Like a wary eagle Tasuke affixed a calculating gaze to the drunkard whom staggered toward the wining maiden with impure intentions and breath likely saturated by the stench of alcohol. True to the appearance he displayed, the boozehound sat indecently at her side and from his mouth spewed distasteful thoughts given form. It was to such a provocation that Tasuke secretly slid his right hand to the crimson-flecked scabbard of the Tekkure, gently gliding his fingers along the sheath’s cool, glossy surface before bringing them to the center of the sword in a taut grip.

He observed with interest as her deserved disrespect roused the drinker’s anger, eager to learn if the man would have the sense—in little chance—to deter from his desire of bringing that lustful hand upon her flesh. Tasuke’s leer pierced into him at the thought of punishment, fed by the plan of judgment which would find the man’s hand given as a monument to his sin and a fine coat of red upon the Tekkure’s sadistic steel. However, it was to his amusement that the woman retaliated accordingly. Like an enraged viper she bit with swift ferocity, a precision that brought a considerable smile to Tasuke’s features in witness of her theatrical pointing of chopstick. He could very clearly hear the crack of the man’s wrist, and enough of the following phrase that seeped from her lips to understand that she had warned him. Her gaze of gentle water had frozen into a gelid glare, the likes of which could hush an arrogant gloater in mid-word and cause even the most malicious of animal to cower much like the retreating man. It was strength she exuded, and if there was ever a thing Tasuke noticed, such was it.

Tasuke’s hand eased from his sword and he once more laid it to rest with an increasing interest in the girl…only to be forced into distraction when Aki made her return. Carefully setting a chilled bottle of indigo glass and snow-white liquid before him, she then gave him a dark pewter cup with which to drink; with the sake she gave a gift of glowing complexion and scorching smile, insomuch adoration that one might confuse them for lovers or siblings. Indeed they were neither, though in his heart she was nothing less than a sister; a pure flower which led the tainted to be pristine, a light to bring the slayer to salvation.

She departed quickly to fulfill the needs of others about the establishment, leaving him to take the cold bottle in the right hand and the cup between the thumb and index finger of the right. Into it he poured the milky substance, filling it over halfway with sweet sake before he lifted the cup to his lips and partook of liquid treasure. The crisp, strong taste tantalized his tongue with its silky caress, as if the humbling of a women of fine alabaster linen as she touched lips of silk to flesh. A slow swallow brought the drink down his throat in a final charge of sensory serenity that caused Tasuke to exhale with great satisfaction.

He set the cup down before his chest and once more looked upon the distant woman, seeking an alignment of gaze that would be met with a polite nod of recognition in the occurrence of such an event. It appeared neither of them had a thing better to do than drink to the night, a poured bliss that could find the hours wasting away without notice.

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Armies lay in waste, their corpses strewn along, an all-too-faint breath of death, a shallow little song.

With my sword I kiss the wicked, and bring them to their knees, with this sword their evil is answered and heaven is well pleased.

Those who spread the tainted seed, who know that they have sinned, will feel the icy steel I swing like a whisper in the wind.