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Post by Orie Hidehira on Jul 30, 2006 22:45:48 GMT -5
Four hours after he had lost the prince, Orie was still wandering around town. It never hurt to be too careful, and maybe, if he was lucky, Akihito hadn't jumped on to a ship, and instead had skirted his attention to duck back into town. Without bodyguards, it was dangerous to travel alone anyway, and if the prince was indeed still in Japan, he would be marooned here.
He had asked a few passerbys, politely questioning if they had seen an armed and well-dressed young man around town, but so far his investigations were only leading to dead ends. The shopkeepers were too distracted tending to their stores, the shoppers too preoccupied with keeping track of children, or looking for groceries. Everyone in the bustling street was too busy with their own business to worry about some noble child.
Orie sighed tiredly. He didn't want to return and tell his superiors that he had failed the first mission they gave him, but now it looked like he would have no choice. How disappointing. Pausing, he looked up at the last remaining unsearched establishment. Oh great, he thought unhappily, a bar. They were cramped and decadent places, but duty was duty. He stepped in.
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Hasegawa Katsuya
Junior Member
Could Top You All if I Felt Like It [Japan]
Posts: 77
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Post by Hasegawa Katsuya on Jul 30, 2006 22:57:01 GMT -5
Katsuya swore loudly, propping his elbows on the bar's counter as he downed his sake in one shot. It was bad enough to have to leave Edo so quickly (especially by boat), but to have to scavenge for infomation like this, making nice with brainless drunkards who didn't know a thing about the prince's whereabouts?
It doesn't matter, he told himself firmly, waving down the bartender. Once you rescue that prince, you'll be too rich to care.
He looked up as a boy his age, maybe a bit older, dropped into the seat next to him, looking completely depressed. Seizing opportunity, Katsuya called good-naturedly to the waiter. "Give me one more here, sir, and another for my friend here!" Turning to the boy, he smiled. "Bad day?"
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Jul 30, 2006 23:07:13 GMT -5
Orie looked up in surprise when the person to his left spoke, face written with suspicion. "Thanks for the drink," he said with a nod, when the next waiter slapped down a small glass bottle and a tiny cup before hurrying on to the next customer in haste. The clear liquid spilled out of the top, wetting the table with the stuff. Orie flicked the droplets off the bottom before pouring a cup.
"Bad day? Sort of, I guess."
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Hasegawa Katsuya
Junior Member
Could Top You All if I Felt Like It [Japan]
Posts: 77
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Post by Hasegawa Katsuya on Jul 30, 2006 23:11:19 GMT -5
"Aww, that's too bad," Katsuya soothed, leaning forward and taking a sip of his drink. "Wanna talk about it? I got all the time in the world. 's it a girl or something?"
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Jul 30, 2006 23:14:38 GMT -5
"No," refused Orie curtly, pouring his third cup, "and no." He poured the substance down his throat, finding the burn having a somewhat relaxing effect on his nerves. This was hardly enough to get him tipsy, but it did ease his worries. He turned to the other man, who he had already labeled in his mind as a busybody, nosy, too talkative, and annoying. "Have you seen an armed well-dressed young man around?" he asked suddenly, cutting to business. "His hair goes to about here, he's kind of thin and pale, kind of looks like a jerk..."
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Hasegawa Katsuya
Junior Member
Could Top You All if I Felt Like It [Japan]
Posts: 77
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Post by Hasegawa Katsuya on Jul 30, 2006 23:20:40 GMT -5
"Huuh? Haven't seen anyone like that, nah." Katsuya frowned to himself. This guy had been quick to shoot down his 'girl' comment. Maybe he wasn't into chicks? And this guy he was looking for...
Katsuya had it now. The guy had gotten into some kind of spat with his boyfriend; that must have been why he was so uptight. "I'm sure he'll turn up eventually!" he laughed. "But I wonder, have you heard about that prince, whatsisname? I heard he disappeared."
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Jul 30, 2006 23:23:19 GMT -5
At the mention of the prince, Orie's expression hardened. News travelled that fast? Well, it wasn't surprising, he supposed, considering how densely packed the people here. "Yeah?" he muttered, resting his cheek in his free hand while he swirled a finger around the rim of his empty cup. "Well what do you know," he said, in the most deadpan tone he could muster.
The bottle was empty. "Well, I've got to go, goodbye," he added curtly, getting up without so much as a warning.
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Hasegawa Katsuya
Junior Member
Could Top You All if I Felt Like It [Japan]
Posts: 77
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Post by Hasegawa Katsuya on Jul 30, 2006 23:29:01 GMT -5
"Hey, hey, c'mon!" Katsuya called, his annoyance replacing his smooth-talking demeanor as he stepped in front of Orie. "I don't got all day, here. Do you know somethin', or not?"
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Jul 30, 2006 23:30:30 GMT -5
Orie's face twisted in distaste, as he tried to sidestep the other man and failed. How irritating - he didn't have time for this. "If I did," he said slowly, "why would I ever tell you?"
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Hasegawa Katsuya
Junior Member
Could Top You All if I Felt Like It [Japan]
Posts: 77
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Post by Hasegawa Katsuya on Jul 30, 2006 23:34:40 GMT -5
"What, you need fuckin' compensation now?" Katsuya's lips curled into a smirk. "You want a cut of my reward? I can arrange that."
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Jul 30, 2006 23:36:34 GMT -5
"I don't need your reward," said Orie, trying his very best to remain civil. His grandfather had told him that the first and foremost thing he would have to watch would be his temper, when dealing with the world outside their family archery school. "Please move."
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Hasegawa Katsuya
Junior Member
Could Top You All if I Felt Like It [Japan]
Posts: 77
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Post by Hasegawa Katsuya on Jul 30, 2006 23:42:28 GMT -5
"I don't think I'm gonna." Katsuya crossed his arms, sneering. "I ain't too fond of brats with an entitlement complex. Now, what is it you know about that prince?"
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Jul 30, 2006 23:48:26 GMT -5
Orie frowned, looking up at the stranger. Brat? How old was this guy anyway? He didn't look any older than Orie himself, if not younger. For the millionth time, he secretly cursed the fact that he hadn't been born tall. People always seemed to look down on him this way, both literally and as a figure of speech.
"I don't know anything. Please move, I have to be going," he repeated, but he wasn't being foolish. Repetition wouldn't work, he knew, considering how the other man was pressing for information. He was probably on some sort of information gathering quest, maybe he was after Akihito, just like Orie.
As he spoke, he was eying the surroundings. The tables were too close to each other to really maneuver anywhere, and he didn't want to wedge through a sea of drunkards, which would probably earn him more trouble than it was worth. The only way to the door did seem to be past this man. How annoying. Briefly, he wondered if he should just jump on the table and make a run for it.
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Hasegawa Katsuya
Junior Member
Could Top You All if I Felt Like It [Japan]
Posts: 77
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Post by Hasegawa Katsuya on Jul 30, 2006 23:56:00 GMT -5
"You got somethin' you're hiding?" Katsuya leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Listen, kid. Whoever rescues that damned prince will be rich enough to do whatever the hell he wants for the rest of his life. You want to play stubborn, fine, but if you're nice, I'll split it with ya. I'll even help you find your... what's his name?"
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Post by Orie Hidehira on Jul 31, 2006 0:07:07 GMT -5
They were attracting some curious stares, as the other men in the bar turned around and wondered what the ruckus was. Orie sighed. In his opinion, he was doing damn well in keeping his attitude in check, but this was very well pushing it. He had to consciously remind himself to loosen the fist around his bow, lest he damage the wood with his lack of thinking.
"Don't call me kid, kid," he hissed finally, resolve snapping. "If you're going to go about looking for your prince with this sort of demeanor, you'll never get anywhere anyway. I suggest you give up. Otherwise, please move on. I have nothing to share with a stranger." The table it was! Orie turned back to his seat and jumped on it, using it as a stepladder to the table surface. The third man that had been sharing the space reached out and caught his bottle before the shaking toppled it over.
"Excuse me," mumbled Orie out of habit. He darted past Katsuya and jumped off behind him. The rest of the way to the door was a clear path, and he made quick work of it, slipping out the door.
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