“ WELCOME TO THE MACHINE ”

Starter for @impredius

Kikyo was walking to the hut that the village chief had recommended, as her request for Nichirin weapons was unique and would be different from most craftsmen. The elderly man assured the woman that this person would have the skill to make what she wanted. However, if she could get him to agree, as the chief had warned her about Haganezuka’s temperament, which most could not handle. Still, the miko held great patience as it was required in her line of work as a healer caring for those that needed her help, even if they did not want it.

Standing in front of the door, she glanced down at the paper to confirm once more, when suddenly the door burst open. Her chocolate eyes widen, witnessing a scene of a slayer rushing out of there, screaming curses and other horrible comments, leaving the door wide open. Blinking, she inhaled deeply to gather her courage to help keep a calm and level head before stepping closer to the hut.

Knocking on the wooden frame, she spoke in a calm tone, “Hello, is anyone here?” Stepping further inside, her gaze shifted throughout the scene, glancing at the workshop before she finally noticed the craftsman in the corner. The woman’s heart was racing as her palms felt sweaty from the tension in the air from the moment the previous slayer left in a horrible frenzy. “I was recommended by the chief to visit you with my job request.”

Grinding, smoothly. Despite the blade's resistance against the whetstone - noting of its particularly rusted and roughened state, Hotaru pressed on. His professional hands, marking literal decades of practicing the art, steady as could be as his hunched figure hovered above steel and stone; leveraging his entire torso in the movement as he continued to grind, disinfecting the sword of any impurities still left in the blade. Steadily, he remained; hyper-focused.

The hut itself was fairly plain; not much besides a couple tools, a furnace and some iron and steel templates present. With the man's unstopping work, the hut has long since been drenched with the stench of fire and sweat. The hyottoko mask present on his face would prevent anyone from seeing his face, as Hotaru's focus laid solely on his task. This time he'll do it. He'll show 'em. His skill is worth it. He'll get all the clients once he's done with this. But for now... He was simply in awe, watching the sword take shape right in-front of him. All by his work, all by his merit.

Behind him laid a single, chipped sword; colored blue and seemingly out of place. If somehow asked, Hotaru wouldn't remember where that blade came from; all that mattered, was the one he was currently, occupied with refining.

Kohaku was sharpening up his kusarigama as he then arranged some wooden targets nearby, he took a deep breath before swinging the sickle part of his weapon to slash through them without any issue.

He hoped that he wasn’t disturbing anyone with spotting the targets near a rather large building, he went over to set them up again and swung the sickle.

He continued to do this for a few times, unaware of anyone was near where he was as he continues to hone his skills.

Electing to show himself, Tengen just about reached his trigger point at some few times the boy outside repeated his routine. Promptly standing from his spot and exiting the building, then hopping up to the wall encircling the area; crouching upon both knees, rather comfortably, as he laid eyes on the boy.

Therein laid the first point of surprise. "What's this, a child?" He blurted out, eyes clearly reflecting his surprise. "I was sure it was some Corps member chump around, but I never imagined someone finding someone this young. Flashy, for sure," Tengen complimented. Despite that, his expression remained cold; unapproving. Judging, even.

@impredius asked: "I was waiting." / from Tenshinhan! 

– 𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗦 !