey had turned to Nein now only to come up empty once more.

"Did either of you boys ever tell me your names??" Grey nearly mumbled as he began furrowing his handlebar moustache.

[PyrosNine]

"You can call me Nein." Nein didn't know the other guy. He looked quite old, washed up, and yet....familiar. Probably walked past him earlier sometime in life.

"I don't give out my name much, call me whatever you like if Nein don't suit you. "

Nein eyed the surroundings, as well as the people that had gathered. If there was going to be a shoot out, he needed to know where cover lay, and whom to shoot.

[Mintaro]

Rikki shot forward without warning. His sword whistling sharply through the air. Kenji moved quickly as well, his own blade moving to counter Rikki's. The two weapons clanged together with a sharp echoing ring. They both jumped backwards and came at each other again. Another sharp ring marking the sound of their blades connecting. The two samurai were clearly both masters. Their blades weaving and slashing through the air. Both advancing and retreating. The dust of the road began to kick up. Being blow around in the wind.

Rikki struck again forcing Kenji to block. This time however Rikki gave a twist of his wrist and snapped Kenji's blade out from his hand. It flew backward sticking point first into the support beam of the Saloons porch. Kenji retreated quickly to retrieve it. Pulling the blade from the pole he spun back to face his opponent. Rikki stood quietly with his blade sheathed. He looked to be in deep concentration. Posed to draw his sword at a moments notice. He spoke calmly and quietly "You are already dead Kenji, all I need do is make the finishing blow"

"WHAT!?" Kenji said loudly in disbelief. "I shall never loose to a child like you. I shall send you to your end!" Kenji charged at Rikki.

At that same moment a powerful wind picked up. Kicking the loose dust from the struggle up in the process. The result was a cloud of spinning dust that encompassed the two warriors. The whistling of two blades moving through the air could be heard. But this time no clang of metal on metal rang out. Instead this time the area of the cloud darkened. And blood sprayed from his making streaks in the dirt road. As the wind died down Rikki stood his blade sheathed. He stood in the same pose he had last been seen in. Only now his clothing was darkened by the blood of his enemy Kenji. Blood was still spurting intermittently. Though only in small amounts. An artery had been struck.

[Azisien]

Nathan looked at Grey's new friend. He had seen him before from a distance, barely an hour ago.

"Carera. Nathan Carera." Nathan made direct eye contact with the sheriff. "I know everything, and I can only assume the shit is currently hitting the fan judging by the two Yakuza I had to stop from killing one of your so-called deputies."

Nathan didn't bother waiting for a response. "I interrogated one of the Yaks, he told me everything he knew about Sumida and their little headquarters. I was going to be doing this alone, but the more men we have, the better chance no one will get hurt. Including Alice."

[PyrosNine]

"Oh, I disagree. Someone's going to get hurt." Nein said vaguely said, without giving a reason for saying it. "But care to fill me in on an 'Alice'?"

Seemed there was more to this little jaunt than a drunken sheriff who didn't like yakuza. If there was a hostage or something, it'd make things much less easy. Killing people dead was simple stuff, not killing certain people within the gaggle of people you were supposed to kill wasn't.

Nein didn't worry too much. He'd not heard of any big movement of any of the more reputable swordsman or gunmen in these parts, so he'd likely be batting down the best of the crap yakuza from this crappy town. And if he killed yakuza, there was a good chance some of the yakuza and Daimyo hating factions might cut him a little slack for previous 'misdemeanors' against them.

He'd just have to take some form of identification from someone important in the yakuza and present it to the right people. Along with their severed head....

[TheBlindMime]

Grey's smile faded completely at the mention of her name. It seemed to have a rather sobering effect on him, "Alice... Alice is the name of my daughter. And should any harm come to her I would be the first to kill the man that caused it." He gripped his suburito quite tightly at his own words.

"My first plan was to move us in through the front door, you boys first then I'd come in and make a scene. You might have done alright, I'd be dead for sure. Then again, that samurai sure changes things." Grey turned to look down the street, though that distance was a few hundred yards they could see the end of a short battle.

"I think we should use the back door now. I don't know the brewery well but the old chapel.... I mean... I know the saloon well. Lets move." Grey suddenly sprinted across the street with the speed of a man of younger years. He assumed his new 'deputies' would be in tow.

Sprinting behind the buildings he watched the roof for any gunmen, there were none, so he moved more quickly.

*********

Kenji lied nearly still in a pool of his own blood, his blade freed from his hands and only one thought passed through his mind as the sight of a finer samurai slowly sheathing his blade faded into blackness.

"Rikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-charrrriii........."

*********

A slow clap echoed over the group surrounding Rikki*, it was Sumida, his pipe was lit and his face twinged with disdain. "Alright Mr. Pembo. You have done nothing since you've arrived but kill my men, even after I was a gracious enough host to buy you clothes befitting a man in your posistion."

An assistant of the gangster boss held up a fine new outfit to illustrate this point. Sumida knocked the clothes to the floor in anger. "You also earn my ire by increasing the date of Daimyo control by two years, normally I would simply agree to this; as you are a Daimyo. Yet, you are now surrounded by my men." Indeed we was, they had made a rather large circle to watch the duel. Every gunman and samurai drew their weapon at these words, Sumida merely tossed a pad of paper, pen and ink to Rikki*. "It is time the Daimyo made a few concessions to me don't you agree Mr. Pembo."

*********

As the three 'lawmen' ran up the long path of buildings they saw not a single soul, that is until they reached the brewery. Grey barely stopped in time to slide back behind the buildings. Two men stood along the back of the brewery, as both Nathan and Grey knew they were the brewery gaurds. They hadn't moved up to watch the fight but both were intently looking down the small alleyway trying their hardest to see without leaving their posts.

"Any gunshots fired and they'll know somethings up." Grey said inbetween great huffs of air, he could still move like a youth but his recovery was another thing.

[PyrosNine]

Nein didn't say a word, but drew his sword from it's sheathe and walked calmly up to the two men. His steps were silent, and his clothes did not betray him by kicking up excess dust or flapping loudly.

He held his sword calmly on his shoulder, almost like a shovel or axe, and it's runes were noticeable to anyone who was watching. Which at this moment, included Nathan, Grey, and most definitely not the two guards.

When he got to striking distance, Nein took the sword off his shoulder, held the sword underhanded, and dashed forward. With his momentum behind him, he swung the blade forward at their necklines, hoping for a double decapitation.

[Azisien]

Nathan looked at Grey, even as Nein went to do his silent work, and started relaying some of the information he'd gleaned out of the Yakuza. "Sumida has a lot of men. Our first priority should be to get Alice and the hookers out of immediate harm's way. I know Alice is your top priority. Her room is the same as Sumida's, last room on the lefthand side of the second floor. We need to get through the brewery and into the back of the saloon, then get the hookers out. One of us, presumably you, needs to go upstairs and make sure Alice is safe."

Nathan unslung the 9mm from its holster and clicked the safety off. "By that point, I imagine the ruckus will already be started." He started off towards the brewery just as the sound of metal cutting into flesh reached the two of them.

[TheBlindMime]

"So I'll be on gaurd duty upstairs huh..." Grey smiled a little, the thought that others didn't take him seriously had set in long ago, yet the fact that he may be too old to hold his own in an old-fashioned shoot-out was still going to take some getting used to. "Well, I'm ready when you are."

Without waiting for a response he started off.

**************

The man closest to Nein hit the floor just before his head did, unfortunately the second man remained unmoved entirely. For a moment it seemed as if he'd be missed entirely, until the back of his neck pulse blood from a long smooth streak. He hit the floor as silently as his partner, though he wished he could have screamed with all he was just before he passed on.

**************

The brewery was well stocked, in fact there was enough booze there to stupor an army. Grey entered the building first his rifle/suburito drawn, much to his dissatisfaction it was empty. Further the place looked as though it hadn't been touched in a week, "Must've over brewed recently." Grey said aloud thoughtlessly.

Various moonshinin' chemicals and brewers were plentiful, as well as a small not so well known cache of ammo complete with 2 colt revolvers and a sawed off shotgun with only 5 shots to it. Though not many knew where the ammo was, unless they were say... told about it.

The door to the saloon is ajar, so ya'll keep it down now y'here.

[PyrosNine]

Nein gave his foxlike look another go, and smiled at the Sheriff. "Don't worry. No harm will come to 'Alice' and the yakuza around here won't be so uppity." he whispered assuredly. Whether or not he was honest about this or not was up to Grey.

Then, once Grey wasn't looking, Nein gave a sharp piercing glance at his surroundings, and at the walls themselves.

It was never a bad idea to know what would stop a bullet. Regardless, Nein held his sword in his left hand and the gun in the other, ready for anything as he tiptoed further into the saloon.

[Mintaro]

Rikki* looked at the pen and paper on the ground. "Very well Sumida, I will make your concessions." Sumida began to smile when he heard this. "Though I have one condition." Sumida's face darkened again.

"What is that samurai?" He asked angrily.

"You all must die today." With that Rikki's body shot forward his sword snapping out of its sheath creating a flash of light that ended in an unlucky gunman's neck.

[Azisien]

Nathan scanned the brewery. Idly, he wondered if this was where they made the watered down swamp water the Japanese Inn owners had called sake. This would be the ideal place to prepare a distraction, such as a large explosion, but if it went off now it was likely a lot of bystanders would get injured. He stowed that thought away when he saw the large still on the righthand side of the brewery with most of the other machinery.

"Let's see if that Yakuza really deserved to live..." Nathan walked over to the still and crouched down. Though it was impossible to see from any other position in the brewery, there was a medium-sized leather bag tucked neatly under the still. Nathan stowed his 9mm and pulled the bag out from underneath with both hands. He untied the leather strings holding the bag shut and pulled it open. Two revolvers and a saw-off shotgun. "So far, so good."

Nathan grabbed the bag with one arm and grunted at the weight, then showed it to Grey and Nein. "Reinforcements." Already annoyed at the bulkiness of all the magazines in his pockets, he quickly plopped the bag down onto the counter and transferred his extra ammo into the bag. When he finished, the 9mm came out again, with the bag in his offhand.

"Let's get going, before I forget why I'm doing this." Slowing his pace considerably, Nathan moved cautiously to the door that he knew led to Sumida's Saloon, that would take him just under the staircase.

[TheBlindMime]

Nein was prepared, more then prepared enough to hide in the shadows just beneath the staircase as a cadre of large brea- asseted women came charging by. One he recognized immediately, though he couldn't recall her name. The moved with ruthless efficiency for wearing both high heels and thick dresses.

Nein's gaze immediately caught their reasons for the rush, the yakuza was flooding back into the building with their tails between their legs. He couldn't tell who but one of the gunmen screamed like a little girls as a stream of blood stained the window. It could have been the bartender.

*****************

Just as Nathan reached the door the clatter of a mob came to his ears, before he could move he found Grey had already grabbed him by the scruff and yanked him to the side. Grey raised his rifle/suburito with the other hand just before the door burst forth pouring out a sea of the towns ...investors.

As Grey sighed with relief he remembered something important, he released Nathan's scruff and shrugged with a sheepish, "Beg pardon."

*****************

Some might call it cowardice, but the first one through the door into the saloon was Sumida. Then again he had been unarmed when he threatened the samurai, so you could say it was tactical. He removed the shotgun out from behind the bar as though he was grasping at a life preserver. Sumida then turned to the small group of 'surviving' gunman who were no more then eight in number. He stood boldly and issued orders as would a general.

"You three, use these tables for cover set up a perimeter now, you two, get behind the counter, you two take up your posts on the second floor and you, you come with me." Sumida moved with a certain grace as he charged first up the stairs followed by his new bodygaurd and two soon-to-be-snipers. The first group of inept gunmen started turning tables over towards the entrance while the second to leapt awkwardly over the counter.

None of them seemed to notice Nein at all.

*****************

In a single swipe the circle of confident warriors around a single samurai had spiraled into a chaotic and self-destructing group of men bent on saving themselves from the one they were afeared of. While some of the gunman scrambled into the saloon most had fallen prey to their fellow gunmen, firing into eachother as they poorly attempted to shoot Rikki*. A few of the swordslingers were down from friendly fire as well but most were moving in on Rikki* in the hopes of numbers conquering skill.

[PyrosNine]

Nein noticed that he wasn't noticed, and decided to take advantage of the situation by immediately heading after the man giving the orders and ignoring the guards as they ignored him. Cut off the head, and the chickens would run around squawking. Furthermore, it seemed something nasty was coming by the way the leader was worrying about the outside.

But as he reached the stairs, he was stopped when the two more keen eyed snipers caught sight of him walking up the stairs.

Nein smiled at them....and mentally prepped himself to reach for his guns.

[Mintaro]

The samurai's body moved as though he were dancing. His sharp partner moving in sync. It was as though he, his blade and the earth were one. The cloud of dust kicked up by stampeding feet mixed with the smoke created by gunpowder to his dance all the more serene. Indeed the samurai was like poetry in motion. Each slash of his sword moving quickly and precisely. Cutting men down like flowers in a field. In the infinite time it took for Rikki to kill the men around him a minute passed for the world. Those that could had retreated inside. Many men lay not moving. A few whimpering. Calmly Rikki walked to each man and quickly cut his throat open. Leaving them to bleed to death on a dirt road far from home. When he was finished with his slaughter he turned to look at the door to the saloon.

"Sumida! You have betrayed the Daimyo! For this there is no forgiveness! The Godkings punishment shall be swift, and delivered by my hand!."

[Azisien]

Nathan rubbed his neck as the whores ran by. He watched them run out the brewery exit onto the street. "Meh, I've seen bigger."

"Ehhh?" Sheriff Grey said behind him.

Nathan shook his head. "Nothing, just-" He stopped speaking the moment Nein ran through the junction between the brewery and saloon. "Nothing. Let's go."

There was a lot of commotion coming from the saloon, and he had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with Sumida, or the Daimyo, or both. With the whores out of immediate harm's way, it was killing time. 9mm gripped in both hands, Nathan ran to the junction door and crouched low, ready to start shooting easy targets.

Three gunmen had evenly spaced out and pushed over some tables, creating a makeshift wall before the saloon entrance. Two others had hopped behind the bar counter. They all appeared to be gunmen, which simplified things.

[TheBlindMime]

"Hot damn something lit the fire in that samurai!" Said one of the gunman throwing up one of the tables.

"Damn straight, not lets snuff it out before he offs us too." The second said as he stiffly raised his pistol over the table.

"Now don't you worry bout that Steve, we're far to good to jus-" A loud bang and sudden splattering of his brains silenced the first man.

Steve spiraled around in surprise with a face full of grey matter and blood to see two things out of place, the first being a man charging up the stairs after Sumida with a blade on his back the second thing was the two men charging in through the back, one of whom seemed to have a smoking suburito.

***********

The two riflemen were surprised to say the least, one drew he rifle down to fire and the other dropped down to slap the butt of his rifle into Nein's chin. Unfortunately for the first man though, were he to fire he'd hit his comrade before Nein.

***********

Everyone outside fought for their lives, save for one man and he was winning. The final man outside tried to dodge around a railing only to be caught by a piercing movement instead of a slicing one, his chest tightened and he fired a single round into the floor before dropping.

A warm gust blew over the crowd of bodies. It was getting on in the day, was it noon already.

***********

Grey charged into the saloon kicked over a table and dropped behind it. Inter-saloon warfare had been a former specialty as it turned out. The two opposing gunman who had a few rounds blow out chunks of table around their heads quickly leapt to the other side of the table forgetting completely about the samurai and focusing on the new intruders.

The gunmen behind the bar jumped up with their guns pointed to the door, to see no samurai. They turned to the tables to see their was a change in the battle plan.

Nathan had a sparse few options for cover, there was the table with Grey, the thick bartenders counter which was completely open at this end for easy access to the brewery and finally a door. It was off its hinges and laid up against the wall, god knows for what.

[PyrosNine]

Nein sidestepped away from an oncoming rifle butt despite the limited movement his placement allowed him, and whipped out his revolvers for the other threat. He was no keen marksman, despite having a powerful weapon, and there were many who had a better shot then he. But practice made perfect, and he'd have to use his guns if he ever wanted to better himself in them.

Besides at point blank range, there was no way he could miss. Nein fired straight into the first man's head before he could accidentally shoot his partner, then shot the second guy in the leg. Standing atop some stairs while bending over was never a good idea, especially when a high powered revolver cut through your leg like swiss cheese.

But even gravity had to wait, for Nein's attention was taken by a death vow heard by all. This Sumida fellow wasn't making any friends, and it seemed the Daimyo wanted his head more...which was bad for Nein's business, because then he couldn't sell his head. Nein decided to wait and see if the oncoming swordsman was worth anything before anyone important died.

Nein looked back at the sniper, who was howling in pain from his wounded leg, not yet succumbing to gravity. Nein gave gravity some aid, and gave the staircase a swift kick, just enough to jar a precariously perched man into motion.

[Azisien]

Nathan, still crouched in the minimal cover of the junction doorway, made his move as the gunmen finally figured out they were under attack. Two of Sumida's men were still looking around cluelessly behind the bar, unable to discern what was going on outside, nor why their comrades had switched sides of the table barricades.

Dropping the bag of extra guns and ammunition at the door, Nathan dove forward and rolled to the far edge of the bar counter. His shoulder returned a message of pain and the roll wasn't as smooth as he had hoped. You're getting old...

Out of the roll and safely behind cover against all four gunmen, Nathan watched as Nein shot two more of Sumida's men on the staircase; one in the head and the other in the leg. No time to keep watching! He readied the 9mm in both hands and shouted back to Grey. "Do me a favor and make them duck!"

The old sheriff grinned widely and the thunderous boom of the suburito echoed through the entire saloon. Nathan was rolling out of cover and behind the bar a split second after he heard the weapon go off. This time the roll was smooth and he came out of it aiming down the sight of the 9mm, staring at the two gunmen at the other end of the bar. Thankfully, they had ducked down. And now you'll have the pleasure of sweet release...

Nathan flexed his upper body to compensate for the miniscule recoil of the weapon and started double tapping in quick succession. Gunman who looked most prepared to fire on the right first. The first burst put a bullet in his forearm, bicep, and shoulder. The second put more in three more in his chest. Down for the count.

The gunman on the left clued in to the maneuver and started raising his revolver. Nathan smiled and squinted, going for a precision shot. Hot lead severed the man's trigger finger clean off and he found himself trying to shoot Nathan with a finger that was now on the floor in front of him. He did what most men would do, and screamed like a little girl. Another double tap put two more wounds in the man's stomach and Nathan started crawling forward as quickly as he could while remaining ready to start shooting again in the off chance the incapacitated gunman found the strength to reach for his gun and try shooting.

In the whole other universe on the opposite side of the bar, he could hear the fire exchange of the suburito and Colt revolvers.

[Mintaro]

Rikki strode forward the warm noon wind causing his loose pants to flap in the wind. The hot sun beat down upon his head though he didn't feel it. He approached the two doors slowly watching closely for any attack from the darker tavern. He could hear the sound of gunfire echoing from within though no flashes gave away shots being fired in his direction. With a quick double slash his sword cut through the small double doors dropping them to the ground with a loud clatter. Rikki stepped into through the now clear doorway. Looking around the room he called out. "Sumida, come here and face your death like a man. We should have known better than to think a Gaijin would uphold his honor."

[TheBlindMime]

As the precariously perched man fell towards the earth a bullet ripped through his chest, silencing his slowly rising scream. Grey reloaded quickly before firing another round into one of the tables being used for cover.

As the chunks and splinters of wood fell over his head the man clicked back the hammer on his gun ready for another burst of fire, until he heard the samurai. He spiraled around in surprise firing off his gun accidentally. He winced, now he really wasn't going to make it.

Responding to the samurai's voice quickly Grey began reloading his gun, if the samurai was going to face them aswell he would be prepared for it.

Up above Sumida opened the door to his room, Alice leaped up from the bed to begin asking what was going on, Sumida had no time for that. He held up a hand to his mouth meaning silence, then pulled a rifle from the wall and a box of shells from his personal cache. He handed them to the lone gunman at his door. "Nothing moves up this staircase y'hear. Nothing."

The door shut in a flash, locking just after. So there stood a single man with a rifle and some shells as he heard the Samurai's call. He loaded the rifle with a sense of urgency.

[PyrosNine]

"Nothing moves up this staircase y'hear. Nothing."

Contrary to Mr. Sumida's wishes, something was in fact moving up the stairs. Nein.

The man with the rifle certainly had him at a disadvantage. Once Nein bounded up the stairs, the man could just shoot him with impunity. There seemed to be no other way up from the spot, and he had an angry Samurai sure to be coming up behind him soon.

He couldn't hold his luck and wait for that either, since Sumida had "Alice" with him, and could for all he knew be ready to take her down with him. This was one time Nein wished he'd some sort of silent bullets, as a loud bang would tell the Yakuza boss his last line of defense had left the building. Spiritually.

This was a delicate situation that bullets could only worsen if used unproperly. Nein decided to try words. He cupped his hands to avoid anyone below from hearing him, and hissed up to the rifleman.

"Hey, dead man with the rifle. I've a message for your boss, a deal if you will. Tell him a friendly sword is willing to give him safe passage out of here. For a price..."

[Mintaro]

Rikki kicked the wooden door at the man in front of him. It cracked against his hand with a loud snapping sound. Followed by metal on wood as his gun dropped to the floor. The man gasped in pain holding onto his broken hand. Rikki moved like a viper towards the man. He grabbed him roughly by his collar and dragged him to his feet. Looking the man in the eye Rikki held him paralyzed. The stare of this battle hardened warrior was all it took to make the man freeze in place. "You will head down the southwest road. When you meet a caravan flying the flag of the Godking you will as for Ryosuke-sama. When he sees you, you will tell him what has happened here. If you are lucky you may be able to pass as faithful and stay alive. If you say here, or try to run away. I promise you death." Rikki released the man and pushed him towards the door. "Go." He commanded. Turning his back on the man he headed for the stairwell. Ignoring everyone else.

[TheBlindMime]

A bullet ripped through the first step, just above Nein's head. "If I'm already dead, why would I be your messenger blade. Step up a little further now, I'll cut you down with a bullet." He seemed to be gaining some confidence but his voice still shook like an engine on bad gasoline.

**********

As the second gunman behind the table raised up to fire on the samurai a bullet tore through his head. His splattering brains rained down on the Saloon's front window where it now just read "Sal". Grey reloaded to put another bullet into the samurai before he could become a threat to them as well but his rifle jammed from his last shot.

As he tried to clear it from the chamber he realized he should have used the last shell on the samurai, or let the gunman remove him. As the empty shell that represented his failure hit the floor he raised his rifle up to fire on the samurai once more. Only to find him obstructed by the stairwell, the sharp ping of the shell rapping on the floor of the now silent saloon pained Grey.

[PyrosNine]

"Well, a dead man's a dead man, no if's and's or buts. But you could at least delay your death by a few weeks, mebbe. But if you don't feel like that..."

Nein took out his sword and held it underhanded. This was a technique that was taboo in any sword fight, and he wasn't even sure it was fair in a gunfight either.

He bent down with his sword arm bent, and twisted his midsection back like a spring. He turned and turned until he was almost facing his back, and then immediately recoiled. He both straightened up and stood up, hurling the sword . The twist of his body along with a flick of his wrist had sent the sword spinning through the air, like a chainsaw blade.

The gunman saw his death coming and ducked. Chiff! The sword embedded itself fully in the door, with only the seven marked handle sticking out. The gunman was caught for a moment, staring at the deadly weapon's force and thinking how close it was to a near miss.

It was in that moment that Nein was already up the stairs. He knew he didn't have time to make those last couple of steps, so leapt onto the floor and rolled along the ground up to the gunman. The gunman immediately turned to look at his attacker, only to find the attacker's fist in his crotch.

There was a grunt of pain that every man in the building heard and echoed, even if only subconsciously. Nein used his other fist to pummel the man in the face, then put both hands on the floor and backwards donkey kicked him.

The gunman's head smacked back into the door, just to the left of Nein's blade, making even more noise that was probably assuring Sumida that he was in over his head.

Handstanding, Nein put his head on the ground as well and used his hands to spin himself about, his smushed leather hat providing little enough friction for Nein to really whirl. At full speed, he let his legs out. Sumida's body guard recovered from his double hammering just in time to feel Nein's boots hit him in the face yet again, and he was sent back into the door, this time rebounding from the hit. When he went forward again, another boot was there to wait for him.

This went on until the man's face was both broken and bloodied, and the door itself had a splintery hole where the man's head had been making impact repeatedly.

Then, with catlike agility Nein placed his legs underneath the bodyguard's body and springed him away from the door, and over the stair rail, flying into the chaos below.

Nein was a bit dizzy from his efforts, and put his hands on his sword for stability in a spinning world. Despite being dizzy, he still put his hat back on from the ground and kept up the mysterious look, showing his devotion to staying in character.

"Sumida. Be ready to bargain for you life, before someone else just chucks it into the trash." Nein said, mostly to himself. He pulled his sword out from the door.

[Azisien]

Amidst more gunshots around him, Nathan reached the gunman and kicked the revolver away. "Unnnghhh....Nooo...." With lightning speed, Nathan grabbed the man by the neck and threw him onto the bar top, faces less than six inches from each other.

"How many people have you killed, hmm? Why does your life deserve to be spared? Answer!" Nathan readied the 9mm.

The gunman moaned in pain from his wounds, tears beginning to fall from his eyes. "I..." The butt of the 9mm came down on his head before he could say anymore, and he was out like a light. Possibly dead. Nathan wasn't sure and didn't really care. Though despite his rage, it was diminishing in favor of his usual survival logic. Sumida was as good as defeated, thanks to the...

Daimyo. Nathan watched as the samurai sliced the door apart with that weapon of masterful craft and broke the gunman's hand. "You will head down the southwest road. When you meet a caravan flying the flag of the Godking you will ask for Ryosuke-sama. When he sees you, you will tell him what has happened here. If you are lucky you may be able to pass as faithful and stay alive. If you stay here, or try to run away. I promise you death." The master swordsman shoved the gunman at the now permanently open saloon door and made for the stairs, ignoring Nathan and Grey.

The samurai nodded as the kid kneeled down at the bodies of his parents. A third gunshot echoed out. A fresh spike of anger started to flow through Nathan's veins. He had some good reasons not to like the Daimyo, and if a caravan was on its way...

It would arrive, and they would establish full control. To try and gain the faith of the townsfolk, transition wouldn't be immediate. But the Intendent in charge would receive orders from their King and structure the town as someone a thousand miles away saw fit. Men would be forced to perform the duties the Daimyo wanted them to, and their families would be used as leverage if need be. The unfaithful would be killed, sometimes tortured first depending on how merciful the enforcers were feeling that day. And as for rebelling against them...Unlike petty bandits and even Yakuza, soldiers of the Daimyo received structured training. Even a regular footsoldier was a competent swordsman.

Nathan had made his decision. He was going to help this poor town of Low Hill. That included liberating them from Sumida and the Yakuza, and the corrupt mayor if necessary, and it included saving Grey's daughter. It also included stopping that samurai and preventing the Daimyo from reaching and subjugating yet another town. Too bad he didn't spend much time actually contemplating the difficulty of that latter clause...But no time for that now!

With a heave he hopped over the bar top and onto the other side. The samurai was heading up the stairs and that Nein character had disappeared from view. Grey was aiming at the samurai, but he had no line of sight. Now isn't the time anyway, Grey. Silence fell over the room. Nathan spent a few precious seconds surveying the damage. Every table in the saloon had been knocked over, and the two ends of the saloon were so peppered with bullet holes they looked like swiss cheese. Well, swiss cheese covered in blood and smelling of voided bowels.

The Gutter took a few steps and reached the doorway to the outside. Staring at the blood splattered paint on the window that read "Sal," Nathan spoke to Grey in the other direction. "At the end of this, I'd like to see both you and your daughter alive, Grey. Don't go within thirty feet of that samurai, you hear? Do not try to face him, he will kill you. Just look outside and get an idea of how many armed men he can kill. Oh, looks like Kenji is here too."

Nathan peered further outside and saw the gunman limping clumsily along, nursing his broken hand twenty yards away before he turned back to face the Sheriff. "Sumida is trapped in his room now and Alice is going to be there. We need to move, but not that way," he nodded towards the stairway. "A narrow hall like that, none of us stand a chance against a swordsman. Come on, I've got a plan."

He didn't bother waiting for Grey to respond, and started searching the ground meticulously. Near one of the overthrown poker tables, among chips and cards and blood, he saw it. "Bingo." He found the nearest body and searched the gunman's pockets. Standing up and walking across the room past Grey, Nathan stopped at the junction between the brewery and the saloon. He picked up the bag with the shotgun and revolvers and turned to Grey, holding up a packet of matches. He grinned ear to ear.

[TheBlindMime]

"Hey, hey wait just a second there!" Grey chased quickly after Nathan, he was a little torn, he wanted to see this place burn, but not yet. He quickly realized the gunman was working something much more tactical through his mind, despite the simpleton's grin. "Alright then Deputy," it had been a long time since grey had not called a comrade by that title, "Whats the plan?"

************

Sumida almost yelled something back, instead he opened fire with his favorite antique. Sumida was a collector, it was a skill he had acquired as a child and continued in adulthood. One could collect just about everything, money, women and even weapons. He hadn't fired this particular one in years, but his meticulous cleaning of it had proven worthwhile.

The uzi's bullets tore through the door, ripping just a fraction away with each shot, though each and every shot was headed toward Nein.

[PyrosNine]

"Kuso." (http://www.insultmonger.com/swearing/japanese.htm) Nein was too close to get away, his only luck being Nein got behind his sword, and let it do the talking. He could not block all of them, not in his current state, but fortunately the gun was not the most accurate of any gun out there. He could at least block the lethal ones, duck the disabling ones, and take the superficials like a man.

With simple, delicately tuned yet hard forced gestures with his sword he deflected the bullets and moved his limbs. He took a few shots, several grazing his body and scarring him up further, and even felt one slide along the edge of his neck like some red hot worm.

Nein bit his teeth for the pain. He'd taken a shot in his right side, his dizziness making him err a bit on dodging. But no matter. He was still alive, and the fool had refused his own survival. With a swipe of his blade Nein cut off what remained of the door, revealing for a split second the Yakuza boss. The piece of wood that was left spun a bit in midair, blocking the view. Nein then smacked it with the flat side of his blade to send it hurtling towards Sumida.

[Mintaro]

Rikki reached the top of the stairs and watched as the door deteriorated suddenly amidst a spray of bullet fire. It sounded like ten men with handguns. Rikki had seen a gun like this before. The godkings personal guard had some. A lesser version of the giant gun strapped to the godkings personal chariot.

As the man before him struck out at the door Rikki moved in. Grabbing him right as he sent something flying into the room before him. Taking him ruffly he forced him to move away from the now open door and placed him a step deeper into the hallway. Then he himself moved into the place Nien had occupied.

[Azisien]

Nathan re-entered the brewery and kneeled down at the same still where he had retrieved the extra guns. When Grey finally followed him in, he showed off the matches again. "It's not going to be very easy to set off these stills with matches. Much less time the damn thing, so we need to be quick and careful." Nathan pointed over to a rack of basic tools and supplies. "With some rope over there I rig it up to a lamp placed above the stills and the matches and hang it over something relatively volitile, kindling or papers or a little bit of alcohol. It'll start a fire right beside stills and within a few seconds," he paused, and grew slightly hesitant, "or minutes, if at all, and this place will go up like a Coalition fireworks show, taking most of the Saloon with it. It's a bit of a long shot, but if anyone is inside either of the two buildings when it goes off, they'll be dead or dying."

Grey started to open his mouth in response, but Nathan continued, already moving for the bundle of rope and a lamp by the tools. "We need to get Alice out of Sumida's hands, and any minute the Daimyo, Nein, and Sumida will be duking it out." The sound of the Uzi firing was unmistakable. "I know I just told you to stay away from the samurai, so there's two options for grabbing Alice: me or you. One of us needs to set up this rig to explode, and the other needs to grab Alice. Since we can't take the saloon stairs, the person going will get helped up onto the roof on the brewery, and they'll be able to access Sumida's room, from the back window."

Nathan moved before the nearest counter between the stills and Grey, placingdown a bundle of rope, an oil lamp, some sheets of parchment, and the packet of matches. "All right, I'll go. Rig this next to that still and leave the lamp on and hanging there with the matches. If all goes well, the matches should ignite these parchments faster, and cause the explosion faster."

Grey raised an eyebrow. "How would you be planning on lowering the lamp to ignite it? If it went off too quick it'd kill us all!"

Nathan smiled wickedly. "Leave the door to the brewery wide open. When I get off the roof with Alice and unless he's already dead, Nein, in tow, I'll drop down and shoot the rope from a distance. By that time we'll need you outside of the building providing cover fire. But once I get Alice to you, and if the Daimyo is still alive, you run and leave him to me."

The firing of the Uzi stopped, signifying either that the magazine had finally run out of bullets, the gun had jammed, or the limb of the shooter holding it was no longer attached to his body. Nathan ran for the brewery exit. "Come on, help me onto the roof!"

[TheBlindMime]

Grey heaved as hard as he could, only to find that either Nathan needed to lose weight or he needed to stop getting older. After what felt like an eternity of giving him a leg up, Nathan was up upon the roof. Leaving Grey to return to his amatueristic bomb building.

**************

Nathan was correct in his assumption on the placement of Sumida's window, the brewery had been an addition to the Saloon and its roof reached the floor of the saloon's second floor. As Nathan snuck up to the Yakuza boss's bedroom he saw only a small portion of the picture but it grew clearer by the step.

**************

Sumida's lip bled, it was swelling rapidly thanks to the door he had been hit with or rather a chunk of a door. As he fidgeted with his uzi which had jammed suddenly he did his best to continue looking imposing. But in less then an instant from dropping his eyes to his weapon and back up, the man he faced had been replaced. "Dear lord...." he muttered breathlessly.

Years before on a sundrenched plain not far from the town a Daimyo by the name of Gorobei was hanging by his neck, he'd been left to suffocate in a lasso knot, his hands bound behind his back. Not a death suited for any samurai, by happenstance Sumida, then known by the name of Franklin McCarthur, was walking down the road. The samurai begged for his life, Franklin made him barter for it. They came to an accord rather quickly, for his life Gorobei would give Franklin access to the Daimyo's men.

It was only after complete control of the town was in Franklin's hands did he find out the truth, Gorobei had bartered more then he could offer, and Franklin's control of the town with his personal yakuza was only a placeholder for the Daimyo's eventual arrival. Franklin would have killed Gorobei that instant had it not been for the fact that he was already dead.

Killed in an honorable duel, or so it was called. The Godking had placed Gorobei into a duel against one of his best due solely to his over stepping his bounds to save his own life. Gorobei had only his brother to weep for him at this execution of a duel, a duel in which his brother could only watch helplessly as the 312 best sword of the daimyo killed his brother in two moves.

Gorobei, had never been a samurai in even the words loosest terms, his brother on the other hand was in every sense of the word. Kenji was a samurai of the Daimyo first, a brother second and a bodyguard third. Though he had known Kenji for years, Franklin had never met Kenji until the day the 312 best sword arrived in his town.

Kenji whom had drunkenly told the story of his brothers death almost as many times as he played it over in his head. Sumida, as he had been redubbed by the Godking and refused to answer to any other name, listened half-heartedly to this story time and time again.

It wasn't until the man stood in his doorway, blade bloodied and drawn, poised to attack, his eyes that of a demon, that Sumida remembered him. The story of his duel of two moves did him little justice, for the first time since his realization of servitude to the Daimyo Sumida felt afraid once more. Though the fear was not in the loss of his own life, but that of his adopted daughter, Alice.

All he could do was stand poised to move, his daughter clinging to his leg with a gun that refused to fire. His voice rang out, though he had no idea he was speaking until he had stopped. "What is it you want, Rikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo?"

**************

As Nein fell to the wall from the Samurai's toss of him, his elbow shattered the window that had ended the hallway. Just as he winced from the pain from his cosmetic injuries as well as the elbow addition, he saw something he had not expected at all. Nathan was standing just a few feet away at the next window over.


**************

Grey was frantic, he had never built a bomb before, he should have probably asked for clearer directions, after setting out tinder and pulling the rope with the lantern taut, he kicked off the spout from the smallest of the still's. As the nearly toxic liquid poured out onto the floor, Grey ran Nathan's direction over in his mind once more. "Why did I just do that?" Grey stopped, his heart was pounding hard, so hard it wasn't a surprise he had done anything that crazy or foolish.

Though it was rather surprising when he realized the lantern was still unlit. Scrambling for the matches, he began lighting them so furiously the came ablaze and snuffed out before the could even pass the end of the box. The flew from his hand thoughtlessly as he reached for the next. Each smoking stick landing just beyond the reach of the alcholic brew spilling at his feet.

[PyrosNine]

Nein assessed he might need a way out, or better yet, some aid ensuring "Alice" was not harmed. Though from the sounds of it, it did not seem like Sumida was putting Alice in any danger. Nein did his best to go unnoticed by the drama before him, and pushed the window open in a flash.

He poked his head out the window, and used what limited hand sign language he had to get a message to Nathan: "Get the hell over here!"

He turned his head to check for Alice.

[Mintaro]

Rikki stood tall filling the doorway even though he was far too short to do so. "Your head on a Pike Sumida."

Sumida reached down and pried his daughters hands from his leg. Never taking his eyes off the samurai before him. Pushing her towards the window behind him he rasped through a fear dried throat. "Get out of here Alice. Run and get somewhere safe."

Alice stumbled to the open window but turned to look back at the two men. Clearly unable to decide which way to go.

Rikki laughed evilly. "I don't wish to harm a little girl. She will not be held to account for the sins of those around her. If you were truly of the godking you would know such things. But you are not, your just a tool. A puppet who's usefulness is done and must have his strings cut. To be thrown to the fire and burned. I am the Flame Sumida. I am your death. The godking has said many things to his warriors but one thing that always stuck with me was this. 'Always remember to live your life shinning brightly; and if you must die, die brilliantly!' How will you die Sumida?. Shall it be with the brilliance of a man faced with the flame. Or Shall it be cowering behind your ancient toy, trying to buy your life. HOW WILL YOU DIE TODAY SUMIDA!

[PyrosNine]

Nein winced as the Samurai called himself the flame, and went on about the godking. If Nein wasn't currently supposed to save this 'Alice' whom seemed to be in no real harm, he'd have slugged this Rikki tikki of the really long last name pretty good. But at least now he knew who was Alice.

Nein knew he was for the most part being ignored, but decided to chip in here. Especially since the man was about to die.

"If you've any reservations in death Sumida, know this: 'Alice' will be fine. I was hired for her protection. Some old sheriff. May you go in peace."

Nein thought about the last statement, and decided to rephrase it. "In your case, maybe just as peaceful as you can get."

Nein gestured to Alice. "Come with me, if you want to live."

[Azisien]

It took longer to get onto the roof than Nathan had really wanted. The original plan was for Grey to fetch Alice, but that had changed in case a serious firefight broke out. The old man tried as best he could, but time was of the essence. Now on the roof, Nathan gripped his 9mm with both hands and moved while staying low, noting the two windows separated by only several feet distance. One of those windows would lead to Sumida's bedroom.

As he drew closer, a look of surprise overtook his face as he spotted an equally puzzled Nein through the right hand side window. After a moment, the mysterious mercenary opened it and made a bunch of incoherent hand waves. Only through intuition did Nathan figure out Nein wanted him to come closer. Briefly, through the left window, he saw Sumida holding an uzi and a girl who could only be Alice step out of his line of sight towards, he hoped, Nein.

Nathan moved quickly to the open window. "Grab her, we need to get out now!" He shifted a little further right to watch Nein consider not complying with the not-so-friendly request, decide it probably didn't matter either way, and grab Alice firmly by the arm. Forming a chain of sorts, Nathan grabbed Nein's free arm and heaved backward, which combined with Nein's movement out the window, pulled all three of them onto the roof.

Nathan made sure the girl got up and could move, then started moving her away from the saloon, and with each step remembering that they could receive the full blast of the explosion if it went off right at this moment. With Alice near the front of the brewery roof, he placed a hand on her shoulder and forced a smile. "Stay low, you're going to be all right, but it's still dangerous around here. He peered over the edge of the roof and didn't see Grey anywhere. "GREY!!!" He shouted, praying that there wouldn't be an enormous gout of flame in response. "Don't move." He said to Alice and moved back to Nein, who despite remaining on the roof still seemed somewhat interested in the events unfolding in Sumida's bedroom.

Nathan moved closer to the mercenary and spoke as softly as he could on a windy rooftop. "We need to get off this building, because at any moment it isn't going to be here anymore. Let's go!" The Gutter said and started to move back to Alice.

[PyrosNine]

"And I had wanted to be the one to blow it up..." Nein pulled out the bags of gun powder and tossed them upon the roof. "Alright then. Vamos." Nein sheathed his sword and followed Nathan.

Nathan was an old man, and Alice was young, so Nein doubted Alice's ability to get down safely, and Nathan's ability to carry her down safely. So Nein just subverted that and picked her up, her arms flailing in resistance.

Ignoring her, he had a question for Nathan. "Where's that sheriff?"

[TheBlindMime]

Sumida watched crestfallen from the window of his room as the two gunmen he had never seen before (but had played a rather large portion in his downfall) lower his daughter down a ladder and out of sight. He knew then that he would never see Alice again. He just hoped he'd said the right thing before his death.

*************

As Sumida stared into the Samurai's eyes which could only be the gateway to the underworld, he pulled his weeping daughter from his leg and spoke in a hollow and fearful tone. “Alice, shed not another tear for me my daughter, for I am a brigand. I stole you from your real father, Sheriff Grey when you were just a babe and lied to you ever since. For this I am bound to hell, this man will take me there, of that you can be sure.”

Sumida gulped in a vain attempt to sooth his parched throat, “I need you to remember two things for me though Alice, the first is that you must always fight for what is yours. And the second is a message for your real father....”

*************

As Nathan began down the ladder and there was no trace of any living soul on that second story save for Sumida and the Samurai, Sumida let a single tear fall from his eye. No one was coming to his rescue, no one was risking their life for his any longer, he was alone truly. He knew full well that the last face he would ever see now, would be the Samurai’s.

*************

Grey had nearly killed everyone, though it was not his fault, well not entirely. Just as he struck what must’ve been the fiftieth match, his name was shouted from up above, the match slipped from his fingers and ignited mid-air. For a moment Grey only thought that he had killed everyone, before he performed the most deft move he had done in years. Grasping the mid-air match he swung it in one simple flowing arc into the lantern, lighting it successfully. With a sigh of relief he tossed the other matches aside thoughtlessly and grabbed the only ladder and ran out the doors, his feet sploshing in the disgusting ale still pouring all over the floor.

He heaved the ladder up to the roof and with a final showing of strength of will, Grey waited until Nein was all the way to the bottom before stripping his daughter from the man’s arms and clutching her tight. He’d dreamed of this moment for years, but each dream had lacked the simple things from a moment like this, the tears he couldn’t stop, the smell of her hair so close to her mothers, the sound of her sobbing for the father she knew who was dead and the sobbing for a father she knew almost nothing of.

Before Nathan could even put foot to earth Grey had already begun running, the kind of running a man can only do if he holds something precious to him. Despite this Nathan and Nein did not end up to far behind him before he reached his destination. A mammoth old black birch tree with only one warped limb left.


For years it had been the spectre of low hills, a grim sight for criminal’s and thug’s alike, many had hung on its firm old branch. Hung till they quit kickin’ and the crowd stopped screamin’, for most it was a monument to the darkness of the world they lived in. For Grey on the other hand it had always been justice, during all his time in Low hills not one person hung from that tree that didn’t have every right to their fate. He saw himself in that old tree, now more then ever though.

In one fluid motion Grey seemed to lay down Alice down behind the old birch and spring up to its other side rifle in hand, he’d loaded the last shot, raised his rifle and drew a quick bead on his target, the rope was over a hundred yards away, and not more then a half inch thick. Despite this, he fired confidently. A light breeze blew by the lantern, as Grey’s mouth fell agape two gun’s raised over his head. Nein and Nathan fired simultaneously, each sure he’d made his mark as the entire brewery lit aflame.

The fire spread quickly to the roof, where despite the smoke it appeared as if two men were standing atop it. Though this vision was quickly dispelled delivering the noise all three men had waited for.

Boom.

The next moment the only thing left of the Saloon and Sumida were memories, memories and a smoldering crater of lumber and flesh.

[PyrosNine]

Nein stood there before the ashes of the Saloon, and watched the flames die. Yet another destruction. At least it was the good kind of destruction for once. A corrupt Yakuza boss bit the big one, a servant who had come to claim the place for the Daimyo was taken along for Sumida's ride in an event that many could had no one to blame.

Sure, the Daimyo would inquire about the dead servant, but any investigation would probably say that he went into battle against the corrupt Yakuza boss, and in the course of the vicious slaughter, the saloon exploded due to faulty gunpowder storage as well as the sheer amount of inebriation spread into the walls.

Due to the sheriff's spur of the moment assault, the three gunman were most likely to not be implicated in the explosion, as the samurai was unknowingly kind enough to have all the attention upon him, allowing the three unseen (by those who survived) agents (Nein, Nathan, Grey) to take back Alice and mop the place up. As well as make it explode.

Nein nodded to himself. Everything would be alright here. At least for a while. At least the people who mattered were still alive, and if the Daimyo ever decided they needed to own this piece of crap town, Nein was sure the Sheriff and his daughter could find a better place easy.

Nein would move on as well, but he had things to do, things not done that were interrupted by the bloodshed of the night.

Nein went toward the ashes of the saloon and found a spot that had cooled and was away from the heat. He picked up a handful of the ash and used his free hand to make a small hole in the dry, yet ash nourished soil. He reached into his jacket pulling out a small, tiny object of great importance and dropped it into the hole. With a drop of the ash to bury it and a stomp of his foot to firm it into place, Nein's important business was done.

Nein stood up and turned to face the road of the small town, looking to recollect a location. Nein needed food as well as rest after his nightly activities, and from what he knew, there was now only one type of inn where he could get it...

[Azisien]

Nathan watched as sparse fragments of the Saloon's skeleton snapped, crackled, and eventually collapsed as the foundation was consumed by the blaze. The only real uncertainty in the matter was who had landed the shot? A grin peeled onto his face as he looked at the massive blackened scar and graveyard of ash where the brewery used to be. Guess we'll never know...

There's work to be done, Nate.

Yes, ma'am.

As Nein was walking around the burned out areas of the buildings, Nathan turned to Grey and Alice. "I need a horse."

Expectedly, the sheriff's eyebrow raised. Nathan smiled a little. "I said I've made my decision, that I was going to help this town. So I'm keeping my word. There's still things that need to be done, and there are things that need to be considered."

He looked down at the 9mm he was still holding in his right hand and clicked the safety on. He continued to talk while surveying the weapon for any external damage or markings gained in the firefight. "There's the mayor, whom I was told isn't the most uncorruptible politician in the land. There's the state of the Law in Lawless. And I don't know much about the details, but given my past experience, this place is marked for occupation by the Daimyo. That's why the samurai was here, though why they sent such a monster is beyond me. No offense, but this town isn't worth a whole lot, especially in the state it's in right now."

The largest section of the saloon still intact crashed to the ground. Nein was placing something in the ground that was indisguishable from this distance. Smoke continued to plume into the sky, which was a very bad thing, but the explosion and initial blaze had consumed most of the lumber already. "I've got good reason to believe the Daimyo are coming in larger force. When, I don't know. In what numbers, I don't know. The only two people who may have known are currently scattered around that crater over there." He pointed, the smile departing from his face as he thought about his own words. "We might be able to stop them, or at least slow them, but you and whoever else capable of leading this town needs to start making some decisions, and fast."

Alice didn't seem to take Nathan's words about Sumida's fate too kindly, which made him frown. "Sorry. Now, are you going to set me up with that horse, or are we going to keep standing here and die of smoke inhalation?"

Nathan clicked the magazine loader and it popped out. He pulled the magazine out and frowned absently at the missing bullets. "Oh, shit! You, uh, you didn't happen to grab my bag, did you?" He turned around and looked at the black scab in the earth. "Shit."

[TheBlindMime]

Grey smiled, still clinging to his now sleeping daughter. "I'm sorry Nathan, I had other things on my mind." As the smoke continued to billow from the wreckage a group of civilians had come out from their homes to see, curiousity getting the best of them. Smiles seemed to circulate more quickly then the news of what had happened. Grey's face became more jovial and youthful as he turned to Nathan as if years were being lifted off of him, "As for that horse, you can have it on one condition... You come with us."

Nathan had a distinct look of confusion on his face, Grey quickly explained. "I've been planning this a might longer then you think, despite what this may have degraded into. My plan was to organize a group of gunmen, men like yourselves in this town to overthrow Sumida. Seeing that samurai of the Daimyo though... sped things up a mite faster then I'd liked. Point is Nathan, everyone who still lives in this town, is ready to move. Ready to leave this behind them, but Sumida wouldn't have let us all leave, with him out of the picture though its time we started moving. It'll be much further north, probably just imbetween the Daimyo and Militia territories, we've come to the conclusion its better to live free and die. Just more then most here would rather die somewhere else." Grey motioned to the squaller around to more clearly illustrate his point.

A few men all dressed as simple farmers ran towards the Sheriff with anger in their voices, "Sheriff Grey, the Mayor's locked up his house tight. He's refusing to come out!"

Grey just smiled, "Good, get those barricades of your houses right now, and board his home up." The men smiled, as if the children in them had been awakened with an idea of such glee. "Make sure to board it up tight!"

The men were quick with there work, the women were too, all working together. Each nail bringing further graditude into their hearts for newfound freedom.

"Look at them Nathan, its like they were free all along. And though they are spry today, we are but children and elderly now, we'll need all the help we can get from good strong young men. Men like you. I know you want to stand and fight the daimyo, I don't care for your reasons, we all have our own. Whatever your demons though, can you put them behind you here. For these people?" Switching his daughter over to the other shoulder, Grey removed his badge from his chest and tossed it to Nathan. "Every town needs its Sheriff."

Austin Grey, former Sheriff of Low Hills began walking towards the Inn as the frantic screams of the Mayor could be heard as he tried to escape the house he had formerly taken as sanctuary.

*******************

A second plume of smoke rose from the town of Low Hills that day this one came from the Japanese Inn. As it burned to the ground, the old man and his son just stood in an awkward silence watching it burn. Nein stood just behind them, taking note of the fact they had moved everything that wasn't nailed down before it burned down. Whether or not they meant to burn it down, well that was another question. Until.

"I told you I wouldn't bury another man." The wizened old man spoke.

"Thats no reason to burn a perfectly good Inn down. We could have used that lumber." His youth replied.

"If you really think that then why did you help me move everything out?"

"Cause you'd have done it no matter what you old coot."

This quickly degraded into a loud arguement, that was silenced by the clacking of hooves and the creaking of a wagon's wheels. Nein turned to see a familiar face. "S'cuse me mister, d'ya happenin to be headed my way?" It was Maggie Johanson from Johanson's guns, she smiled happily like someone who just found an old friend. She was straddled atop a young but sturdy mare which was connected to a small wooden wagon that was obviously loaded with more ammo then the normal person could fire in a life time, with the guns to boot. "Cause I heard, this is all heresay I reckon, but there's a town to the far east of here with a real live working Iron Horse like in the olden times."

[Azisien]

Nathan caught Austin Grey's badge with his left hand and absently holstered the 9mm in his right hand. He cupped the scarred, rusty, gold-coloured badge in both hands and looked at it as if it were a big lump of silver. After a few moments, he looked up at Grey again. A smile broke out onto his face. "I'm flattered, at the very least." He ran a hand through his slick hair and recalled his own reflection. He was, at most, a decade and a half younger than Grey, and not exactly a spry young chap just breaking out into the world. Still, Nathan didn't mind compliments when he got them.

"I need some time to think about this." Nathan said. Grey nodded understandingly and they parted ways. Nathan made his way outside the town boundaries and back up to the top of the same hill he had passed over when he arrived at Low Hill not eight hours ago. Completely alone, he laughed audibly. "If this day gets anymore exciting I'm going to fucking kill myself!"

He found a decent-sized rock to sit on and looked at the town from a distance, pondering. He had spent years travelling south. This town right here was as far as he'd ever been, and Grey wanted him to go back north. It was very dangerous that way. The Coalition and Daimyo have been squabbling over land and resources since Nathan was born, and probably before that. Grey wanted Nathan to be the sheriff, essentially the leader, of a small town of people who wanted to bee-line right to the frontline of a war?

The very idea was completely insane.

And the longer Nathan sat there, the more he started to like it. He'd come to some stark conclusions today. Ever since he left Sheree, he'd been running. Direction didn't matter; running was running, his just happened to be southward. Another month, another town, another fight, another pile of bodies, and another journey south. More running. What was he running from? His childhood? Fear of death?

His thoughts wandered to Liz. They'd met in one of the major Coalition cities as Nathan was passing through. It was the one time in his life he had almost stopped running. What did he have to look forward to, running all his life? More towns, more bodies? An eventual end, with nothing to show for himself. He wouldn't be remembered by anyone. Even after today's events, the people of Low Hill would probably forget him after a few years. First his name, then his look, and then his existence altogether.

Not usually this philosophical, Nathan grunted audibly, still completely alone. Figures were visible and moving in Low Hill as the makings of a caravan were being assembled. Several wagons were already headed in their own directions as time wore on and afternoon slowly transitioned into early evening. The days were getting longer now.

And as for the world at large, it was seriously messed up. Neither the crazed Daimyo nor the "patriotic" Coalition were going to back down. One of them, and ideally both, needed to lose. Slowly, the makings of a plan started to form in his mind, and he started to like it. He had plenty of decent fighting years left, and he was going to use them. If he travelled north with the people of Low Hill, it would put them right near the action, and right where he could do some damage. His softer side also assured him he would be doing a good thing by helping the people of Low Hill.

Finally, after several hours, he stood up and stretched. It would be a long, arduous journey, both short-term and long-term, and he was eager to get started. He still hadn't forgot step one and really needed to get that horse. He jogged most of the way back to Low Hill and stopped when he started to feel the burn. The mayor's house was thoroughly boarded up now, though if determined the man would be able to escape in time. People were out on the streets now, and even with two destroyed buildings and accompanying smoke plumes, the place looked more lively than he had ever seen it. Wagons had been pulled out of hiding places, and belongings were being loaded up. Some horses were already out and about, being led around by their masters.

Nathan finally found Grey at a building he hadn't been in before, where they were temporarily serving out food. He was seated at a table, protectively snuggling with his still sleeping daughter, Alice. Nathan smiled. No innocent blood was spilled this day. He stepped up closer to Grey, ignoring many looks from the villagers, and flashed the Sheriff's badge before pocketing it. "All right. I'll do it. I don't know how long I'll want to get tied down as Sheriff. And it's going to be hellishly rough to the north, possibly more than you know. Though, I don't know what you've seen in your lifetime anymore than what you've seen in mine. I only know this: I'll help you, and the people of Low Hill, find a new home. After that, we'll see."

Grey grinned, and Nathan even heard a hoot and a clap behind him, but he remained serious. "I really need to borrow that horse now. And maybe some..." He eyed the bread being handed out hungrily.

***************

Within an hour, Nathan was atop a horse, trotting out of Low Hill on the southwest road. He had taken a few minutes to scarf down some bread and chug some water, then stored his extra ammunition and cartridges he had kept in his pocket safely with Grey. He had wanted to travel light, and didn't want to risk losing anything against the constant pounding of the horse's movement.

It had been a few years since he had rode on a horse. Recently he had taken preference to walking. It was difficult to shoot, and actually hit something, while riding on a horse in full gallop. With his feet firmly planted on the ground Nathan could hit nearly anything, stationary or moving, within two hundred feet. The horse was only a necessity because he needed speed.

It took about an hour before Nathan found him. Walking and absently jogging, was the single gunman the samurai had allowed to live. Nathan had heard it quite clearly from behind the bar.

"You will head down the southwest road. When you meet a caravan flying the flag of the Godking you will as for Ryosuke-sama. When he sees you, you will tell him what has happened here. If you are lucky you may be able to pass as faithful and stay alive. If you say here, or try to run away. I promise you death."

Absently, he had worried just how close the Daimyo caravan was to Low Hill, but if they had sent such a skilled samurai on foot, so it couldn't be very far, and that was cause for concern. The road curved through the relatively sparse forest and the gunman disappeared from view temporarily, still unaware of Nathan.

As the horse rounded the corner no more than two minutes later, he was face to face with the gunman, who had a revolver drawn. Shock ran through him as he looked down the road, which bee-lined westward. Green flags, and the vague outline of a dragon. Fuck.

"Who the hell are you?! Come to kill me have you?!" The gunman snarled, holding the revolver in one hand. Nathan eyed it curiously. The man had either never fired a gun in his life, or that wasn't his firing hand. He quickly recalled the fight in the bar. A resounding crack and yelp of pain, just before the samurai spoke.

"Hold it! Hold it! No, I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to let you know the samurai was disposed of. He's dead, gone. See those flags down there? Those are the Daimyo flags, and that's your final resting place if you go there. Now come on, Low Hill is headed north, and you're welcome."

There was a long pause. The gunman lowered the revolver fractionally. The 9mm was out and firing before the former Yakuza could put his finger back into the trigger guard. Three successive shots to the chest, and the gunman slumped over. Nathan clicked the safety on the pistol and put it back into the holster. There wasn't time to move the body, and he had to get back to Low Hill immediately.

He turned the horse around and it started moving forward, before he pulled lightly on the reins to bring it to a halt. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Sheriff's badge. He brought it up to his mouth and blew on it, then wiped away the moisture. Proudly, he fixed the badge onto his breast, and admired it for a moment.

Out of his left holster he pulled his most prized possession, the magnum. He hadn't fired it once. For another minute he looked along its length. The perfect nickel lustre, the masterful craftsmanship. A wave of emotion washed over him from behind and he remembered the Daimyo.

It wasn't over. Even with this loose end tied up, they would be able to piece together most of what happened in Low Hill today. They would likely be pursued, though that wasn't anything new for Nathan, he would have baggage now. He glanced at the westward road and distant Daimyo flags and it almost seemed like a wave of dark clouds were following in their wake.

He looked down at the magnum a final time. "Don't worry baby, I'm sure I'll be using you soon." Safely back in its holster, he whipped the reins against the horse and it took off at a gallop. He rushed back onto the southwest road and back to Low Hill, with a Sheriff's badge managing to shine even in the waning light.

[PyrosNine]

"An Iron horse, huh? Sounds interesting. I need to head onto the next city anyways." Nein hopped onto the wagon. "Some day, huh? Feels like it."

He'd more cities to see, and much more to do. In the future and as well as any other time, most people's view of the world stretched only as far as their town's limits. In this sense, Nein had saved or destroyed a world, but he had countless others up ahead. It was his duty to...and he felt like it.

[TheBlindMime]

Maggie smiled brightly, "It has been a swing-shooting good day, though I get the feeling the next ones going to be a true hootenanny. Don't you agree?"

Before Nein could say anything a familiar cat pounced on his head with a mighty meow.

"Y'see, Ichabod knows it's true." Maggie said happily as she started the horse with a kick. As they started off Grey let out a small laugh, watching as Nein did his best to work his cat mojo, the cat dropped to his lap, but only as a temporary retreat. It readied to pounce on him again, the moment he stopped petting it just behind its ear.

Grey waved a final goodbye to Maggie and the stranger Nein, he hadn't even had the chance to pay Nein before he left. Though, Maggie was an experienced riflewoman, gunsmith, engineer, medic and cartographer. "Seems a fair trade to me, besides..." Grey left it at that.

The packing went rather quickly with everyone helping one another, though there was a little unpacking and repacking after everyone realized all of Alice's belongings had gone up in the fire, before most people had left town she had been donated a rather extensive series of ensembles. Grey seemed more relaxed and jolly then he had in years, though as the people told 'the sheriff' this he chided them cheerfully, "Oh no, I'm not the Sheriff any longer. Call me Austin, Austin Grey."

The people seemed unconvinced until Sheriff Carera returned to claim his title. After the rest of the villagers were gone, Alice awoke finally. As she stirred Grey smiled a content and happy grin only a father could wear. "Morning Sunshine, how are you?"

"Ok." She replied before sniffing back a tear.

"You miss him don't you?" Grey asked now unable to face his daughter.

"Yes sir."

"Y'don't have to call me sir you could just call me Dad."

A tear rolled down her eye. This was quickly followed by many more.

"Don't cry now, we have plenty of time. I know I shoul-"

"He wanted me to tell you something," Alice cut Austin off before he could say anymore.

*****************

Minutes later Austin stood in front of the still smoking hand in hand with his daughter, he coughed before beginning. "Hello Franklin-"

"Whose Franklin?" Alice asked.

"Franklin was his real name." Austin answered before continuing, "Franklin, this was never easy for me. I knew your father, I rode with him, he was my friend. So when he left you and your mother to go riding again... I just couldn't help but feel he was right to do it, since, well, that was what was right by him. I guess thats why I never tried to hard to convince you to go out looking for him, and in the end why you believe that I was him. Which, I guess makes you right about what you said to my Daughter Alice."

Austin nodded to his daughter, she set down a few flowers in front of the cindered building. "We picked these for you fath-.... brother."

Austin nodded solemnly as his daughter spoke, then he repeated the message his daughter had memorized for him. "You were never as good a father to me, as I was to my sister." Austin wiped his eyes with his sleeves, he was becoming sentimental in his old age, "You were right about that, I only hope that I still have time to change...." He looked down to Alice, she simply smiled back at him, "I'm sorry your dead Franklin, because while you were always like a son to me, I was ne'er a father to you. Goodbye son."

"Goodbye brother." Alice waved as they walked back to their wagon. Austin just finished wiping the last of the tears from his eyes when he spotted Sheriff Carrera riding down the path hard, his badge glinting gently in the waning sunlight.

"It's time for us to go Alice."

"Where are we going now Dad."

Austin couldn't help but smile at his daughter, "We're going to go build a new life honey, one that Franklin would have loved when he was a kid."

"That sounds nice."

"It sure does honey, now its gonna get awful cold up here during the ride, so why don't you climb into the back, I'll wake you when we get there."

With a simple "Ok daddy." She crawled into the covered wagon built atop a former range rover. Austin pressed the horses forward at a quick pace. Sweeping the wagon out of town, the newfound Sheriff quickly closing the distance as they rode towards the sunset.

*****************

A short distance away a Daimyo patrol far ahead of the carravan had a single horse drawn carriage surrounded, they were holding them for suspicious behavior. Though by the ways there eyes daudled it looked as if they were just interested in harrassing the rider.

They hadn't seen a woman in what seemed like weeks, though they should have been paying attention to the passenger, a sly grin dancing across his lips, he raised up to his feet effortlessly his guns sliding into his hands as if by magic.

He recited their names in his mind as he drew back their hammers. "Yeah," he thought excitedly, "This feels right."