As Wasuren and Kiyoshi strolled through the streets of Aoshima, the villagers looked at them with skepticism, even some of the local samurai that passed by them did not seem pleased by their presence.
"It appears we are not welcome in this place" Kiyoshi said to Wasuren.
"Oh really, I didn't notice." Wasuren retorted sarcastically.
They kept walking until they reached an inn.
"Let's see what all the fuss is about the Sake from Aoshima." Kiyoshi said with a smile and walked into the inn with Wasuren.
It was evening, the sun had begun to set and as the rays passed through the windows, they gave the inn an orange glow. There were other samurai and common folk either moving around or sitting down getting drunk in sadness or happiness. It was a particularly roudy place, but itade sense, it is an inn.
Kiyoshi stepped through the narrow doorway first, not grabbing attention. But Wasuren's presence did. His snow white hair, his golden eyes.
"What is the Hoshigami doing here?" Someone whispered.
"Didn't you hear, Okami no Banshi arrived earlier today." another spoke.
"But there's no way They would send a main member of the clan to aid us. He doesn't resemble either Hatamoto, Kaito or Raizen. Wait, could it be the basta-"
"Shut your big mouth" another retorted.
Wasuren moved on with an indifferent expression, while Kiyoshi walked beside him. They found an empty table and sat. Some minutes passed until a lady from behind the counter walked up to them and bowed. "Thank you for waiting, we don't have much workers these days." She said with a smile.
Wasuren frowned. " Why?"
She was stumped by their question, then a light bulb went off in her head, "right, you're not from here, after the last beast horde attack, alot of our workers were injured. Some are just plain scared of getting out of their houses."
"Yo, waitress get me my drink." A man yelled as he banged his fist on his table. "I've been waiting too damn long."
Wasuren turned his head to find the source of the voice. His eyes locked onto a man frowning in corner, he was sitting with other men in armor. Wasuren could tell by their armor that they was an Aoshima samurai.
The lady quickly turned to face the man and answered, "please exercise a bit of patience your needs will be met soon."
She turned her attention back on Wasuren. "What would you like to have?"
It was Kiyoshi who replied. "Two big cups of ice Sake and roasted boar hide."
She nodded and left in a hurry to prepare their meal and drinks.
A few minutes later the waitress had a tray with their meal and sake on it and was on her way. On her way to Kiyoshi and Wasuren's table, she passed by the samurai who previously yelled at her. When he saw she was headed to another table instead of his, he stood and obstructed her passage.
"Where do you think you're going to with that meal in your hands?" He asked angrily.
She furrowed her brows. "Have a bit more patience, this isn't yours. When I'm done serving these you're up next."
"No I don't think so, I think I'll have what's in your hand right now." He reached forward to grab the tray but she pulled away with a frown. "I've told you these aren't yours." The waitress said to him with a hint of anger. But her words fell on deaf ears as the man reached forward again and pulled the tray from her, she had to let go for fear of knocking over the sake.
Meanwhile Wasuren observed their interaction from his seat, his index finger was tapping the table in front of him rapidly and there was a deep scowl on his face. Kiyoshi's gaze landed on Wasuren's face, then his finger. "Umn Ren, I'll handle it." But before Kiyoshi could make a move, Wasuren was already on his way to the scene of the disturbance.
"Oh dear." Kiyoshi muttered as he followed behind Wasuren hurriedly.
Wasuren arrived just when the samurai yanked the tray from the waitress. He turned around to find to two young men dressed as samurai behind him. His gaze landed on Wasuren and his eyes widened like an owl's.
"Hoshigami! " He exclaimed, but his frown found its way back to his face. "What do you want from me, Hinokagura samurai?" He asked with a growl.
Kiyoshi stepped forward, and attempted to diffuse the situation. "Listen, the meal you claimed, it was ou-" he was interrupted by the sound of a katana being drawn. Helooked to his side to find that Wasuren had already seen his katana.
"Take out your katana." Wasuren said sharply. The samurai looked at him dumbfounded. Kiyoshi massaged the bridge of his nose in frustration and stepped aside anticipating what's about to happen. He took the waitress by the arm and pulled her aside. "You'll be safer beside me." He said.
The samurai placed the tray on his table with a confident smirk on his face. "You must have a few screws loose up there bastard boy."
Another samurai at the table stood up and whispered in to him. "I think you should just return the meal."
" Shut it and sit back down if you have nothing better to say to me. Don't be afraid brethren, don't you recognize him."
Wasuren stood there with his katana in one hand and the other violently tapped the side of his thigh. The samurai noticed this and smirked. "I know of Kaito Hoshigami, the newest Hatamoto in Hinokagura." He then pointed at Wasuren, "but you I didn't recognize you, the reason is you're the bastard boy, the one who couldn't wield the blessing of Amaterasu, the one who ran to the Okami no Banshi for refuge after being rejected by your people."
Wasuren was angry, and the more the samurai in front of him spoke, the angrier he got, and the faster his finger tapped the side of his thigh. " Draw.... your katana." He said again, with gritted teeth.
The samurai laughed hard then unleashed his blade from its sheath. "Watch everyone, how I best a member of the Hoshig-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Wasuren struck first, a sharp jab meant for the shoulder. Steel rang as the samurai knocked it aside, stumbling half a step back. The samurai launched a wide slash at Wasuren who lightly stepped aside to dodge it, but the samurai recovered fast and struck again, but Wasuren blocked, sidestepped and made a fast turn now behind his attacker, he raised his leg and thrust it forward knocking the man over slightly, but he regained his balance.
The samurai felt humiliated, " you daaaaaare!" He screamed and thrust forward, but Wasuren easily parried with a light tap of the sword and struck forward. The samurai tried to avoid the strike but blood was already drawn.
He raised his hand to his cheek and felt the cut.
"You are a disgrace to samurai." Wasuren commented.
"Who are you to decide, you son of a whore!"
Wasuren froze.
He let his katana drop and launched himself at the samurai. The man swung his katana, but Wasuren sidestepped and grabbed the samurai's sword arm in one swift motion. He pulled the arm back, the. Launched two quick kicks to the back of the samurai's knees causing him to fall forward.
He twisted the samurai's arm provoking a scream, and causing him to drop his katana.
Wasuren didn't stop. He proceeded to twist the arm even further until he heard a loud pop.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!" The samurai screamed in pain. "Please stop, I didn't mean to."
His plea fell on deaf ears as Wasuren turned him around then proceeded to throw blows at his face. He punched the samurai three times then let him drop. He then picked up the samurai's katana and thrust it through an opening in the armor, and into the other shoulder causing the man to release another scream.
He walked back and picked up his sword and sheathed it. "I've my appetite Kiyoshi, I'm heading back."
Kiyoshi turned to the lady who was awesome struck by what occurred in front of her. "Forgive us for the mess." He said to her and handed her some coins. "That should cover the meal." He said and went after Wasuren.