Koizumi Inn

    They fled, save for one--Omura clutched both of her legs as she was hoisted upside down, probably wiggling ferociously to get free, kicking with all her might and to no use. In this strange upside-down predicament, she'd be effectively subdued. Awry may have been an understatement; for the kunoichi, things were about to get worse.
    "Hngh!" He drove his knee without mercy into the small of her writhing back, a necessity to inflict enough temporary trauma to stop her from struggling. If this did not work, the flat bottom of his zori sandals pinning her tied-back hair to the floor should suffice. The most hardened, myopic of extremists might continue to struggle in a symbolic fight against the enemy, but most logical thinkers would probably see a painful and endless escalation should this continue.
    "Ashikaga-san. Fetch some rope from the innkeeper."

When the assassins fled Isao would not chase them in pursuit. Three assailants pressed an immediate threat against anyone who followed them out of the inn. Additionally, the injured sword maiden required their immediate attention as well as the Swordmaster. The young samurai was reminded of his sense of duty and the desire to hunt down the three kunoichi was very strong. Nonetheless, he looked to Aiko as she laid before him on the inn room floor and sheathed his sword.

"Send for a physician," he called to no one in particular. He bowed his head to the request for rope and relayed it to the terrified innkeeper who fairly fled in terror to fulfill the request. "Kawakami-sama, see to the Swordmaster's injuries when you can." He looked up to his sensei with a look of concern etched deep into his features. He was worried there were more assassins hiding nearby to take advantage of a compromised situation. The young Ashikaga set his jaw, removed the haori coat he was wearing and dropped to his knees beside Aiko.

"Please excuse me, but action demands impropriety be forgiven."

The samurai opened the young woman's kosode to view her wound with no regard to perversion. While he was not readily familiar with poisons, he could at least treat her injury. He tore the sleeve of his haori twice over to create a long fold of fabric. Isao would then inspect the wound with a discerning eye. "Water! Sake! I need anything to flush the wound," he cried out. Terrified house servants would eventually find their own resolve to fetch the requested items.

All in due time Isao would pour water over the wound to wash out the blood. He would follow through with sake to eat away any surface infection, something that would sting her exposed and sundered flesh. When the wound was treated he then used the makeshift bandage torn from his garment and applied it to the wound. He held it firmly in place and began to wrap it around her to create a tight barrier against the sword wound. Isao did this again, tearing off his second haori sleeve to strengthen the bandaging and reinforce the pressure over the wound. It was his hope it would be enough to aide her until a true physician could arrive.

"Stay with me," he spoke in a quiet voice as he overlooked Aiko. All the while he was attentive to his surroundings, prepared for the worst. Her life was now in the hands of fate.

"Get pressure on the wound!" The village physician yelled as he ran in, mainly out of instinct, as Aiko really was already being treated as best she could. In his entry he almost ran into Kegareta, and two apprentices came in tow. They all knelt down beside her and he and his apprentices began to treat her. He pulled some leaves from his robes after assuring the bleeding was stemmed to some degree, and began to 'paint' around the stab wound.

Ruby sees that a crowd is beginning to form, what with all the doctors and drunkards. She decides to sit down at a table before they're all taken.

"Katashima said are so silly, don't you think, Sharky?"

The white cat meows in agreement and curls up on the table to take a nap. Ruby tries to wave down a barkeep.

"Excuse me! Could I get some breakfast here?"

The Swordmaster awoke the instant Kegareta's hands touched him. "Oh! Get off of me," he said stubbornly, straining to sit up. I'm getting to old for this, he thought to himself; the sickness had not been kind to him, and seemed to affect his actions in the most dangerous of times. Fortunately, the kunoichi were not there to kill him, and with the help of Omura and Isao, the assassins were defeated. He noted that Omura had contained one, but did not bother at the moment. The old man pulled himself up completely and patted Kegareta's shoulder, "good man," he said plainly.

The old man hobbled over to where Aiko lay. She was in good hands, the Swordmaster knew it. "Take her somewhere to rest. She will be awake soon enough." As if to assure the people around, the old man continued. "Believe, she's a lot tougher than she looks." Obviously, there was something important about Aiko that the Swordmaster was not letting on to. He then turned to Isao: "an honorable and talented individual you are, young samurai. Your sensei should be pleased." (Aiko will be fine, she just needs a bed to rest; the wound was not too deep.)

The Swordmaster, crippled as he was, walked over to Omura and looked upon his captive. "Well done, samurai. But I must apologize for the inconvenience. I had no idea that the ninja had followed us this far, and even then I did not expect they'd find us." The Swordmaster sighed and painfully sat down. "Please, if you've any questions, now would be the time to ask." If the Swordmaster's appearance didn't ring a bell, his voice surely did. This old sword-maker was once an enemy of the Empire.

The Swordmaster sighed from exhasution. "I suppose those are fair questions." The old man fixed himself better before he began to speak, and then closed his eyes as if meditating, and began to speak.

"They once called me Haru." Omura would no doubt know this name. He was a loyal retainer to Kagen Uesung, one of the most vile warlords to rule in Katashima. "I served in the Uesung Province for many years before Kagen discovered my talents. And when he did... I was the one who forged his Warmachine. All those innocent lives lost, all those helpless children... struck down by the very weapons I created. But I had protection, power, and everything I could ever want; Lord Kagen made sure of that."

The Swordmaster expressed sadness upon his face. "I knew it was wrong. But I didn't care. All I cared about was my gain, and it was aplenty. It was only in the later years of Kagen's life that I realized just how bad it was. So I stripped myself of my armor... of my sword and my forge. There was no turning back; the die was cast, and I could never right the wrongs I committed, I could never gain forgiveness. I fled... like a coward. Then I heard of Kagen's downfall... and the rape of his lands, and alone I sat in isolation. And now... now I'm just an old fool, a shamed samurai. Just trying to do what I think is right. And right now, that involves protecting this girl."

The Swordmaster looked at the pool of blood where Aiko had lie. "But that's a tale for another day. I must rest, master Samurai. May I take my leave?"

"That would be Red Lotus. She's an... assassin. Don't suppose you've heard of her... then again, if everyone knew your name, you would not be a very good ninja." The Swordmaster chuckled. The kunoichi that Omura had captured smirked and squinted her eyes, refusing to make a sound. "I was never in proximity to Lord Kagen's inner dealings, but I had my suspicions he worked in the shadows with a clan of ninja. I do believe these kunoichi who attacked me was part of that same clan. But that is the past. Now, I believe these ninja are after me for my craftsmanship... and because I protect Aiko - whom they want." The Swordmaster looked back at the pool of blood which was now being wiped up. "But like I said, that'll be another tale."

The Swordmaster stood back up and turned to find where Aiko was going to be resting. "The kunoichi will not speak, Samurai," he warned Omura, "so don't hold your breath. She'll die before she speaks, and she'll do so honorably, like she was trained to do. Do not be angry with her, she's only doing what she was told. Can you really blame the ant for stealing your food, when all the ant knows to do is to search for food? Now, no more questions here. I must rest. If you need me, I'll be in one of the back rooms."

The Swordmaster went to sit beside Aiko's bed.

(OOC: We can still talk, I just want the Swordmaster and Aiko to be in the same place.)

Ruby looks up at Kegareta, stroking Sharky lazily.

"Both, really. But mostly for the food. I'm hungry."

She smiles at him, appearing as a figure of innocence and sweetness in the midst of all the chaos.

"I'm Ruby Fletcher. Nice to meet you, Kegareta."

Sharky meows.

Kegareta reaches out a cautious but friendly hand out to pet Sharky's cheek.  "Heheh.  You've got a beautiful cat here, Miss Ruby."

With his other hand, he grabs the shirt of the innkeeper as he walks by to stop him.  "We'd like some breakfast.  I want two fried eggs and one of whatever fruit you grow in this village.  How about you, miss?"

"Not the right company for sake," thought Kegareta, "but maybe some of these older samurai will want to loosen up later tonight and I can freeload a drink then."