The Fortune Teller's [closed]

[kourin]

In the center of the city, buildings dominate the horizon, many made of wood. There is one on the edge of a corner, which few may notice they may have never noticed before.

The building itself is newer, if not one of the more fresh buildings that have recently gone up. It hasn't seen a year yet, or even six months--but slowly, it is getting there. A building made of fresh oak and seemingly sturdy enough to survive any earthquake--made by science or God's work, whichever managed to come first.

But there is no point in focusing in on a store--it is the inhabitant inside the building who is the important detail.

Inside, a young woman (or was it a man? Many aren't too sure of it's gender) sits on a row of pillows, filled with the feathery downs of geese. The silk robe is off the shoulders, and covers most of the body down to the legs. Eyes are shut--though when open, obviously growing agitated and red by the surrounding smoke that dances from a bamboo pipe held in the hands.

Inhaling loudly, the woman opens her eyes to the room around her--a small table nearby, complete with a deck of cards (tarot, of course) and underneath, a small bowl where the leftover contents of the drug--which remain yet to be smoked--lie.

Surprisingly, there have been very few elderly women making their visits today. But surely, there was a reason behind it. A reason, of course, that she didn't care for very much.

But whatever it was, it at least left her some time alone to sprawl out among the comfort of intoxicating fumes and isolation from others for the time being.

[Kyokutei Ieyasu]

It was always inevitable to ignore what could happen in a days work. He had heard strange and quite eerie rumors of a woman or man, who sat with demon-eyes, preaching about the future. Now he was curious as to whether or not this demon could tell him anything exciting. It was a path to have one belief in Japan, to go about as unison and place belief in retrospect over the Emperor or a form of God. His eyes lingered over a group of elderly woman gossiping over their said-grandchildren. One was even bragging about her fortune; how their family would be graced with the son they were hoping for.

Rolling his eyes to the left he took notice of the demon's building. It was new compared to the rest of the buildings in the Market but he never noticed it because, well, it wasn't noticeable. If this said fortune teller could foresee the future, she would've known Kyo was going to barge in without 'appointments'. The young man reached out and slid the door open before stepping in. Immediately his gaze dropped to the figure who sat comfortably within decorative pillows. He walked forward, his steps hardly making a noise. Though he came to a halt near the table and suddenly went into a bow.

Within this position he raised his chin to examine Kourin's face, catching the distinct color of the irises. "A demon?" he mused aloud, almost mocking - finally he stood straight.

[kourin]

There is no rebuttal to the comment, instead, the small hand not holding the pipe reaches down to the painted deck of various flowers.

The hand raises and holds a card up, facing the newcomer who dared to invade her private time. But money is money afterall.

"The Devil." she states coldly, lack of emotion or interest in the person's arrival. "Do you understand what this means?" Then in a second of realization, she blinks slowly, much like an old toad. "Mm, you probably don't, so Kourin will tell you."

The introduction. The woman--or man's--name happens to be Kourin, unless that happens to be a Genji name.

She continues on with the card. "Self-bondage due to an idea. You cannot grow due to an ideal or belief that prevents you from doing so."

The Devil card chosen by the "Demon," a little ironic, isn't it?

[Kyokutei Ieyasu]

Kyo's fingers suddenly twitched when Kourin reached for one of the cards. He couldn't see the future like the other could, nor did he understand what she was doing. Fleetingly he lifted his right hand up in a wave - like waving someone off. Making this gesture caused his clothing of his sleeves to slide down and he took a few more lingering steps closer. "I can't grow?" he asked, the tone of his voice puzzled. Grow into what? Something larger? Grow into...

"Does that mean I am ignorant?" - or did it mean that he really had a sad empty life and to fill it he had to 'grow'. Now, his other hand lifted and he held out his palms, showing them to this Kourin-person. "So?"

[kourin]

"You're holding yourself back from reaching your potential." Quickly, the eyes search the body, looking for something to be noted. Though she sees no sword or other weapon from the angle; judging by the heavy air of military folk throughout the cityscape, it wouldn't be an unlikely assumption to believe he was involved with the fighting.

The truth of the matter is, Kourin can't tell the future; but she has some pretty amazingly talented guessing ability.

The hand holding the pipe raise to the lips, inhaling the intoxicating fumes once more, the eyes closing temporarily before lazily opening. "If you pay me first, we'll talk about the rest."

There's always a catch to these sorts of things, you know.

[Kyokutei Ieyasu]

Kyo's expression remained flat, the lids of his eyes blinking a few times to show he was paying attention to Kourin. Pay the Demon to tell him about things he didn't care to hear? Well, it was likewise for Demons to always want something - he figured. Slowly, he kneeled himself down in-front of the girl, although remaining near to the table. With one swift motion of his hand he dropped a sheathe onto the table, although no noise had come with it. Yes, of course he was armed - it would be idiotic to do so otherwise, although it was hidden beneath the many layers he wore (until he pulled it out).

Quite suddenly his left hand rested on the table, and he leaned in. Blue eyes widened and then narrowed to focus in. He really couldn't tell if this monster had a real gender and he was too boggled to ask. But the long hair made appearances deceiving and in a sense he wanted to place the silk into his hands. "What do you want to be paid in, Kourin?" he gave no titled formality with the girl's name because he didn't care. Now that he was so close the woman across from him could see the two gold bracelets fastened on his wrists.

[kourin]

The violet eyes catch the bracelets rather quickly and focus on them for a few seconds before returning the glance.

Ah, excellent. There is a sword in his possession which most likely meant he was a fighter--all the more information to be convincing. Oh, how silly people could be when they came to visit.

Hands move in, pulling the pipe away from the lips for a brief moment, only to allow, "How much is your future worth to you? You can rise above the waters and create your own waves, or you can float along with the current." spoken honestly.

There is no reason to like this intruder, and she doesn't. Next to her legs, a small fan rests, which she manages to place in her hands and hold, rather than the pipe, the smoke from which is dying due to a lack of opium and flames.

The eyes and the motion to take the fan in her grasp make it clear and similar to that of a snake's rattling--continue closer towards her, and you may be on the receiving end of a stinging sensation. More than likely, the sharp slap of an iron fan.

[Kyokutei Ieyasu]

He didn't care what his worth was in the future, or if it had to do with anything. Kyo allured himself into surprises, never wanting to know what was going to come next. Nor did he believe in this demon tale of far-fetched future. If anyone could read him, which would be the end of his lowly attempts to gain insanity. Quietly, a well natured smile was placed on his face. Lifting his hand he revealed a well mounted set of currency, along with gold and other valuable earrings. Of course, this payment was almost over a farmers summer work.

"All right then," Kyo's smile disappeared.

[kourin]

When the smile extinguishes on Kyo's face, Kourin's face does not change. It remains apathetic and for the most part, unmoved.

The hand without the fan reaches forward to claim the items of monetary value--it was more than enough to get opium for the next two weeks, plus some incense. There were the pickier customers that cared not for the fumes.

Kourin's eyes close before holding the Devil card. "Your pride," a trait commonly found in men, "is what is holding you back." Now what would be the 'from what?' part? Certainly, there are many ones to use, but the one in this position--a callous young man with a sword? Strength would do. "From what, is strength."

Her hands place the fan down--certainly, there is no need for it anymore. Instead, the hands take the pipe once more and replace it to the lips, teeth holding the bamboo in place.

"Need I elaborate? Or do you understand?"

[Kyokutei Ieyasu]

Motioning his hands lifted and he weaved his fingers together while hiding the other smile that appeared on his face. Everyone had something they wanted to strive for, but there was an obstacle that could get it. And his pride? What of it? He had lost it so long ago in another person's death. Though the only thing he did was nod, as though agreeing with her statement. "I understand," Kyo said indecisively, wanting to see how deep Mrs. Demon could go until she found herself tangled within Kyo's thought process.

I am sure she makes in with wealth by stating the obvious human traits since everyone else is too dimwitted to speak out Kyo thought to himself before he untangled his right hand to brush at the bangs that hung over his right eye. "Your hair," he said quite suddenly, "is very long." He was doing the same thing Kourin was doing with him - except with less intellect and charismatic words.

[kourin]

There is a heavy silence for a few minutes.

Kourin stares at the stranger across from her, the grip on the pipe starting to become ground in the teeth, incoming towards another.

"If strength is the only thing you care about, like the card says, your fortune is this: greeting the devil at the gates of the underworld ... unless you change your ways." she announces, solemnly.

[Kyokutei Ieyasu]

Kyo basked himself into the woman's silence, motioning his index finger up for a second and then back down. His strength? It was all very confusing and the more she spoke the more it sounded like psychobabble. Though when he glanced for a second time, he noticed the violet floating within the red haze. Change his ways? "Hmm," he said in thought.

"Does..it really matter?"

[kourin]

Again, a pregnant pause. It is a foreign reason why she does not speak so readily. Perhaps it is the slothful expression that says it all: too lazy to respond right away.

But then, out of nowhere, and after a long exhale of smoke, "'If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words.'"