Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ]

Yuuta Yasui

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Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ] Jul 12, 2017 6:30:59 GMT -5

Post by Yuuta Yasui on Jul 12, 2017 6:30:59 GMT -5

Yuuta had been a delivery boy for a couple of years now. He didn't deliver papers, nor did he deliver drugs, what he delivered was sugar, custard powder and similar items which were hard to get hold of in the slums. It was a supply controlled by the mob due to how much profit they could extort from something which they could obtain perfectly legally in other areas of the Rukonagi with their scale. He had been attacked twice but hadn't once lost his package, it was part of the reason why he'd gained a reputation as a fast and reliable runner.

Today was just another day at work for Yuuta, he started at 5AM. He had already done two drops this morning alone, and was just on his third. It was good training running with few kilograms on your back, the first time Yuuta had done three runs in one day on top of his other training he was completely worn out but now it was something he was used to. This particular delivery was to a new client, he was always wary of these jobs as the two times he'd been attacked had been on the way to new clients. Despite this, his instincts were telling him that something good might happen today, perhaps it was because he'd cut through a wooded area and forests always relaxed him? He wasn't sure but his instincts were right more often than not.

He reached the drop off point a few minutes early, he was greeted by the mob dude and a guy with a sword. That was kinda cool really. He unhooked his over the shoulder bag and took out a twenty kilogram bag of sugar and held it out to the man "The boss said you paid in advance so no payment required sir" he was being paid about 15,000 Kan for this job alone which was below the normal rate means he was doing so much work so he didn't become demotivated to do runs tomorrow., it meant this was a big purchase.

He kept glancing over to the swordsman. Whilst the mob guy was weighing the sugar to double check every gram was there Yuuta stepped up to him and asked a rather direct question "Can I look at your sword sir? I'm learning and kinda like looking at swords" he laughed awkwardly, partly because he admitted liking looking at swords and partly because he felt awkward being all formal and polite. He'd been told it was good for business apparently.

Tag: Takashi Sakuma
Post words: 423
Total words: 423

Takashi Sakuma

50 Posts

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Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ] Jul 17, 2017 16:33:46 GMT -5

Post by Takashi Sakuma on Jul 17, 2017 16:33:46 GMT -5

The scent of pine was thick and sticky in the dry heat of late summer. Cicadas buzzed from the trees, and the sun weighed down on the forest heavily. Takashi kept his straw hat pulled low over his face, providing some shade as his sharp eyes kept watch on the road. He had been hired by the merchant, Uehara Tsunayoshi, about two weeks earlier, and had been accompanying the man throughout his trips into the deeper parts of the Rukongai. Now, the caravan had been stopped on the side of road for sometime, waiting. Uehara sat on a stool in the shade, fanning his bald head vigorously with a fan as he frowned, sweat dripping from the folds of fat that couched his neck.

Takashi reached for the water gourd at his side and attempted to drink from it, only to find the container empty. His throat felt thick and closed, but he simply set the gourd aside without complaint. The porters who carried the palanquin filled with the merchant’s goods lay on their backs in the shade, panting even though they had rested for about an hour. Takashi alone remained standing, leaning against the rough bark of a thick pine tree. Kohaku, his hawk, perched on a branch above him, holding her wings out to the sides in an attempt to ventilate her feathers.

He felt sorry for them all.

At last, amidst the shimmering haze and dust on the horizon, the figure of the runner emerged. Takashi straightened up.

“He’s here,” he told his employer flatly.

“Ah, at last,” Uehara said. With some effort, the portly merchant struggled to his feet.

After the runner, a slender, boyish soul with bright orange hair, delivered the bag of sugar, Uehara snapped his fingers and two of the porters came over to inspect the goods. Takashi stood by from a short distance away and watched the operations unfold, mostly to ensure the runner didn’t try to pull any funny business. As such, he was shocked when the boy asked him directly if he could… what? Examine his Zanpakutou? Takashi's hand flew to its hilt.

“Are you implying that you want to see this blade through your skull?” Takashi asked as he turned to place his body between his employer and the boy, stiffening uneasily. He wasn’t trying to be savage, but he had been hired to protect Uehara. If the boy had just challenged him to a fight, he would by no means stand down. Takashi pushed his thumb against the tsuba, baring a sliver of the blade and allowing his Reiatsu to extend to where the boy stood in a threatening gesture.

442 words

Yuuta Yasui

109 Posts

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Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ] Jul 20, 2017 3:23:51 GMT -5

Post by Yuuta Yasui on Jul 20, 2017 3:23:51 GMT -5

Yuuta blinked a few times at Takashi, his brain not quite understanding why this man was so tense and how he managed to draw such a conclusion from his words. Well Yuuta didn't actually believe Takashi would really try to attack him, if he did he'd have to fight back which he was quite confident he could do if needs be. His body remained perfectly relaxed and his own reiatsu remained peaceful and relaxed, he really did have a poor sense of danger.

He waved both of his hands in front of him with a slightly awkward smile "Um sir, I actually meant look at your sword because swords are cool..... are you offering to spar with me or something" it would be pretty dangerous to train with an actual sword so if that was where he was going, he hoped the guy would keep the sword in the sheath. That didn't quite add up with the sight that was before him, but he hoped that such honest words would help to disarm's the man's stance.

He hooked his hands behind his back as a sign of peace and respect after he had finished speaking, it left him more vulnerable but that didn't matter as he didn't believe Takashi would actually attack him in any event

Despite really not wanting a fight he couldn't help but allow his brain to trail though ways he could handle a sword user without any weapons himself, he was truly a geek when it came to these sorts of things.He was actually a little excited at the prospect despite the dangers. His eyes trailed over to Uehara who still seemed to be inspecting the sugar, he weighed it before he set out and he hadn't had a leak so it should be perfectly as described.

Post Words: 300
Total Words: 723

Last Edit: Jul 20, 2017 3:24:27 GMT -5 by Yuuta Yasui

Takashi Sakuma

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Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ] Jul 26, 2017 11:57:32 GMT -5

Post by Takashi Sakuma on Jul 26, 2017 11:57:32 GMT -5

“Ah, here’s what I wanted,” Uehara exclaimed from behind Yuuta and Takashi. The large man pulled out a condensed, square package that resembled a brick. Unfolding the paper wrapping, his rubbed his fingers over the surface of the dark brown substance, some form of a sticky opiate, and sniffed.

Takashi’s eyes widened slightly.

Mizu. One of the most pervasive drugs in the western Rukongai. So the high price Uehara had paid had not been for the sugar. Takashi couldn’t say he was surprised, but he was disappointed as he realized he was now employed in the service of a black market merchant. Then again, any resources that were hard to come by were black market materials, sugar included. Takashi’s jaw clenched, and he ignored what he had seen.

“Very well,” Uehara clapped his hands and strode towards Yuuta. “The condition of the Mizu is pristine,” he said, “So here’s a little extra for your performance,” he said as he extended a few Kan towards Yuuta with one hand. Takashi grimaced at the disrespectful gesture. Treating other souls like lesser animals on account of Uehara’s higher social status. He had seen such a gesture many times before, and still detested it.

Curiously, the black shaft of an arrow had emerged from Uehara’s forearm.

The merchant took a moment to realize what had happened, then screamed. “Sakuma!” he screeched. Takashi was already moving, however. Instead of rushing to attack the unseen archers, who he now sensed had crept up unawares and were concealed in the trees surrounding the caravan, Takashi rushed the merchant to the palanquin. He shoved the man roughly inside as arrows continued to whistle past his head.

“We’re under attack!” one of the porters shouted as he reached for his staff. He stumbled back, choking off his own words as an arrow caught him through the throat.

“Take cover,” Takashi told the other men. He felt something brush past the side of his face, but continued to rush headlong through the storm of arrows.

He was sprinting straight towards Yuuta.

In an instant Takashi had appeared behind the other soul, and his drawn sword was at the boy’s throat.

“Stop immediately,” he yelled at the unseen archers. “Or else.”

It was clear what was happening. Takashi had assumed that Yuuta had been sent as a diversion ahead of the highway robbers, and now had taken one of their own hostage in order to put an end to the attack. But after a brief pause, the assault continued. This time they were trained on Takashi. Realizing that either he had made a mistake or the robbers did not value their comrade’s life, he made his decision.

As a cloud of arrows loomed above them, Takashi stepped in front of Yuuta to protect the runner. Narrowing his eyes, he faced the furious volley head-on. His sword flashed repeatedly as he cut down each projectile before him. But ultimately there were too many to counter.

Takashi lurched back as an arrow embedded itself into his shoulder, gasping as blood splashed out onto the dust of the road. There was a lull in the attack, however, and Takashi snapped off the shaft of the arrow so it would not hinder his movements as he adjusted his grip on his sword, switching dominant hands on the hilt to account for his injury. Then he swore and spat to the side. He should have sensed the attackers earlier, but his attention had been focused on Yuuta. Why had he let his guard down?

“Get out of here!” he said to Yuuta. “You’ll be caught in the crossfire.”

602 words
1,044 running total

Yuuta Yasui

109 Posts

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Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ] Jul 30, 2017 9:10:01 GMT -5

Post by Yuuta Yasui on Jul 30, 2017 9:10:01 GMT -5

That wasn't usually there.... It was usually just large quantities of sugar but he guessed it made sense they occasionally smuggled other stuff inside the packages. He wasn't particularly bothered by it given it was happening all around him anyway, at least if he did it people wouldn't be needlessly hurt. As Uehara handed out some more Kan Yuuta extended his hand to graciously accept the tip, he wasn't bothered by it even if Uehara's outlook was less than morally sound. If he was to make such a judgement, Yuuta wouldn't be bothered about the judgement of an idiot.

Yuuta was instantly on guard as soon as the Kan landed in his hands, they were under attack. Yuuta slipped the Kan into his pocket and pivoted around to face the arrows head on, he was about to charge when he felt Takashi behind him. He didn't move so Takashi could do what he was going to do, he was pretty sure he wasn't actually going to kill him so he didn't flinch as the blade found its way against his throat. He assumed he was being taken hostage on the logic that the attackers wouldn't attack a cute short kid.

Yuuta rolled between Takashi legs after the arrow lodged itself in Takashi's shoulder, he sprinted forwards at full spring and shouted back to the swordsman "Not a chance" he used shunpo to close the gap into the trees. He reappeared behind the cover of the trees, next to one of the bowmen and went straight into action. He swept the man's feet before coming down for a swift, hard punch to the jaw to knock him out. Yuuta stole his bow and charged over towards the other bowmen, making his way through the trees expertly and beating them down in smooth fashion with the bow.

He hoped Takashi would back him up because the more his presence was known, the more danger he was in. Plus there was the danger of the men coming back around after a minute or so, he didn't have time to put them down for longer. He couldn't use his kido though.... Mako told him it was best not to use his kido in front of people unless he really had to. If he could use his kido, this would be a lot easier as he could take a lot out in one shot.

Post Words: 398
Total Words: 1121

Takashi Sakuma

50 Posts

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Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ] Aug 12, 2017 12:55:13 GMT -5

Post by Takashi Sakuma on Aug 12, 2017 12:55:13 GMT -5

However, while Yuuta had successfully managed to take out the two ambushers who were closest to the road, what quickly happened was that the archers simply turned in as he entered their circle. Closer than ever to the attackers, Yuuta would soon find himself swarmed by an omnidirectional swarm of arrows, which were now even harder to dodge due to the shortened distance. They flew like black wasps from the trees, buzzing through the air as they dropped from the branches.

There was no opening to escape.

Takashi, in the meantime, had found a brief respite as the attackers focused their fire on Yuuta. His shoulder was numb from where the arrow had hit, either due to damage to the nerves or poison. He hoped it was the former as he ignored the sensation and transferred his sword to his left hand. Using the brief lull in the storm as an opening to attack, he started to run: not towards the trees directly, but down the road until he was outside the archer’s range.

How many? He asked his hawk, Kohaku, who was still hidden among the branches and could view the entirety of the unfolding battle.

Sixteen archers, she responded. And around twelve melee in reserve.

Twenty-eight? Takashi was surprised that so many had come to attack such a seemingly small-operation. Unless, of course, Uehara had been hiding something else from them. Considering what he had seen so far, it was more than likely.

Where, he asked his spying Zanpakutou.

It was a risk distancing himself from Uehara, but Takashi knew that, considering they had only two combatants at the moment, their only chance of survival would be to take out as many of the attackers as possible before the enemy could close in on the merchant’s palanquin. Standing by to defend against an unseen opponent was the equivalent of suicide.

There’s a ditch past the line of trees… but that kid is in trouble, Kohaku told him. Takashi slid to a stop and quickly picked out Yuuta’s form darting among the woods. He had been initially surprised by the young soul’s sudden display of speed, but now he realized that even the high-speed technique would not spare him from his reckless charge.

“Damn it,” Takashi swore aloud.

He took a breath, then slid one foot behind the other, readying himself to spring.

Over the century of wandering in the Rukongai, Takashi had encountered many skilled opponents. Rounin swordsmen like himself. Hollows. Even rogue Shinigami. Over time, he had learned to move faster and more efficiently than his adversaries. And being the son of a Shinigami, he had eventually taught himself to mimic the movements of his father’s killers that had been embedded in his memory.

Shunpo.

He had been told the name of the technique by his former instructor, but was only capable of a basic level of movement. Still, he could use it nonetheless. Takashi picked out a point in the distance at the foot of the trees and narrowed his eyes. The problem was always that it was taxing upon his reserves of spiritual energy, but considering the circumstances, it could not be helped.

Takashi took a step, then another as the world blurred around him. Slipping out of the stream of space, he extended his Zanpakutou the side. The blade glinted as it turned against the light, then it cut cleanly through the trunk. Caught for a moment in the limbic state of being as time resumed its normal course, Takashi watched as pieces of split bark flew through the air.

The split tree fell: straight towards Yuuta.

But Takashi, knowing that Yuuta should be able to dodge the large object easily enough, had intended to use the felled tree for cover. He continued rushing towards the nexus of the attack. The hair on the back of his neck raised as he felt a shaft streaming towards his back, and in one deft turn of the wrist he sliced it in half from behind. Still, he could feel his keen senses begin to dull.

It had been poison after all.

Crouching down behind the thick trunk, Takashi focused on protecting his exposed side from the volley of arrows.

“Follow along the tree,” he told Yuuta. “You deal with the rest of them in the branches, I’ll draw their fire.”

An arrow thudded into the wood by Takashi’s head with a visceral thud, and he turned in the direction of the attack. Acting quickly, he stood and slammed his foot into the ground, sending up a wall of protective dust… But that also meant he would be unable to see the incoming arrows. Darting out into the open once more, Takashi moved towards the other side of the clearing, which would hopefully allow Yuuta the chance to slip through the attacker’s line.

Belatedly, Takashi realized he was placing a great deal of trust on someone he knew virtually nothing about. But he had been compelled to step in and help.

There was no turning back now.

839 words
1,883 running total

Last Edit: Aug 12, 2017 12:56:51 GMT -5 by Takashi Sakuma

Yuuta Yasui

109 Posts

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Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ] Aug 17, 2017 7:03:49 GMT -5

Post by Yuuta Yasui on Aug 17, 2017 7:03:49 GMT -5

Yuuta swiftly cursed himself, there was a lot more people than they expected. The only thing he could think of was the fact that they wouldn't fire directly at one another; the only thing he could do was roll forwards towards one of the bowmen as arrows skimmed against him, if it wasn't for his reiryoku armour it would have pierced his skin but Yuuta was unaware of this so thought it was pure luck despite the burning sensation across his back and shoulders where the arrows had caught him.

Before he could run or launch an attack the very familiar sound of a tree falling caught his attention. He glanced to the side and jumped back out of the way and crouched behind the tree to be joined by Takashi; so he hadn't left him! It brought a grin to his face despite everything that was happening; he understood that staying put with the merchant was a big no due to the fact he couldn't really attack at a range with a sword, but Yuuta thought he might have ran with his boss. It seemed this man perhaps had more honour than an average sword for hire guy, despite his initial unwillingness to show Yuuta his sword.

He nodded at Takashi's plan, so take them out and look towards the branches, he could do that. Yuuta stayed close to the ground as he dashed towards the nearest person he could sense, throwing a palm strike straight to the chin and kicking the man's legs out from under him and knocking him unconscious with a stomp to the head. He'd drilled his moves enough for the placement to be fairly spot on for an average guy without physically seeing his target clearly.

That was the guy most likely to spot him taken out, next was the guys in the branches. Before the dust cleared, Yuuta hid himself behind another tree, steadily climbing it before kicking the guy out of a tree. He'd fallen from a similar height before and survived so he'd probably be fine after an hour or so, probably. He'd try to make his way from tree to tree to kick the archers out of the tree as long as Takashi was keeping the fire, if their attention turned to himself, Yuuta would take cover behind the trunk of the tree to let Takashi move in to take some out.

Post Words: 402
Total Words: 1523

Takashi Sakuma

50 Posts

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Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ] Feb 10, 2018 20:56:27 GMT -5

Post by Takashi Sakuma on Feb 10, 2018 20:56:27 GMT -5

As the dust cleared, however, they would realize that the volley of arrows had stopped. Silence filled the clearing, the calm after the storm, and Takashi was immediately suspicious. Yuuta was making short work of the archers in the trees, but they were still outnumbered by at least five men… where had they gone?

A short-winded, quivering scream was his answer.

Even as he started rushing back towards the road, Takashi knew that it would be too late. He realized that his mistake had been trying to draw the attention of the ambushers via diversion. The cloud of dust, as opposed to providing a distraction, had provided a shield that the attackers had utilized in order to steal closer to their intended target: Uehara.

Stealing himself for the worst, Takashi approached the overturned palanquin. The sharp scent of blood mixed with the acrid oder of bile and intestines which were quickly turning sour in the heat. The sugar that Yuuta had been so careful to deliver was strewn across the ground in a thick gash, and on top of it the bright crimson of Uehara’s blood was quickly soaking into the crystalline white powder.

The merchant himself was dead, and the Mizu he had formerly been clutching in his hand had disappeared. As Takashi stood in stunned silence to consider the fact that the man he had been hired to protect was lying murdered in front of him, there was a rush of movement that came from the trees, swarming around him in a black horde. The archers.

Takashi turned to face them. Keeping his sword steady with both hands with the tip pointed towards the ground, he prepared to defend. However, with the poison from the arrow’s tip still effecting him, his vision suddenly shrank without warning, forming into a pinpoint of light before the earth beneath him twisted sharply. Takashi found himself lying on his back as the band of highway robbers filled the road around him. But they did not seem interested in him, having simply gathered to regroup before setting off, satisfied with whatever they had come for and carrying their wounded with them. He recalled their voices growing more and more distant… and then his world went black.

The sun was setting by the time Takashi regained consciousness. He sat up slowly, rubbing at the pain in his shoulder. Mostly, he was surprised that the poison hadn’t been lethal, but as he sat there next to the body of Uehara, the numb realization that he had failed dawned on him.

After a long silence, he spoke to Kohaku, who perched on the edge of the palanquin. “I can’t keep doing this,” he murmured, “If I betray my own honor one more time by trying to protect someone like him…”

The gnarl of hunger in his stomach reminded him of the real reason he had accepted Uehara’s offer. It was said there was honor among thieves, but so far Takashi wasn’t sure he was able to call himself even that. There was only one thing he could do.

Takashi picked himself up and cleaned off his sword. He recalled the young runner’s original request to see it and smiled to himself at the boy’s naivety. A sword was only meant for one thing, and that purpose gave it a weight that Yuuta would perhaps never grasp. Turning the hilt in his hand, the blade flashed in the dimming light before Takashi replaced it in its scabbard. Then, squaring his shoulders, he set off towards the horizon… once more taking the path of a swordsman. A path of endless bloodshed.

Exit thread
603 words
2,486 thread total

Bleach Gotei

Sugar coated encounter [Closed / TBTP / Takashi ]

Post by Yuuta Yasui on Jul 12, 2017 6:30:59 GMT -5

Post by Takashi Sakuma on Jul 17, 2017 16:33:46 GMT -5

Post by Yuuta Yasui on Jul 20, 2017 3:23:51 GMT -5

Post by Takashi Sakuma on Jul 26, 2017 11:57:32 GMT -5

Post by Yuuta Yasui on Jul 30, 2017 9:10:01 GMT -5

Post by Takashi Sakuma on Aug 12, 2017 12:55:13 GMT -5

Post by Yuuta Yasui on Aug 17, 2017 7:03:49 GMT -5

Post by Takashi Sakuma on Feb 10, 2018 20:56:27 GMT -5

Welcome!