Saizo the 5th, Strikes!

“Gee, thanks.” Tobin replied sarcastically as he wound the remaining severed cable around his arm. He started at his palm, carefully wrapping it in a loop along the length of his arm. As he did so, he glanced about the dirt, noting any other plants that could possibly be saved. 

“The beets ‘n carrots are probably fine,” He spoke, before setting the neatly wound cable aside, “look, it’s not that I’m a bad farmer. I’m a dairy farmer. It’s different then planting well, plants. I usually take care of goats ‘n cows.” He couldn’t resist defending himself, even if there was little he could offer. He knelt down, using his hands to carve out a few of the healthy plants without hesitation. Dirty tasks never exactly bothered him, especially given he shoveled manure prior to being summoned.

“I mean, call me crazy, but wouldn’t a normal person just ask for more? Why go through the trouble of stealin’ it?”

“Pride,” Saizo said, “Greed. Both.” 

He shrugged. Perhaps he’d underestimated the boy, but he hadn’t exactly given out the idea that he had a particular talent for mental tasks. 

“Do we have fish!” L’Arachel echoes gleefully, excitedly pirouetting in a circle on the ball of her foot, to come back to face Saizo. “Of course we do, what a wonderful question to begin with! Now, Rausten is well known for it’s shores,” L’Arachel begins brightly, turning back forwards to continue climbing, but pitching her voice to carry well enough over her shoulder.

“We are peerless in our fishing industries!” She brags, a passing thought of Innes and Frelian cuisine giving her absolutely no pause. “Our sea-fishers and our fish-farmers are equally Talented and Dedicated and Exceptional! Nothing is as delicious as dishes prepared with Rausten’s own seafood!

“Does Hoshido also boast a Peerless Fishing Industry?”

“Hoshido has many sources of food,” Saizo says, “I am... glad you have fish. I like preparing it.” 

Saizo hadn’t really admitted that to anybody. It was just a truth, the same way that he was a ninja, and that Ryoma was his lord, and Kagero was his friend. He flushed under his mask, bothered that he’d managed to open up to a woman who managed to spin for joy of all people. 

“I would not say peerless,” he said, “But our leader, Lord Ryoma... There is nobody like him in Hoshido. Or anywhere else.” 

He advanced a few stairs, hoping she’d follow. Her hops around would make her tire on the upper levels. Like most women, she was taller than him. He didn’t want to have to carry her. 

@notcandynevercandy

You know what was nice? Going long periods of time without having to talk to Saizo. It was definitely nice. She got criticized way less. There was much less not so passive aggression directed her way. So many more people minding their business. She enjoyed not seeing Saizo. She’d like to keep it that way.

Of course life wouldn’t let her.

She’d just wanted to train. For once. People thought she didn’t do that enough, right? The world should be thanking her for going to do it of her own free will, not having her walk on Saizo in the archer’s range, doing who knows what a weird ninja does.

It wasn’t like Setsuna to pay attention to her surroundings. Light-footed, he followed, running up the narrow top of a decorative wall and flipping forward to land a short distance in front of her.

@notcandynevercandy

“Not again…” Tobin sighed, kneeling down at the scene of the crime to study the poor condition of the garden bed. Once again, the food supply for the Order of Heroes had been pillaged, leaving behind nothing but tattered scraps and premature vegetation that was not yet edible. Digging his fingers into the earth, the Zofian retrieved a portion of torn cable that had been left behind. Bringing it closer to his face, he narrowed his eyes as he studied the very end carefully. It’s a clean cut. This ain’t the work of an animal, that’s for sure. He thought, rising to his feet.

“The stores are gettin’ pretty low. At this rate, we aren’t gonna have enough food for the colder months,” He admitted, moving a hand to his chin, “if it ain’t an animal, then who is it? And why?” He mused aloud, though the answer was far more obvious than the dense man could process. Though Tobin couldn’t quite pinpoint a motive, he knew at least had enough sense to know that it was a mystery that needed to be solved, unless they planned on slimming down for the winter. Problem was, Tobin wasn’t much of a problem solver. At least, not when it required a lot of brainpower. 

“Ugh…where do I start?”

“Not much of a farmer, are you?” Saizo said, on his knees. He was gathering a juvenile aubergine plant up carefully and re-planting it in a transportable pot.

“Find the healthy plants. We need to focus on securing the ones that aren’t broken. After that- What did you find?”

Saizo dusted himself off, getting to his feet. He’d need six more of himself to properly secure this place, and by his reckoning, there were only four in the barracks. And they could be gone at any time. It was a conundrum. 

Trusted? She was here wasn’t she? God what an ass.

She grimaced at the weird expression he made. She was sure it was supposed to be a smile, but he looked like he never did it. All toothy and pained. Charlotte grunted and let him back on the ground, shoving him away from her. 

“I don’t care about your stupid Nohr Hoshido dick measuring contest! I wouldn’t want a stupid butler anymore than I would want to date a gross smelly ninja. Both of you are broke and sad.”

She wasn’t here to get into that debate again. She’d tried after all, and the ninja was clearly not interested. “But fine. You want to be a jerk, two can play that game!” Charlotte reached down and snagged the mask that had clattered to the floor, holding it tightly in her hand. “YOU’LL GET THIS BACK WHEN YOU’RE NOT AN ASSHOLE.”

Saizo let the impact spin him before he re-settled back onto both feet. Charlotte was his better in both size and strength, but he betted she couldn’t find him if he chose to do something like this again. He considered trying to retrieve the mask later on that night, but figured that something of this nature needed a different approach for once. He’d already upset Setsuna, it seemed, and he cared far more for her opinion than a Nohrian harlot dressed in the bare minimum. 

Kishuna passed by the gate, leaving town as the sun began to drop below the horizon. He cradled a small pouch of coins in one hand, searching through the bag with the other as he tried to give a fair estimate to how long he could make his money last. The answer was not long. He wasn’t a fan of camping outside the town but it wasn’t like he needed to the sleep in the first place, just to place to pass the night. Sighing, he tied the pouch back under his cloak and began his search for a place to rest.

Fortunately the search didn’t take long. There was a small forest to the west of the town with a tree with his name on it. Pulling a tattered (but functional) blanket out he sat with his back to the trunk. With one last sigh he glanced up to the sky when he noticed… a foot? No it couldn’t be. He tucked the blanket to the side as he stood up, stepping back to get a better look at the foliage above him with a perplexed look on his face.

“What’s your name, old man?” he asked. It wasn’t unkind. More and more people were coming and going now that the kingdom was at peace, and he was stubborn enough to attempt to find out about every single one. 

“Oh then you should know what a fucking nuisance you’re being, right?”

Intelligence? She doubted the enemies could do anything with the list she’d devised of people’s favourite foods and the things she was most likely able to catch them doing. She’d heard Saizo was a paranoid freak, even for a retainer, but seeing it was a whole new thing.

But his threat was a bigger concern and with a snarl she grabbed the front of his stupid robes that did nothing to cover his stupid exposed chest and pulled him so he was face to face with her. “You burn that book and I will fucking cleave you like a god damn tree you pesky rat thief. You are not wasting all my hard work just because you have a stick up your ass the size of your ego, now give it back!”

Saizo didn’t flinch, even when her rough treatment knocked the mask from his face. He hung in Charlotte’s grip, toes dragging the floor. 

“I don’t want money,” he said, “I wanted to know you could be trusted.”

A weird expression came over his maskless face. His lip curled up, dimples appearing in his cheeks. He was smiling, the rare gap between his front teeth finally on show.

“That’s the same fucking thing and you know it, you’re just being a difficult ass like always.” Charlotte made a grab for her notebook as soon as it came in sight. It should’ve been easy with how short the man was, but the damn ninja was fast. She growled. She was going to break his stupid face.

“Value? What are you going to do, blackmail me?” She scoffed. “I’m sure your darling cherry prince would just love to hear that.”

Slowly, a smirk spread across Charlotte’s face. “…Oh. I know what it is. You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

“Jealous?” Saizo said, and let the notion linger. “I don’t need blackmail. I am able to find out anything I care to know.”

Saizo didn’t care to know much about Charlotte. Loitered around the men’s barracks, yes. Habits? Favoured routes through town? Nothing. He shrugged, and tucked the notebook back into the safety of his bosom. 

“Ryoma knows... Nothing. Accusations will not reach him. I am looking into the depth of the intelligence you have collected. It could be a serious breach of information that could easily fall into enemy hands.” 

“Well I quite love them,” L’Arachel said airily. “I never know when they’ll show up, or when they’ll leave, and it is such a wonderful adventure!!” Traveling according to the whims of the universe, going where she was needed, oh it was such an adventure. Her Beloved Uncle worried, because he was concerned about her wandering alone, but she wasn’t. The Universe was a place that loved her, and her faith would see her through even the worst of it.

“Oh, please let me tell you all about Rausten. I have the most wonderful kingdom in all the lands I have traveled! Even your Hoshido, as beautiful as it is, is a candle held up against a bonfire!”

And then she spun around in a circle, energy overwhelming, and hummed. “Go on then, ask me a question! I shall answer as best I know, and then you will learn all about my beautiful homeland!”

Saizo paused, one foot on a higher step than the other.

“Mmm,” he said, to fill the gap, “Do... You have fish?” 

Saizo instantly hated himself and his mouth. Fish? Of course Rausten would have fish. What kind of idiot spoke the first thing on his mind? Saizo touched his mask and half-closed his eyes with shame. 

“Oh wonderful! Then she and I will be in the same place!” She was so excited. “I cannot wait to tell her of my Journey here! Why, my uncle will be so pleased to hear I am already acquainted with one of Hoshido’s princesses. This bodes well for our nation’s friendship.” And then she beamed at her wonderfully informative guide.

“Some of these odd little portals guide me to wondrous places,” L’Arachel explains, all too glad to share her not-a-secret. “Why, I don’t believe they care if it is night or day, but I am thankful to them all the same! They must be gifts from Sainted Latona and the gods, as they have never led me astray!”

“I see,” Saizo said, although he didn’t.  “I don’t really use them.” he said. Outrealms upset him. He could never tell how long he’d been there. He wasn’t a man who bristled, but something about them made the short, rough hair on the nape of his neck stand on end. 

@notcandynevercandy

Charlotte scowled deeply as she stormed through the halls. She was thankful that, for the most part, they were unpopulated. Every time she passed someone, a smile sprung back to her face, just in case they were someone who mattered. But she wasn’t in the mood for any of her acting right now. No, she was a woman on a mission.

She turned a corner and spotted the man she’d been looking for. Her expression darkened further as she marched over. She reached out and grabbed a hold of his arm, spinning him around to face her. She pushed the man against the wall, standing in front of him with her hands on her hips.

“You. You dirty, rat faced, sneak thief jerk. Where did you hide my notebook?”

“I didn’t hide it,” he said, reaching into the dip of his collar and pulling out a small bound book, “I took it. If you have information about my lord and his brothers, they could be in great danger.”

He tapped the book against the palm of his other hand. 

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“I’m waiting to be upgraded,” he said. “I’m a low priority. If you wish to spar, I will be glad to. I cannot improve without a challenge.”

Without thinking, he pulls out a knife, standing to take another step down and rest next to Azura. He wouldn’t normally be around her if he could help it, but any sliver of normalcy was safe to cling to. He’d not seen Lord Ryoma in what felt like an age. 

“I promise, I won’t insult you by holding back.” 

Azura blinked when he pulled the knife out. “O-oh, I’m not here to fight. I’m unfit to at the current moment. But, you are my brother’s retainer no?” Azura slowly glanced to Saizo. She always knew that he was close to Ryoma, yet she was never close to him as much. 

“If it’s not to much of a problem, I’d gladly just love to watch you spar. I’m not much of a fighter, but watching people and how they move in battle helps invigorate me.” Azura grinned to the ninja and cheerfully chuckled. 

“Brother?” Saizo said. The topic was not his favourite. He hated the thought of Azura calling his liege kin. Still, perhaps this woman was not the Azura he knew from home. He could bite down on his distaste. 

“Very well,” he said. “Are you still able to dance? Call it an exchange. I’ll need your aid.” 

notcandynevercandy:

“A duel between two masters,” Saizo said. He wasn’t happy to spend time close to people, but the best place to be hidden was directly behind somebody else. 

“You seem jumpy,” he observed. “Have you been assigned a team yet?” 

Azura shook her head, “No, I’m just observing right now. I’m still relatively new here. Do you know the people who are sparring? Or are they unfamiliar to you as well?” Azura didn’t know small talk, less talking to someone she didn’t really know too well either. 

“Are you supposed to spar anyone today?” She asked to the red haired ninja.

“I’m waiting to be upgraded,” he said. “I’m a low priority. If you wish to spar, I will be glad to. I cannot improve without a challenge.”

Without thinking, he pulls out a knife, standing to take another step down and rest next to Azura. He wouldn’t normally be around her if he could help it, but any sliver of normalcy was safe to cling to. He’d not seen Lord Ryoma in what felt like an age. 

@notcandynevercandy

There was a sparring match going on in the Askrian castle, was it the arena? Azura had no idea, she was still relatively new to this whole place. She climbed up the stairs into the stands of the arena, she found an empty spot and sat down. 

Thinking she was alone she turned her head and nearly fell out of her seat, the ninja known as Saizo was sitting next to her. Ninjas needed to be sneaky and maybe she just didn’t see him at first?

“I’m so sorry sir!” She blurted out and then scooted away from him. “Do you… Know what’s going on though down there?”

“A duel between two masters,” Saizo said. He wasn’t happy to spend time close to people, but the best place to be hidden was directly behind somebody else. 

He sat and joined her. Setsuna had been going on the suspicion that he would leave her be once he’d finished helping her. It seemed he was going to stick around then. Her face stayed neutral as best as she could. She ignored him as she dug into the meal.

It wasn’t bad. That just annoyed her further. Of course he was a decent cook on top of everything else. It was Saizo. She glanced upwards as something entered her vision. She took the jar wordlessly, but tensed as she felt his legs bump her.

“Oh, I thought you always excelled at everything. It must be a harsh task if you need help.” An assistant. She wasn’t an assistant, she was a coworker, even if not directly, how dare he. She poured whatever he’d passed her onto the fish and placed it back on the table. “I have plenty of things to do. Things I’m sure that are nowhere near as important as your tasks. But still.”

“If your schedule is full, it doesn’t matter,” he said, retrieving the condiment bottle, checking the cap was on tight, and tucking it back into his clothes.

Saizo finished his food quickly, wiping his mouth with the side of his hand and fitting his mask back on.