Hide and Seek [Zeshin]

[Jin NPC]

Haku stretched in the light of the early morning.



He wasn't supposed to be here in Laytor. His jin village was nearby and they were forbidden at all costs to enter into a Human town.

...unfortunately, Haku wasn't a person for authority. He had watched the dealings of the Humans in this village from afar, and he was curious. Perhaps he would be able to talk to some of the children in the town...

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin was sweeping the deck of Karrasi clean of dust in the early morning. Having finished his chores, Zeshin returned inside to acquire his traveling satchel and some coinage from the counter. Waving goodbye to his mother at the bar, and a lounging Issac in the corner of the bar, Zeshin grabbed his sword from near the door, bursting out into the the village of Laytor to bask in the morning son.

Walking thought the small town, Zeshin placed his hand in his pocket to procure some change, stopping at a fruit stand to grab an apple. Before he could take a bite, he noticed a small child walking through town, looking as mischievous as he was unaware of his surroundings. "Let me get another one." Zeshin said smiling, noticing he similarities between the the child and Issac. "He looks as much like a cat as Issac does a dog." Zeshin thought, walking over to the boy. "Hey there lil' guy, you looking from something? Zeshin said, biting his apple, offering the other to the child.

[Jin NPC]

"I'm not little!" Haku protested, though he was still smiling as he looked up at the figure before him. "And I ain't lookin' for nothin'. I just wanna have some fun!" He scratched the back of his head for a moment, and then decided to take the apple that had been offered to him.

"Thanks. I like apples," he said with a giggle, taking out half of the fruit with one bite. He began to walk, bouncing on his feet. "So...what is there to do around here? There's lotsa fun stuff to do in my town...we're not too far from ya, actually..." He was just making small talk, trying to get a feel for Humans the way that they were naturally. The boy who was speaking to him didn't seem too surprised to see him like that, but...nothing surprised Haku especially these days. He just hoped he wouldn't get a thrashing for talking to someone who was a Human...

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin smiled as he followed the small Neko-jin, hoisting his traveling bag on his back, with his sword at his side. "If there's so much to do, what brings you to these parts. This town is pretty dull, which is why I was on my way outta here for a while, I'm Zeshin by the way, what's your name?" Zeshin said, eating his apple as he inquired about the child. Not a fan for bullies, Zeshin decided to follow the kid around, hoping to ensure that he wouldn't be ostracized by any of the other villagers for his appearance.

[Jin NPC]

"Aww...I was hoping this was a fun town! You're just like the town I came from!!!" He shuffled his feet on the ground, and he hung his head a bit. "You're leaving? Where are you going? Are you going to do something important? I'm Haku, by the way," he said, turning to face his new friend, and giving him a mock salute. "At your service! My town is a bit of a slum, but I wouldn't mind showing the way if you wanted. Even if mama got mad, I think that she would like you. You're nice. And I owe you for the apple. Mama always says that owing a stranger a favor is like a fortune cookie: what you get will be cliched and probably written in a big ole book somewhere, but that doesn't mean it won't be fun!" Haku laughed, suddenly jumping into the air.

"Sooo..." he said, stretching out the 'o' sound in the word, "Where are you going?"

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin listened to the small boy prattle on, yammering on without pause. It made Zeshin smile, as he finished his apple he mused to himself if her were still like that, Haku reminding him of his younger days. Having walked near the outskirts of town, Zeshin looked at the apple core in his hand, wondering if he could dispose of it with his burgeoning powers. Tossing it in the air, Zeshin pointed his index and middle fingers at the apple, his hand resembling a gun, and followed its rise in the air. Upon its descent Zeshin concentrated, and with a short breath, he shot a small fireball at the apple, incinerating it completely, watching happily as the ashes flew in the gentle breeze. Satisfied, he turned toward Haku with a smile, "Show me your hometown Haku, I wouldn't mind seeing it at all." Zeshin said, smiling at the young Jin.

[Jin NPC]

Haku's mouth was caught in an "O" shape as he watched Zeshin be rid of the apple core. He almost dropped the half of apple that was still in his own hand.

"WHOOOOA! That is SO cool! Think you can teach me how to do that?! My Papa used to use magic, back when he was alive...He couldn't shoot fire, though! That is just SOOOO great! Mama always says that magic users are exciting people--but she's says that they're dangerous sometimes, too, but I don't think that you're dangerous!"

Running on ahead, out of the village and through some of the forest on its edges, Haku then said, "Come on! We have to head to the caves and then to the beach! It's the best part of our town! First one there is a crying hyena!"

And with that, he sped off into the trees, forgetting that Zeshin had no notion about how to get to the village in the first place.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin watch as the small Neko-jin darted into the the brush, his eyesight although advances, failed him as the boy was too quick to keep up with once he entered the tree. "Sheesh, that kid is fast." Zeshin said, removing the sword he held from its sheath. Commencing to follow, Zeshin ran into the forest, following Haku, and hacking any branches or shrubs in his way. Trying desperately to follow, Zeshin could make out a small blue and furry orange blur 30 feet ahead od him, but the boy did not slow his pace. "I can't follow you if I can't see you kid!" Zeshin yelled, stopping to catch his breath.

Zeshin turned around to find he had gone quite deep into the forrest, farther and faster than he thought his legs could carry him. "Oh man..." Zeshin said, standing inside the shade of the tall trees, the faint sound of crunching leaves in the distance. Zeshin closed his eyes for a moment, and began to focus on the sounds of the forest. After a moment he could hear someone or something approaching him, and he began to brace himself for whatever it may be, clenching his sword tightly with one hand while wiping the sweat from his brow with the other.

"Ok, I'll play your game, your on kid, Zeshin said, darting off in the opposite direction of the sound approaching him, running toward Haku.

[Jin NPC]

"WHOAWHOAWHOA KID!!!?! Where do you think you're goin'?"

In a flash as quick a lightning--or so he would like to think, Jack was in front of the Human who had entered the forest, lying on his stomach and enjoying the breeze.



"Too...SLOW!!!"

The Jackalope had seen Haku from the village actually enter with this guy, so he couldn't be that bad, right? Either the city was in trouble and required the help of a Human, or...Haku was just breaking the rules...again. Not that it was any of Jack's business. He didn't live in the city--just by it.

"Hi! I'm Jack. What's your name? Where do you come from? That Human city over there? I've been through there a few times--people are good, ale is good, leftovers are good--cause you know that they don't give animals real food! We always get the leftovers. What do you think about that pal? Why, pal, why? If you saw me in your house and I asked for some food, would you only give me leftover? That doesn't seem fair, does it? Does your mother give you leftovers? But anyway, you're with Haku, right? Don't get lost. He's no match for me, of course, but he's sure givin' you a run for your money. You've got two left feet."

There was not a single pause for breath and in that entire line of questioning and accusation, but Jack hadn't thought about giving the boy a chance to answer when he continued, his eyes widening at the sight of the sword that the visitor was handling.

"WHOAWHOAWHOA there buddy! You gotta sword? I guess they give weapons to kids any age these days, you Humans. With your lust for War and a yaddayaddayadda. I says why can't we all live in peace with one anudda? That's something that's always bothered me about you Humans. Upper level creatures too. But I guess that's my problem ain't it? Do you know how to use it? Does your city have a sword style that it practices? There are a lot of Jin towns that teach old styles. Is your father teachin' ya? I says that's the best way to earn yer stripes! From father to son. Old to young. That's how things oughta be. What do you think?"

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

The suprised that Zeshin felt from the sudden appearance of the Jackalope, was hastily replaced with annoyance, anger, and only after a short few seconds of conversation, deep loathing. "SHUT UP! GOD, DO YOU KNOW I ALMOST TOOK YOUR HEAD YOU BABBLING IDIOT." Zeshin yelled, exasperated from the creatures barrage of questioning. Expecting such behavior from the small child Zeshin befriended earlier allowed him tolerance for the precociousness of youth, but appearance the Jackalope was too much.

Sighing in regret for his rash behavior, Zeshin sheathed the blade in his hand, "Look, I'm sorry about that, but I don't take kindly to surprises. I'm Zeshin." The apologetic youth said, looking down at the creature, still annoyed, but embarrassed at his crass behavior. "Did you happen to see where that little guy went. I was supposed to be following him, but i got dusted?" Zeshin asked, taking an some of the food he packed for himself out his bag, offering it to the jackalope.

[Jin NPC]

This callow youth in front of him yelling was a little more than Jack himself could handle. "WHOAWHOAWHOA! You gotta setta chops and a setta backbone to yell at ole Jack here. And you couldn't hurt a fly widdat sword. I would've gotten away inna second. You're too sensitive, Human."

Jack began to prepare to speed himself away again, at this rude Human's behaviour. The blue haired boy put his sword back and apologized, not that it made much difference to Jack. Then he asked about Haku. A good friend of his, and frankly, Jack didn't approve of this boy as the other jin's company.

"Yeah, I saw 'im. Good luck gettin' me to tell--" his nose twitched. Food? Smelled of good quality, too. He supposed...just this once... "Well...I guess I kin help ya out once. Just don't eva yell at me like that again. I'll kill ya." A pause, and Jack's furry fingers took the morsel from the boy's hands. "Haku went that way," he said, pointing north. "To the city he lives in. I imagine that he was takin' you there. Well, it's none of my business. Anyway, off you go. And don't be pullin' any more knives on poor animals. They have knives of their own, ya hear?"

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

"Got ya, and sorry again for the trouble." Zeshin said as he dashed of, in the same direction as the Jackalope's advice. Wondering how far he had come into the forest, the vegetation seemed to grow thicker that deeper Zeshin went into the forest. "Damn it, I didn't want to do this but this bush is gettin' to thick." Zeshin said, removing his blade from its scabbard. As he slowly tread forward, he sliced away at the branches of the underbrush.

Continuing to comb through the brush, Zeshin hacked away at the greenery. "Damn, that kid is to fast, when I get my hands on him I'll..." Zeshin said before bumping his foot into a low root, causing him to stumble and fall. Frustrated at being lost, Zeshin decided to call out to the small boy, something he should have done in the beginning. "Haku, you win! Just come and hlep my find out where the heck I am!" Zeshin yelled.

Hearing the reverb of his voice in the form of his echo, Zeshin stood and dusted himself off. Securing his traveling bag on his person, as well as grabbing his sword, Zeshin continued forward to find a cave past all of the dense foliage. Examining the outside of the cave, Zeshin decided to wait for Haku to come find him, after he had called out to him.

[Jin NPC]

Haku had been watching in the trees above Zeshin, having run a circle around him in the forest. It was obvious that he was faster than the Human, even though Zeshin had looked as though he would actually be a match for him.

He had to try hard to not laugh at the boy's encounter with Jack. Of course, the jackalope was always annoying, but he seemed to get used to that just like everyone else did. The jackalope was kind at hard, and he knew that they two would still be friends after their awkward conversation.

He was going into a cave, one of the few places in the area that the Jin in his city hadn't bothered to actually explore. Haku wasn't entirely sure if the cave was a path or a home for something else, but now that he thought about it, it might be fun.

"Hey!" he shouted with a smug smile, dropping down from a tree in front of the the pathway to the cave. "Looking for me?" He laughed, walking up casually as though he hadn't been spying on him. "So you give up, eh? We're not that far from the village, if you want to go there now. Of course..." he said in exaggerated tones, "We could always explore this cave..."

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Watching as the small Jin-child casually walked over at the end of his prank, Zeshin roughly rubbed him on the top of his head, "I oughta throw you in that cave and let whatever in there gobble you up ya runt." Zeshin said, smiling at the fact that he once again had a navigator and no longer had to journey blindly through that forest.

Curious at Haku's inquiry, Zeshin placed his hands on his waist, "You've never been in that cave before I take it?" Zeshin asked, walking closer to the mouth of the cavern. Locating a thick fallen branch on the ground, Zeshin knelt to pick it up, placing his hand on the end of it. Soon there was smoke to indicate kindling, and no more than a few seconds later, Zeshin held in his hand a makeshift torch as he turned to Haku. "Well? you gonna stand there all day, or are we gonna brave through this cave your so scarred of." Zeshin goaded, taunting the boy with a show of faux arrogance. The truth was Zeshin had no idea what lie beyond the mouth of the cave, but he and Haku had nothing to do, and he was waiting for a chance to see the small boy a little scared.

Walking into the cave, Zeshin mad sure that his sword was secure at this waist, taking precaution in case any manner of situation arose that could prove to be dangerous.

[Jin NPC]

Haku wanted to explore the cave, he really did, but...

If you ever go into that cave and come out alive I'm going to kill you!!! His mother's words rang through his ears when he took a step forward. Zeshin lit a branch to use as a torch--that was pretty cool--and his sword seemed reassuring, but the moment that his mother had panicked about him going close to that cave was the most scared he had ever seen his mother, and he wasn't going to make her worry like that again. He was too old to be doing things like that.

So he turned around, crossing his arms in an attempt to be nonchalant. "Nah, I don't wanna go in there. There prolly ain't nothin' in there anyways. C'mon, let's go to the city--Mom was gonna make an apple pie!" he said, waiting a few seconds before turning his head around a tiny bit--just to make sure that Zeshin was following. "We can always go in that lame old cave some other time..." he began to walk away from the area, hoping that Zeshin's being lost earlier would prompt him to hurry behind him.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin seemed to notice Haku's reluctance, and turned his back slightly to hid the smile on his face. "I guess your 'prolly' right Haku, nothing is in there anyway." Zeshin said, blowing a lung full of air onto the ignite branch to snuff the fire he'd started moments ago. Stamping the smoking stick into the cold earth to ensure there would be no forest fire resulting from his negligence. "So, how far away are we from your home town exactly." Zeshin said, looking at the surrounding area, making note of things so he could have a sense of direction if he and Haku were to be separated again.

Following behind Haku, Zeshin smiled at the though of some hot apple pie, having only had an apple earlier and given most of his food to the Jackalope he'd met earlier, Zeshin found himself famished after chasing after Haku, running up an appetite as it were.

[Jin NPC]

"Just a hop and a skip. That's all," Haku said, running up ahead again, but not too far ahead, leading a path across the river.

Reaching down and scooping the liquid in his hands, he said, "We've magicked it so that it cleans itself. Mama won't let me learn magic, but isn't it great? It tastes like the best drink that you've remembered having! Mine tastes like apple cidah!" he said embellishing the last syllable of the word for theatrical appeal. When you'be reached this river, you know that you're really close. We're over that big hill, there, with the thicket of trees...There's a magical barrier there, too, to keep the Humans out, so you'll have to hold my hand while we walk through. Otherwise you might get burned." He laughed, taking another drink of the water from the river before skipping across it, waiting for Zeshin to continue with him to the giant hill before them.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin was relived at the sound of this, chasing the boy caused him to work up quite a thirst. Knelling down, Zeshin cupped his hands into the river, and drank, "Wow! this tastes like Ginger Ale with vanilla Ice Cream." Zeshin said, removing his canteen from his travel bag to fill it up. Listening to Haku's embelished accent, Zeshin let out a chuckle, as he found the boy highly amusing. Walking across the river behind Haku, Zeshin listen as he expalined the barrier that hid his village. "I know some magic, but I kinda found that out on accident, so I don't think my mom know I know any either. Why won't you mother let you learn magic Haku?" Zeshin asked, grabbing Haku's hand as they approached.

[Jin NPC]

Haku looked nervous as they entered the barrier. "Well, our village is...ah, not quite known for it's tourists. We're a bad town, they say. Soooooo, Mom doesn't want us to use magic so something doesn't happen to us. That's what she said happened to dad. She said that if we knew magic, we would die the same way that he did--people trying to make us do bad things..."

Haku felt the constant tingle of the barrier as they neared the hill. Pulling Zeshin behind him as they climbed up to the top, they could see a small village down at the foot, and in the distance, not too far down the hill, Haku could see a figure--his brother.



Pulling Zeshin past the barrier's exit, right when they began walking downhill, Haku ran toward his brother, breaking the contact with Zeshin. "Rassan! Look who I found!"

Rassan, his bandana flowing with the soft breeze that fell from the hill, looked up at Zeshin, his eyes widening. "A...a Human!" he said in a whisper. He looked a bit older than Haku, but his smile didn't fade at the sight of such a creature. "Wow! It's been a long time since I've seen one of those."

Haku's eyes widened in return to that statement. "There's been other Humans here before?"

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Zeshin listened as Haku spoke about his father. Once again, the boy mentioned his mother's reluctance on learning magic, and Zeshin figured it had something to do with the boy's father untimely demise. Feeling the boy's grip tighten and his hand fidget Zeshin sensed the magical barrier at the hill's summit, happy that they passed through. It filled him with a sense of awe, having expirenced few things of magic in his life, and fewer he actually understood, Zeshin took the time to let the magics wash over him. The magic felt almost familiar, and Zeshin saw a boy similar yet older than Haku.

"Must be a relative of Haku's..." Zeshin said to himself as they approached the perplexed Jin, in which his assumption was correct when Haku called him out by name. Zeshin heard his comment and wondered exactly why his kind were so rare to come in contact with. Zeshin saw nothing but humans, so he wondered why this village was so isolated. Listen to the exchange between the 2 brothers, Zeshin extended his hand to Rassan, "I'm Zeshin Rassan, nice to meet you."