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(Well heck, Kat, we were all ready to go and eat, but you ran off to do your own little thing!)

**Jishi, Felina, and Wishi all make their way through the main street of the village, strange looks following them as they go. One small group of men in particular, sitting in the shade of an empty merchant's booth, whispers between sideways glances at the unlikely trio.**

Jishi: "Just ignore 'em. They're just fishermen," Jishi said, trying to comfort the other two. But he knew better.

**Jishi's eyes lie hidden in the shadow cast by his hat as they kept a vigil on the men as they passed. The small group, numbering nore than a half dozen, looked far to battle-hardened for fishermen. Most were scarred, and their tattered kimonos spoke of many encounters. Each carried at least one visable blade, and the dents and nicks on their scabbards completed the visual story.**

Jishi: "Bandits," he thinks to himself.

Felina: *points to a doorway just ahead of them* "There it is! Finally, we can eat!"

**The sound of gravel crunching underfoot is heard behind them. The three stop where they are. Felina and Wishi turn in the direction of the sound, only to see that the bandits have all gotten to their feet. One in particular, a thinner, rope-muscled man strolls slowly up to them, stopping a few paces away. One hand rests on the pommel of his sheathed sword, the other playfully fingers the tip of a long, thin pipe protruding from his mouth. Felina has a frightened look in her eyes as she continues to cling to Jishi's arm.**

Bandit Leader: "Now I KNOW that you three ain't from around here," he sneers, his pipe bobbing as he talks,"and I'm afraid that I'll have to charge you a toll for safe passage. Y'see, me and my men here," he motions back to the other bandits, all with malicious smiles on their faces,"keep this here town safe, heh heh! But people gotta pay up, or else we can't help what happens to them..." The bandits chuckle evily. "So what say ya hand over all yer valuables, and we call it even?" His squinted eyes move over to Felina. "'Course, we could just take the toll out of the little lady there..." The bandits' maligned laughs continue.

Felina: "Jishi...", she says as her grip tightens on his arm.

Jishi: "Go inside," he says, his back still to the bandits, his sword fixed to it. His hat, and the shadow it cast, hide all but his mouth from view. "The both of you. I'll be right there."

**The bandits all let out deep laughs and scoffs, and the leader's smile widenes. Felina takes a hold of Wishi and helps her inside.**

Felina: "Be careful, Jishi," she said worriedly as she disappears into the eatery. By this time, much of the surrounding villiage has stopped what it was doing and is watching intently.

Bandit Leader: "Oh come on!," he laughs. "Big man with a big sword and a big mouth thinks he can match iron with Soukihei? Ha!" He slides into a loose stance, the gravel shifting under his sandles. "Too bad. You already made a fatal mistake. Y'see, with guys like me, you should never," his hand quickly reaches for the grip of his sword, "TURN YOUR BACK!"

**But before he can slide out his battleworn blade, there is a quick metallic blur, and it looks as though the Shishimai has shifted slightly on Jishi's back. Soukihei freezes. Suddenly, the end of his pipe falls neatly off of the shaft, cut cleanly through. Soukihei's eye twitches. Then, all at once, countless slices appear along his kimono, and it falls to tatters on the ground around him, leaving him standing in his undergarments in the middle of the street. Again, Soukihei freezes. Every spectator's mouth drops simultaneously.**

Soukihei: "AAAAA! W-w-what the HELL!!," he squawks, making his best effort to cover himself.

**Everone, except Soukihei and Jishi, bursts into uncontrollable laughter. Even the bandits are in tears. Soukihei turns to them sharply, his face bright red.**

Soukihei: "WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT, YOU IDIOTS?!?!," he screams,"Let's get outta here!"

**Soukihei, with one hand covering himself and the other still holding his sword, runs straight through the group of bandits, who follow closely behind. Everyone is still laughing heartily as they make their exit, clapping at Soukihei as he runs by, and eventually out of sight. Jishi smiles from under his hat, and walks into the restaurant as the town continues to jeer and applaud. Even the patrons inside are still laughing. Jishi sees the other two sitting at a table to the side. He walks over to join them, where he is greeted by a hug from Felina**

Felina: "Oh, I'm so glad that you're all right! I was so worried when that guy came! That was amazing!," she says as she squeezes him.

Jishi: "Aw hell," Jishi's scratches the back of his head, his face blushing slightly, with a big smile on it,"I'm so bad at taking a compliment!"

Wishi: "I thank you as well," she says softly,"I just wish I could have been of more aid to you."

Jishi: "Hell! You can be of aid! Just pick up the check!," he laughs.

Wishi: "I'm sorry," she says regretfully,"but it's like I said before, I can't..."

Jishi: "Awwww...," he whines, with Felina still hugging him at the waist, her tail flickering.

**The barkeep clears his throat. An older man, short and stout, with a balding head and a great bushy mustache.**

Barkeep: "Demons, huh? Hmmm...," he looks at them inquisitively. The trio tenses. "Ain't like any demons I ever seen...Wasn't for those ears, and tails, I could swear you're human...But hell, you got rid o' that damn Soukihei and those other bastards, at least 'till he gets himself a new kimono!" he chuckles. "They been extorting folks 'round here for a long time. First thing you folks do when you get here is send him streakin' away, so you can't be that bad...Aw, what the hell! Least I can do is treat you to a good meal! Whaddaya say?"

**Jishi's face lights up**

Jishi: "Oooh!! That would be great!" He licks his chops.

Wishi: *closes her eyes* "You don't know what you just promised..."