As Boros, Akeno and Kinuko exited the colosseum, a staff member rushed over, calling out, "Sir! Sir!"Boros turned, his expression, neutral.
"What?" Boros asked.
"D-do you have a minute, sir?" the staff member hesitated. Boros raised an eyebrow, "No."
Kinuko intervened, her voice calm, "Shiro, just hear him out, it's like we know where we are going anyways." Akeno nodded in agreement, "Yeah I think so too, hear him out, Shiro."
Boros's gaze narrowed, but he relented. "Fine, what is it?" the staff member stammered, "T-the commentator wants to speak with you, sir."
Boros's grip on the staff member's ear was firm as he pulled him along, "Lead the way."
the staff member winced, correcting Boros's direction. It's the other way, sir."
"O-oh my bad" as they walked, Boros's hold remained tight. The commentator waited in a nearby corner, within sight of Akeno and Kinuko.
After a brief conversation, Boros returned, his expression unreadable,"Let's go."
he said as he walked pass Akeno and Kinuko As they stepped out into the night, the city erupted in beautiful lights, like a festival in full swing. Calonia pulsed with energy, it's streets, alive with activity.
Akeno's eyes widened,"It's gorgeous." Boros's gaze swept over the city.
"You guys really don't know anyone out here?" Kinuko shook her head. "We're from a village in the east, we didn't exactly have a lot of connections."
"And we stayed in the village our whole lives…..until someone decided to run away." Kinuko added as they both looked at Akeno, "Stop playing with butterflies and get over here!"
Kinuko yelled Akeno skipped towards them with a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"What's going on?" Kinuko filled her in "Shiro was asking if we knew anyone in the west, so we could crash at their place."
Akeno's eyes lit up. "We can always find an inn." Boros snorted. "And how do you plan on paying for it, genius?"Akeno pulled out a hefty bag of coins, a sly smile playing on her lips, "I 'borrowed' some change from the crowd."
Boros's eyes widened in shock, "Change? That's enough to buy a house! You're a thief!"
"I prefer 'creative financer' besides, I didn't steal it, I 'borrowed' it I'm pretty sure there's a difference." Akeno said with a neutral look.
"There is a difference you dumb ass!" Boros yelled as he butted heads with Akeno.
Kinuko intervened, her voice calm. "Let's focus on finding a place to stay. It's getting late."
Alright then, got any ideas?" Boros asked.
"Yup!" Akeno replied with a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"Tell me you have an idea" Boros whispered to Kinuko.
"No I don't" Kinuko replied.
"Then we'll have to go with her idea?" Boros asked Kinuko.
"I-I guess so…" Kinuko replied.
"Alright what've you got?" Boros asked Akeno.
"Follow me" Akeno replied with a smile on her face Boros grumbled, but followed Akeno as she skipped ahead, her bag of coins jingling ominously.
"Hey, wait up!" he called out, chasing after her. Akeno led them to 'The Moonlit inn,' a building that seemed to glow in the fading light.
"Here we are," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
Boros raised an eyebrow. "Moonlit Inn? Guess they'll have to rename it in the morning." Kinuko and Akeno chuckled.
"How'd you find this place?" Kinuko asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Akeno shrugged.
"I asked around during the tournament. Figured we'd need a place to crash, this place came highly recommended."
The inn was bustling, packed with travelers and adventurers.
Kinuko frowned, "Looks like we'll be lucky if we find a room."
Boros strode forward, undeterred.
"Let's go ask."At the reception desk, Boros said. "We're looking for a room. One big enough for the three of us." The receptionist nodded, her eyes flicking.
"And how will you be paying?"
Boros jerked a thumb towards Akeno, "she's got it covered." Akeno rolled her eyes good-naturedly and began discussing the details with the receptionist.
After a few minutes, the receptionist nodded and led Boros, Kinuko and Akeno to their room upstairs, "Right this way, sir."
Akeno explored the room, flinging open doors and grinning. "This place is sweet!" she stepped out onto the balcony, taking in the view.
Kinuko chuckled. "And we scored it for a steal."
Boros headed for the shower, his expression calm,"I'm gonna clean up."
A few minutes later, they settled in, the tension of the day dissipating as they relaxed in their spacious room.
Boros leaned against the bedpost, "what's next?"
"How about food?" Kinuko suggested Akeno's eyes lit up, "I'll cook something."
"You?" Boros raised an eyebrow.
Kinuko playfully rolled her eyes, "Akeno's a great cook. You don't know what you're missing."
Akeno blushed, her face puffing in mock offence.
"What's on the menu?" Boros asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Akeno's smile was mischievous. "It's a surprise, I'll need to grab some ingredients though." Kinuko nodded. "There's a big market nearby, but I'm not sure where it is." Akeno's face set in determination, "I'll check it out."
Boros stood up "I'm coming with."
Akeno's blush deepened, "No way, it'll ruin the surprise."
Boros frowned. "You're not going alone. It's late, and you've never been to the west. It's not safe."
Akeno's expression softened, but she stood firm. "I'll be fine, Shiro, Trust me."
Kinuko chimed in. "Let her go, Shiro. She's got this."
Boros grumbled, but eventually relented. "Fine. But if you're not back soon, I'm coming after you."
"I'll be back." Akeno grinned and took off, disappearing out the door.
Akeno's eyes sparkled as she took in the bustling market, "it's this late but, this place is still hopping," she said, her voice full of energy.
Meanwhile, a group of men stumbled out of a nearby bar.
"That guy at the tournament was a total psycho," one of them slurred. Another chimed in, "Yeah, he was on a whole different level."
Davis shot them a dark look. "What did I just hear?" One of the men quickly apologized. "S-Sorry, Captain." Davis sneered.
"He wasn't that good. The bastard just got lucky." Jaxon caught his attention,"Hey, Davis."
"What?" Davis replied, his tone short.
Jaxon nodded towards Akeno. "Isn't that the girl who was cheering for him at the tournament?" Davis's gaze locked onto Akeno, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
"That's her. Time for some payback." One of Davis's men spoke up.
"Captain, what if she doesn't know the guy?" Davis snorted.
"There's no way she wouldn't know him." Jaxon chimed in, "Yeah, her cheering was excessive."Davis barked orders at his men. "Just drag your sorry asses and follow me."
They echoed, "Yes, Captain."Davis turned to Akeno. "Hey….Hey!, I'm talking to you."
Akeno raised an eyebrow,"Me?"
Davis's men snickered And one bystander whispered, "It's Davis and his men again, we better clear out."Akeno smiled wryly.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you were talking to me. It's pretty loud here. What do you need?"
Davis's expression darkened. "Don't play dumb. Answer the question. Do you know the guy from the tournament?"
Akeno's expression laced with confusion. "Guy?"
"Yes the guy who ripped off my buddies arm," Davis said as he jerked his thumb towards Jaxon.
Akeno's eyes sparkled. "You mean, Shiro?"
The men burst out laughing.
"What kind of name is that?" one of them asked, chuckling.Jaxon rolled his eyes. "Control yourselves guys, that can't be his name it's obviously a nickname."
"A nickname?" Davis asked"Yeah, at least that's what I think." Jaxon replied.
Davis's gaze intensified as he leaned in, backing Akeno into a corner. "Are you his girlfriend?"
"G-Girlfriend?" Akeno stammered, her cheeks flushing. "No, it's not like that. Me and Shiro…we're not a thing."
One of the soldiers snorted. "Hey Captain, you think that bastard would lose it if we messed with his girl? Right here in the open?"
A twisted grin spread across Davis's face. "Wouldn't be the worst idea I've heard."
Akeno's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell is wrong with you? Do you have no shame? I'm not some helpless girl. Try me – I will fight back."
Davis chuckled darkly. "No....you won't. Not against Longinus users."
That's when all hell broke loose. Davis swept Akeno off her feet with a sharp leg sweep, but she hit the ground rolling. In a flash, she whipped out a Kunai and let it fly – burying deep in the throat of one of Davis's men, He dropped like dead weight.
"Tch…..Longinus users," she muttered, eyes narrowing "It'll be too dangerous to fight up close."Akeno backed off sliding into the shadows.
"Time to show them what a lifetime of ninja training really looks like." She growled rage pulsing through her every move.
"Plant Whip!" one of Davis's men shouted, and a vine shot out like a bullet. Akeno barely had time to react. The strike hit clean – ripping through her arm below the elbow. Blood sprayed as she screamed, crashing through the trees and slamming into the dirt.
Pain tore through her, venom already working its way into her system – courtesy of the Nature Longinus user. Her vision blurred, her breath came ragged.
Davis and his men closed in, grinning like predators circling prey. But Akeno wasn't done. Not yet. She forced herself up, body trembling, eyes burning with fury. With a flick of her remaining hand, Kunai flew like lightning – deadly and precise.
More of Davis's men hit the ground before the even realized she'd moved."Crystal Crush!" one of Davis's men shouted. A hundred shimmering, crystal-like spears materialized midair, each one gleaming with intent and aimed at Akeno.
With a swift gesture, he commanded them forward. The air cracked like thunder as the barrage launched – a deafening volley that tore through the battlefield like an explosion.
Silence followed, broken only by the settling dust. Then, from behind them, a voice rang out:
"Migawari no Jutsu: Ki" (Substitution Jutsu: Wood)
As the haze cleared, all they saw was a splintered log where Akeno had stood."Where is she?!" Davis barked.
"Migawari no Jutsu: Kemuri"(Substitution Jutsu: Smoke.)
Akeno's voice echoed, laced with fury and hidden somewhere within the smoke.
"Smoke?" What does she mean–" one of Davis's men began, but his words were cut short. One by one, they dropped – silent, clean kills.
Akeno moved like a phantom within the haze, striking with precision and vanishing just as quickly.
As she leapt forward toward Jaxon, blade drawn,.....Davis intercepted. In a blur, he gripped her throat with crushing force. His hand hovered just above her abdomen.
"Terragrim."
A pulse of energy surged through his palm – a brutal shockwave that tore through Akeno's body, blasting a gaping hole through her stomach.
Blood poured from her mouth as she gasped, her body broken – one arm gone, a gaping wound in her gut. Davis's hand tightened around her throat, his voice calm but cruel. "You've been scurrying around like a damn rat." He sneered Akeno chocked, more blood spilling down her chin.
But with a sudden burst of pain fueled strength, she drove a blade into Davis's arm. He let go with a grunt, and she didn't wait – grabbing her severed arm, she bolted.
"Captain, she's getting away!" one of Davis's men shouted.
Davis just smirked, cradling his bleeding arm."Let her, That should be enough to get the bastard's attention."He turned, flicking blood from his fingers.
"Now come on, let's get a drink."His men roared in approval, following their captain into the night.
(he definitely got Boros's attention alright …kekek)