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Post by seishin on Dec 31, 2011 10:47:19 GMT -8
Mission: Graveyard Shift Description: A local graveyard has been frequently hit by grave robbers as of late and is requesting guards for the night to investigate the situation and drive or capture the culprits. Reward: 1,700 Yen Sei looked around, covered up in what remained of his cloak and his demon hunter attire. He needed a little bit of cash and something to sharpen his skills, considering he was not going to be using his guise of a monk anymore. Not after his encounter with the Black Rose Witch, and where his loyalty now had to lay. The young man didn't like the idea of staying as her pet, but if possible, he could use this little chance to get close and prevent her from ever finding out about his home. What that entailed of course, required his skills to be sharper and for the young demon hunter to be stronger. "This looks like the place, wonder if it is just graverobbers," He whispered to himself, checking the area and keeping his staff gripped tightly in his right hand. Sighing he made his way to the entrance of the graveyard, using his staff as a walking stick and looking around for the caretaker or at least, the person who had issued the request.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2012 15:52:42 GMT -8
The night air was fresh, almost biting with the beginnings of fall whispering with the soft wind. The trees surrounding the graveyard rustled, and the moon hung high in the sky, a brilliant and full orb illuminating the area. Deep shadows from the scenery were cast about in the silver light, adding to the ambiance of a typical graveyard. An owl swooped just past Sei, perhaps close enough to startle him. The creature was artfully hunting, having spied a small field mouse. Prey captured, the noble bird swooped back up to complete its arch, disappearing into the thick woods that sprung up to the left of the cemetery.
Inside the wood, various lifeforms resided, from the smallest and meekest, to the most dangerous predators. One always had to tread carefully in the wild, but the high gates around the grounds afforded some protection. Of course, defending against animals was one thing...defending against men...well that was another game, wasn't it?
As Sei approached the gate, he would spy a small run down shack situated just down a path and to the right, opposite of the cemetery. Its windows were cheerily lit, and smoke was unfurling from the chimney. Inside, one could surmise that the caretaker took residence, probably..
Well, only one way to find out!
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Post by seishin on Jan 3, 2012 19:22:00 GMT -8
Sei whipped around, guard up, only to see the avian creature fly past him and let out a sigh. "Easy Sei, easy there. It's not like I'm going to find some demons out here," He reminded himself, chuckling and shaking his head at his own little joke as he continued. His mismatched eyes darted from one thing to the other, from plant to animal, taking them in as he reached the gate.
His eyes darted to the shack and he calmly walked up to it, and glanced at the windows. It seemed someone was there, probably the caretaker he presumed and his climate. Using his staff in place of his knuckles, he lightly rapped the door with it. "Pardon me, is this where the caretaker of this graveyard lives?" He questioned.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2012 21:13:23 GMT -8
There were sounds of someone inside the home after Sei knocked. It would be a few long moments before the door was opened, and Sei would be greeted most unpleasantly.
A staff other than his own would be shoved under his neck, wielded by a very petite, frail looking elderly man. His hair was shock white, pulled into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. His kimono was dirty, fresh food stains spotting the front of the garment. With the door thrown open, Sei would be able to see inside of the shabby looking home, to see something quite surprising: a warm and inviting atmosphere. The smell of hot food wafted through the air, its aroma enticing. To top off the homey scene, a plump and similarly short, elderly female toddled towards them, yelling at the man.
"Dear! What are you doing!? Put that knobby, old stick down before you give the boy a splinter!" she chided, glaring hotly at her husband. The stick was promptly pulled away, but remained high and readily aimed to be whacked at Sei should he exude any 'suspicious' behavior. The old man's beady little eyes glared up at Sei.
"Well, whatdya want?" he grumbled up at the young man, holding the staff at the ready.
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Post by seishin on Jan 3, 2012 21:30:27 GMT -8
The young demon slayer would be more than surprised by the sight before him, as he did not exactly expect for a graveyard caretaker to have a rather inviting home. Not to mention the smell of the food was practically a kick to his face, though mostly that he honestly thought it would have been just a simple stew. He actually blinked, looking at the staff under his neck, though he didn't make any sudden moves at all.
He quickly took into account the man's disposition, wondering if the grave robbing had to do with it. And just how long it had been going on for now as he simply gave a small polite smile.
"I simply wish to answer this request I receive about keeping an eye out for grave robbers here at this graveyard, nothing more sir," He explained politely, bowing his head just a little. "It's not right for the resting place of those who have passed on to be desecrated,"
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 14:44:01 GMT -8
As if he were measuring Sei's words and worth with his eyes, the old man gazed sharply at him, listening. The staff was lowered and placed neatly into the man's hands by his wife as she glared at her husband.
"SEE! He was just trying to help!" she snipped at him as she stood next to her husband. Now that she was closer, Sei would get a better look at her. She was just as short, and very plump, her skin wizened with age, and her wispy, thick white hair pulled into a high bun. Her kimono was plain, but neat and tidy, and she wore a white apron about her waist. In her hand, she held a thick, wooden spoon. This spoon was her tool and weapon of choice, as her husband had felt its mighty blow from time to time throughout their marriage.
Turning her gaze up to Sei, she smiled warmly. "You'll have to forgive him dear, he's a bit loony in his old age."
The old man grumbled, shaking his finger at her. "You're just as old as I am, woman! In fact, I think you're older!"
She shot him another icy glare, only to return her attention to their guest. Perhaps it was the gust of wind that whistled through the door, but the good woman was prompted to exclaim. "Goodness! Come in, come in, where are my manners! Sit by the fire and warm yourself, boy. We were just about to have dinner, I'll place another setting on the table. You look a bit peckish..." she frowned peering up at him.
She scurried off to the kitchen, leaving two of them alone. The older man sighed, moving away from the door towards the fireplace. "Well c'mon boy, you're letting out the heat. Shut that door behind you, and take off your shoes!" He kept the staff in hand, but did not use it while he padded in his sock feet across the wooden floor. The furniture was plain, there was a couch and two sitting chairs, both wooden framed with squishy looking cushions. Blankets were neatly folded and laid across the back of each chair, and the room was cheerfully lit with lanterns that scattered across the house. There were shelves and shelves of books, many cases butted up against the walls. There were end tables as well, next to the chairs, as well as a large coffee table, situated over a rug, in front of the couch. The couch pointed towards the fire, while the two other chairs flanked the fire place, all three pieces facing each other. The old man eased into a chair, leaving the other seat closest to the fire vacant. In front of his feet, there laid a basket on the floor, full of things for what looked like knitting.
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Post by seishin on Jan 5, 2012 16:19:29 GMT -8
Sei waited and then smiled gently, bowing his head once more when the man's wife appeared. He wisely chose not to say much as he nodded to the woman. "Ah, I see," Nothing scathing mind you, just enough to register the woman's words. And by heaven, take in the smell of that glorious food. Just a quick meal at a tavern never worked well enough for him, he needed something more filling. "Thank you very much ma'am,"
He did as he was instructed, slipping off his shoes and of course, setting his staff aside beside the doorway. There was little need for it now, and he still had his gloves if the grave-robbers decided to catch him off guard. That was of course, thinking a bit too far ahead of himself. He was curious though, that such a warm and inviting home belonged to the caretaker of the graveyard. Then again, what did he know of caretakers and how they came to be in such a position?
"You are very kind," He said, a simple comment and another smile. All the while, he took in his surroundings, and wondered just what kind of opponent or opponents, he might face. "How long have you two lived here, if I may ask?"
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2012 19:48:39 GMT -8
The sounds of the wife clanking in the kitchen echoed quietly into the living room where the two men sat. It took a moment for the old man to reply to Sei's question, and when he did, he spoke carefully as if he were trying to recall a lost memory.
"Ah...I s'pose its been 'round 40 years, give or take. Place was my dads, and me and the missus took over when he passed."
He was a simple man, but took pride in his work. He actually smiled now, looking over at Sei as if he were about to say something, but it was then that his wife reappeared.
"Dinner is ready!" she exclaimed happily, trotting back out of the living room into the adjoining dining area.
"You'll have to forgive 'er. We rarely have guests, so she gets excited when we have company," he smiled again, almost apologetically as he stood up and led Sei to the dining room.
It was a simple room, just between the kitchen and the living area. A large table nearly filled the room, a good sized pot in the middle filled with a hearty stew, and three smaller bowls filled to the brim with steam rising. Chopsticks were placed neatly over the bowls, and a glass of water accompanied each setting.
"Eat, eat!" she chided, already sitting down and waiting for them to join her.
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Post by seishin on Jan 6, 2012 11:26:38 GMT -8
Well that certainly explains the state of this place being so well, it's second generation, they must have had some money to fix it up. Sei reasoned, and gave a smile at the caretaker in return. Sadly, he himself had no true father to call his own or inherit a legacy from, simply the gift of spiritual awareness and sight that his mother passed down to him through genetics. Presumably.
"It's perfectly fine," He assured the man, for even a full stomach wasn't going to make him sleep when his mind was focused on battle. That was assuming he entered it quickly enough, but he wasn't going to just nap so easily. The young demon hunter quickly followed, making sure to take in his surroundings and continue to be polite. "Thank you again,"
He quietly took his seat, and made sure to take a moment to inhale the delicious and almost heavenly aroma. Being in a slump for a while tended to dull one's mind, though a home cooked meal still smelt like a feast for the gods.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2012 17:55:26 GMT -8
The woman smiled brightly at Sei as she watched him, hoping he enjoyed her meal. Food really did taste better when eaten together.
"I suppose I oughta tell you what I know," the older man spoke between bites, earning a glare from his wife.
"Don't speak with your mouth full! Thats rude!"
He swallowed his food before playfully swatting at his wife, eliciting an amused giggle from her. It would seem that even after all of these years of marriage, the two were still very fond of each other.
"Ah yes, where was I..." the man began again, this time speaking after having fully swallowed his food. Large hunts of beef floated in the stew, mixed with various vegetables native and common in Japan during that time period. "Ah yes of course! The request! You see, we have noticed a lot of noises as of late, specifically in the latter part of the night. But, when I go out to try and catch 'em, they're already gone!"
At this point, his wife interjected again. "We haven't actually seen anyone, you see, and we don't know what they're after. All we know is that the graves are being disturbed. But...its odd..." she paused, looking out the window. Her husband remained quiet, resuming his happy consumption of his hearty meal.
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Post by seishin on Jan 7, 2012 9:31:43 GMT -8
Sei gave a quick nod, silently reciting a prayer in his head for a split-second before carefully partaking of the meal before him. He was after all, still in possession of manners, especially after his recent entrance into servitude.
Though his thoughts were quickly divided between the delicious stew he was partaking of. Heavens above, had it really been that long since he had a good meal? Or was he simply that out of it that he didn't realize a home cooked meal trumped the meals at most taverns and noodle shops? And did he spot beef in his stew? Oh yes, and vegetables to boot! In the equation of life, beef stew mixed with vegetables equaled one very pleased and happy Sei right now!
He smiled when he saw the couple interact, and briefly wondered if this was what his parents were like once long ago before his father left. Perhaps they could have been like this...
He quickly gathered his thoughts, and began listening intently, making sure to keep quiet as he nodded his head, eyes focused on the husband. Noises, but no visual confirmation of the disturbance, which was already leading him to believe that demons were a possible cause. Thankfully the couple didn't seem to be targets, though he wasn't fully sure if it was demons. He needed more information, and sadly it seemed there was a lack of visual evidence.
Or so it seemed, when the wife paused and looked out the window. They had no idea what the actual target of these disturbances was, yet the graves were being disturbed. Nothing much that was new, but there was something amiss that he was not aware of. He didn't want to pry, simply inquire about what was not being said, per say. "What is odd, exactly?" He needed to start carefully, and then once he got a bit more information, began a quick investigation of the grounds.
Footprints of any kind would help him determine if this was bandits or something entirely different. How the graves were disturbed, and if bones were missing or not. He had a few suspicions right now; demons obviously, given his profession, bandits who could be under the assumption of some valuables being buried with the bodies, or animals that were interested in some bones. There could be a fourth theory, but he needed to get a few facts first.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2012 19:10:16 GMT -8
The elderly couple exchanged a look, Sei's question snapping the woman out of her thoughtful reverie. The man nodded to his wife, helping himself to another bite of his meal.
"Well, there isn't anything worth stealing from the graves. Most of the people here are the poor, humble farm folk of this community, so there isn't anything valuable to take..." she paused, frowning a bit. "We have been servicing this community for nigh on forty years, and I have never seen such disrespect!" She was growing heated now, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Sure, there have been kids occasionally break a headstone or two, flowers go missing, animals getting into the offerings...but this...this..." she was starting to lose track of her words by now, her husband taking the time to cut in.
"What m'wife is trying to say, if she'll ever get around to it, is that the graves are being dug up. Now nothin's been taken, as far as I can tell, but the coffins are exposed, and thrown open like someone's looking for something."
"Thank the gods its none of the fresher graves..." the old woman shuddered, looking down at her stew.
"I'm not sure its still not some kind of animal, we've not see any footprints or nothin'," the man added again, giving Sei a beady stare. He really, really hoped this boy was up for the job, because this late night sleuthing was getting to his old bones.
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Post by seishin on Jan 9, 2012 19:25:03 GMT -8
Sei listened intently, committing all of the information to his memory as best as he could as he ate quietly. There was definitely something amiss about this job, and he had a sneaky suspicion this was a clear cut case of demons being involved. Especially after he processed what the caretaker's wife had to say, and his eyes briefly widened at the mention of how long they had been staying here.
Forty years! It definitely couldn't be bandits since this was a farming community, as there was no valuables around other than crops, but less likely that they would attack the graveyard. He did briefly twitch at the mention of kids breaking headstones, and made a mental note to go into town and spook a few of them for such an insult to those who had passed on. Part of his uncle's lessons of course, and that was to respect the elderly and the deceased. Especially since they knew ghosts existed and no one wants to be seeing ghosts haunting you.
Thrown open coffins was a definite hint that it was something supernatural that was involved. And it was only the older graves so far, which meant that perhaps a demon was looking for something personal then, but didn't know where it was. It made perfect sense to his mind, and the clues seemed to fit, except for the lack of tracks. Then again, he knew of tales of spirits that could leave no trace and float above the ground. Kitsune in particular were notorious tricksters and some spirits even moved about through trees.
"I think I have an idea what might be attacking the graves, it sounds like someone or something is searching for a particular item or maybe even a body," He suggested, his voice that of not a kind monk but of a trained and experienced demon slayer. And he wasn't speaking as if he was joking, he was deadly serious. The demon probably held no interest in the couple because of their age, and was more focused on searching for a particular thing. He just needed to figure out what. "Were all the graves that were dug up in an older part of this graveyard?"
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2012 15:05:57 GMT -8
The older man was still eating his soup, so his wife replied.
"Well yes, I suppose. The markers are all fairly worn, so a few decades or so, I would say. Its only those that have been disturbed, none of the newer ones have been."
The man, having finished chewing his bite decided to pipe up, "What my wife is neglecting to tell ya is that we're a bit hard of seeing these days, so whoever or whatever it is doin' this, we can't see em too good at night. So I'unno if its man or beast doing this. Hasn't been any tracks that I can see, but its hard tellin'. All I know is I don't want no part of it. S'where you come in boy. You take care of this for us, and there'll be a reward, sure enough."
Helping himself to another bite, the man went quiet again, his wife smiled warmly at Sei. "But please do not rush yourself dear, eat to your stomach's content. And should you like to rest, we are more than happy to accommodate you."
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Post by seishin on Jan 11, 2012 16:28:08 GMT -8
Sei was glad for the confirmation, but also a little disturbed. New graves would mean a new, young, fresh demon, while older graves meant a far older, wiser, and experienced demon. It also could mean that he was dealing with someone with a grudge or in search of a personal item. And thinking of how protective his cousin had been of her scarf, to the point of smacking people who tried to grab it, he could only imagine how hellbent this demon could possibly be.
The young demon slayer glanced over at the husband, listening to him carefully and gave an understanding nod. He would need to investigate the area himself just to be sure, and providing the ground was solid and not muddy, he could see if there were any tracks. Then again, perhaps the tracks were small, but either way, he needed to check the graveyard grounds anyway to get a feeling of the area.
"I promise I'll figure out what's been desecrating these graves. Those who have passed away deserve to rest in peace after their lives have ended," He said, mentally swearing that even if it was a human, he was not going to show much mercy, if at all. No one was going to mess with the deceased, that was one of the tasks his mother had taught him to do, protect the dead, in both body and spirit.
The young demon slayer smiled and bowed his head to the wife. "I would bring shame to myself if I did not finish such a wonderful meal, thank you," He quickly resumed enjoying his meal, while in the back of his mind he wondered what he was going to face. If it was human, they either didn't care about an old couple, or he was missing something. But if it was a demon, then why did they overlook them? Or was the focus of the demon something that was buried? But what?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2012 8:49:56 GMT -8
Beaming, the old woman watched as Sei ate the delicious stew. Following his lead, the man and wife happily consumed their meal. For a time, it was a lovely, picturesque scene, like a family coming together for dinner. The warmth of the home, coupled with the hearty stew, made the place seem far more luxurious than the small, somewhat shabby building that it was.
The older man was ladling out a second helping of the stew when he froze, peering towards the window.
"Might be the wind, but I swore I just saw somethin' move..." he moved away from the table, heading towards the window.
"Sit back down you old fool! You'll be seen!" his wife henned at him, staring anxiously at the window. It seemed that whatever/whoever was responsible for the grave disturbances really did make the old couple on edge.
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Post by seishin on Jan 15, 2012 16:05:31 GMT -8
The young demon hunter continued his meal, relaxing physically while also letting his thoughts play out in his mind. He first needed to scan the ground for tracks of course, to find any traces if possible. Then, study the grounds to get a good idea of his environment, and make use of it. For now, his body was enjoying the warmth of the house and the good home cooked meal.
That was, until he saw the caretaker moving to the window and his eyes shot up. Was it just nerves or was something out there? Logic told him he needed to wait to finish his meal, and avoid sudden actions lest he end up puking the meal up. Not that it would happen, but it could nonetheless.
"I can check for you, it's no trouble," He offered. He was far more suited to fighting, and once his mind fully registered a fight about to happen, ah, that was when his focus would be primed and charged. He only hoped it wasn't a demon.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2012 15:13:51 GMT -8
Tottering away from her husband, after joining him near the window for a very brief moment, she stood next to Sei. The petite female put her withered hand on his arm, "Can you please take care of this for us?" Her tone was worried, and her expression matched it. The husband, on the other hand, seemed fairly calm as he returned to sitting at the table.
"You'll handle it, wontcha boy?" he nodded, appeased by Sei's willingness to investigate.
Meanwhile, the cool wind howled mercilessly against the little home, bare limbs dancing as they extended out from the trees that dotted the property. The thick wood behind the graveyard bustled with life, a stray howl or two overpowering the wind's own music. So there really was no time but the present. If Sei was going to catch the culprit, perhaps haste was in order. Then again, caution has its merits.
It all boiled down to what the demon hunter's next choice would be.
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Post by seishin on Jan 22, 2012 17:55:50 GMT -8
Sei smiled gently at the husband and his wife, slowly finishing the last of his stew, and taking a soft breath in to let his stomach settle. He was ready to begin his search, and the sound of the wild outside seemed to be calling the young demon slayer out. And he needed to do this, for the sake of himself and to put the hearts and minds of the couple at ease as he went to the front door, ready to exit as he picked up his staff.
"I'm ready to do this, and I will sir," He added, smiling at them both.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2012 16:32:33 GMT -8
The woman scurried after Sei as he went to the door, opening it for him as she wore a worried smile. "Please be careful, dear." Patting him on the arm, she waited for him to leave before she would move away and back into the house. Once he exited, she would close the door behind him and begin to pace throughout the house.
The night waited for no man, the wind howling and the trees swaying ominously, dancing madly in the crisp autumn night. While nothing would be visible to Sei yet, he would need to begin his investigation, the graveyard just beyond the house, inviting him. Naturally, it was night time, so visibility wouldn't be too great, but the moon was ready to aid, sending down gentle waves of silver light onto the ground.
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Post by seishin on Jan 30, 2012 14:34:13 GMT -8
Sei turned his head and smiled gently, giving the elderly woman a small nod before actually walking out of the house. He stopped right outside of the home to say a small prayer, for the safety of the elderly and kind couple within. And for a moment, a wicked smile flashed into existence in his mind and he snapped his eyes open.
The Kurobara no Majo's smile, one that reminded him why he had picked up this mission. Taking in a deep breath, Sei turned to face the graveyard and carefully approached it, eyes scanning the area for the slightest hint of movement. He kept his staff in hand, not to help him walk, but as a weapon, knuckles popping ever so slightly as he clenched his fists. There was little chance of seeing much, though he was fortunate to have a good sized moon to give him some light.
"All right, better pray that it's not a Hollow, if that's what that man called the demons," He muttered to himself, glancing around slowly and scanning the area like a vulture.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 17:14:53 GMT -8
As he moved through the area, he would have to pick through the various night sounds. Rustles and animal calls were ample to be heard, but those were probably of the unimportant variety. Being a trained hunter, he was more than likely able to tell what needed investigated and didn't. Of course, one did not want to disregard the animals entirely, they were often more capable of catching things before humans could.
Anyway, as Sei creeped through the area, the noises didn't change too much, other than one sound in particular. It sounded most certainly like something running quite quickly, and the from its volume he would be able to tell it was coming closer and closer to him. Assuming he would catch this, he would have to start scanning around him, locating that the sound was running up from behind him. What could it be? Human? Animal? Monster? Hostile or friendly?
He would have to be on his guard because a dark shape was becoming visible as it jetted through the moonlight towards him, illuminating that it was at least not a human.
But what was it and what would he do next?
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Post by seishin on Feb 5, 2012 17:26:56 GMT -8
Sei quietly looked around, experience as a demon hunter coming into play as he reached out with his senses. He couldn't pinpoint by any means, but surely he could detect another spiritual presence, even if it was another human like himself. The young man carefully glanced around, making sure to check any shadow, no matter how small, and any figure that crossed his line of sight.
He paused when he heard movement, and he quickly whipped around upon hearing the sound, concentrating on it and beginning to tap into his reiatsu. His primary objective was to weave a hard barrier meant to deflect a possible incoming attack. It was better to be safe rather than sorry, and he was banking on a physical attack being a likely action. He narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on the creature. Was it a demon? Some human with an unknown ability?
He knew naught, but just in case, he began concentrating and forming a small burst in his right hand. The young Demon hunter was ready to defend himself, not fight per say. After all, the last time he had acted foolishly, he had become a hound for the Kurobara no Majo. There was not going to be another mistake.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2012 17:43:10 GMT -8
Because he did not move, only prepared himself in a defensive stature, he would be rewarded in a most strange manner. How wise he was, by the way, for not jumping to conclusions! The black shape grew closer and closer and in the very last moment, just as it was about to leap up onto Sei, its form was revealed. It was a rather large breed of dog, one of those friendly types commonly seen on a farm. Its hair was shaggy and gold, and its face was kind. The dog probably weighed somewhere in the range of 50-80 pounds, give or take a few pounds.
He, being the pooch, let out a happy bark, its mass, combined with its charge and leap, making it very, very likely that Sei was going to be knocked over by the happy scamp. Regardless if he fell over or not, he would be greeted with slathers of sloppy puppy kisses, his face covered in the gooey saliva of a very, very friendly Rover.
Of course, that wasn't all the playful pooch was aiming to do. Perhaps in its zealous excitement, it got a little over eager. Regardless if Sei was still standing or on the ground, the dog would end up on his right leg. Then the dog would proceed to well...give him another manner of greeting a bit too vulgar to describe in words. Let us just say that Sei just made a new best friend, a very obviously male dog.
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Post by seishin on Feb 6, 2012 7:17:14 GMT -8
Of all the things Sei was prepared to see, such as a vicious demon, or a grave robber of some sort, a large dog had been the very last thing he expected. He immediately dropped the Burst he had been preparing, shocked to see himself face to face with a large dog instead of a demon. Could this be the grave-robber the couple had been worried about? It certainly explained a few things, namely why the old couple hadn't been harmed perhaps. And if this dog was old perhaps, then he could easily connect the dots; perhaps the dog was trying to dig up the old master?
It wasn't too much of a stretch, though it still left him with the problem of fixing this mess and getting the dog to stop digging up grave. Once he recovered from being knocked over, his barrier not being prepared for a massive dog shaped missile as it broke through and knocked him over. "Heel boy, heel! Okay okay, it's nice to meet you too," He tried to say between slobbery kisses, groaning at the overly energetic dog.
Though as soon as he felt the puppy on his leg, and showing too much affection, he immediately used his staff to pull himself up and quickly back up. The life of a monk was simple, but he certainly wasn't about to ignore a puppy humping his leg! Dear Buddha, surely this dog could at least be taught to heel or something! "No boy, you don't do that. Especially to a man's leg... ugh, I am glad no one is seeing this," He muttered, looking over the dog. So this was the animal that had been digging up the old graves? Perhaps in search of bones of all things? It seemed so simple of an answer...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2012 14:50:15 GMT -8
Oh this pooch was so happy to see Sei. Funny thing about dogs, they seemed to have a sense about who was a good person and who wasn't, and acted accordingly. So, according to this dog, Sei must have been a really, really good person! The dog was drug a little bit as he clung to Sei's leg, but he finally let go, plopping onto the ground on his haunches. He barked happily as he watched the man stand up, tail swishing back and forth against the dirt.
The dog got up and began to bark more, excitedly circling around the monk before darting away in front of him. He didn't move too fast, though, in fact he stopped a few yards away and barked again. It was as if he was saying: "Hey buddy, follow me!"
Oh what adventures this may hold!
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Post by seishin on Feb 6, 2012 16:00:02 GMT -8
The dog may have been happy but Sei was not exactly happy to find himself still with a dog on his leg. Not exactly comfortable, in his opinion, and not what he had in mind for himself right now on that note. He at least knew that he could have possibly found the very grave robber responsible, or so he presumed. Obviously this dog was one possible suspect, though he wasn't sure just how he was going to explain this to the couple.
Though he didn't get much of a chance to try and get the dog's attention before he was actually trying to get Sei's attention. He had two real options, try to bring the dog in or actually follow the pup. Though, if he went with option b, he could later return to option A. The most the dog could do, is possibly hump his leg again, and that was the worst thing he believed.
"Okay, I guess it wouldn't hurt to see what's got you so excited?" He asked, though not really expecting an answer as he walked up to the dog, slowly tucking his staff underneath his arm.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2012 14:28:20 GMT -8
The dog barked and pranced as Sei followed after him, his clean coat gleaming in the moonlight. Onward the pooch led, padding into the graveyard and off the path. He ducked and weaved around the stones, getting a little ahead of Sei. Every so often though, he would stop and wait for the human to gain some ground. Once Sei had caught up a little, he would bark again, as if to say, "C'mon!", and start onward once more.
Sei would have to take care with his movements, as some of the stones were so low to the ground they were nearly invisible in the night sky. Of course, there was some moonlight glowing down, but that wasn't quite the same as sun light. Finally the dog stopped, having come up to a grave. Sei would see upturned earth, fairly fresh as well, but the coffin was not yet exposed.
Oh my, what oh what could this be? What deductions could Sei come across now? He would have to put his observational skills to the test!
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Post by seishin on Feb 10, 2012 17:53:30 GMT -8
Sei blinked, at least glad that the dog wasn't giving him a hard time in following after him. He quickly glanced at the graves they passed, pausing for a moment every now and then to see if they were new or old. He quickly picked up his pace, walking after the dog as fast as he could and wondering about the animal. Whose pet was it? And just what had it been doing by digging up graves for that matter? It had to be the graverobber... at least, he hoped that was the case.
The young demon hunter made sure to move about carefully, using his staff to help him walk. Namely, so that he could use it to steady himself, and avoid slipping and falling painfully onto the stones that he could not see. He had to take a bit of his time in pursuit to do so, but it would be worth it to avoid cracking open his own skull thank you.
At long last, he finally reached the dog, and blinked at the gave that the dog was showing to him. An old coffin perhaps? But if so, whose was it and he looked to the dog in confusion. "Another coffin you plan to open?" He asked the dog, as if it could answer. Something was odd though, off about this situation. What reason would the dog honestly have to dig up a coffin? What was he missing about this scenario...?
"Just what am I missing here boy?" He whispered.
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Post by shinji on Feb 22, 2012 14:45:53 GMT -8
The dog proceeded to whine in response to Sei's question. One large paw scratched at the loosened dirt, allowing it to fall away from the whole in a slight shift. The dog barked again and pawed at the dirt once more before looking back to Sei as a rather brutal burst of cold air whipped past man and beast, letting loose a chilling howl as it played nature's instruments through the branches of the leaf-bare trees. Around the mound, illuminated by what light could be given from the moon was an imprint in the dirt that had been recently dug up resembling tracks. The details, even if Sei saw them among the tufts of dried grass, were unidentifiable, like they had been wiped at in haste to remove their presence.
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