Ichi - Lay Low

“So, all of that was weird.” Yusuke said. “Yeah, so what's with the house?” Ramon asked Yuna, but she was lost in her mind. “Hey, what is with the house?” Hiroko asked, shaking Yuna. “The girl said we could use it.” Yuna said, startled. “Are you ok? You’ve been acting weird since we got here.” Hiroko said. “She has been acting weird since last night. You weren’t here for it, but she was fawning over a picture of the queen.” Ramon said. “Was she cute?” Hiroko asked. “Yeah.” Yusuke said. Hiroko glanced at him spitefully. “Not the point, the point is Yuna, and why she is so out of it.” Yusuke said. Yuna grabbed her Ryusou, and held it closer to herself. “I’m fine. There is nothing wrong.” Yuna said. “Yeah well what you say, and how you act are two separate things.” Hiroko said. “Alright, you guys stay here. I’m going to go find this queen.” Yusuke said. “Don’t do anything stupid.” Yuna said. “I’ll stay hidden, and I won’t hurt anyone. Trust me.” Yusuke said. “I don’t.” Yuna said. “Thanks.” Yusuke said. “I don’t think anyone trusts you, or likes you.” Ramon jested. “Ok stop picking on the moron. Yusuke, good luck, don't ruin this for us. Stay safe.” Hiroko said. “Well, this moron didn’t expect you to say that. I’ll stay safe, I promise.” Yusuke said, giving Hiroko a smile. “Just pick and choose what you hear.” Hiroko said. “Yep.” Yusuke said, taking a sigh, before leaving the house.

Yusuke ran through the courtyard to a wall, scaling it with ease. “Ok Yusuke, don’t fail.” He said to himself, standing up, and running across the wall. He scaled the next wall, hid in bushes hiding from the Pechin, and continued making his way through the inner walls and into the castle. He scaled the castle, and jumped through a window. Hiding from nearby Pechin behind a chest. “What a conveniently, inconvenient chest.” Yusuke said. As soon as the Pechin moved away, he ran past them. Yusuke started checking room after room, finding nothing of worth. He stumbled across a big door, ornate, and red. Yusuke walked to it, and opened it slightly. “Sound Mafu : Utin’s Direction.” Makadu said, and in an instant Yusuke was incapacitated. Not seeing inside the room.

Quickly Makadu closed the door. “Makadu, bring him here, so he can speak. It’s no use trying to talk to him. But I can.” a calm gentle voice said. It sounded like a whisper, but Yusuke could hear it so clearly, although he couldn’t understand. Makadu’s Majutsu was released, and Yusuke fell to the ground. Makadu grabbed Yusuke and pulled him into the room. Sitting on a throne made of gold, large and imposing was a woman. She was wrinkly, and frail. Her hair sapped of all color, and eyes reeking of pain. Makadu bowed to the lady, and forced Yusuke to bow as well.

“Rooh, what brings you here so early, the next batch isn’t ready yet?” the lady asked Yusuke. Speaking Japanese, to avoid anyone learning anything if they overheard. “What batch?” Yusuke asked. “RTK, are you not familiar? You don’t look familiar, usually someone named Noboru. He’s a nice man, but I don’t trust him. Not after everything.” the lady said. “What did he do?” Yusuke asked. “You know nothing about the man. You should leave. Before he kills you.” the lady said. “Please I’m not scared of some man. I’m here on a mission, from my understanding something will happen, and the Mardom Rooh will be behind it. I’m here to stop it” Yusuke said. “What is this something?” the lady asked. “I don’t know, I got information about an assault, but I've no idea if it’ll happen here. I was just asked to make sure everything here is good.” Yusuke said. “Well then you came at the best time. Tomorrow marks the start of our three day festival. There will be parades, fireworks, as well as tug-of-war. I think, I don’t know if that stopped.” the lady said. “Then I ask you to let me and my friends attend the festival.” Yusuke said. “It would be my honor.” the lady said. “Thank you ma’am.” Yusuke said. “Please, call me Umitama. That’s my name after all.” she said. “Umitama?” Yusuke questioned. “Yes, Queen Umitama.” she responded. She sighed, and looked at Makadu. “My dear please take him back to his friends, being out at night is dangerous.” she said, speaking in Uchinaaguchi. “We can’t trust him.” Makadu said. “Don’t worry. He might have the answers to our problems.” Queen Umitama said. “I doubt it, we cannot communicate with him, or the other two. Only the girl can speak Uchinaaguchi.” Makadu said. “The girl, so they had someone who could speak it with them? How interesting. Listen Makadu, let them help. This girl, you know her name, but yet you deliberately chose not to say it. I know you care for the people too much, and I get onto you for it, but now is the time to care. Let them help. We will need it when the time comes.” Queen Umitama said. “But-.” Makadu started. “Listen to me, please darling.” Queen Umitama cut her off. She lifted her hand, extended her arm, and rubbed her hand against Makadu’s cheek. “Yes. I will use them, but if they give me any reason, I will beat them to death.” Makadu said. “Smile more, it breaks my heart to see you like this.” Queen Umitama said, pulling her arm back, resting it on her lap. “Alright.” Makadu said, quietly. Queen Umitama smiled at Makadu. Makadu grabbed Yusuke. “Oh boy, that curse you have, it feels familiar. I’m not the one who believes in the sins of the father, but I better not see you again.” Queen Umitama said. Makadu pulled Yasuke from the room.

Makadu brought Yusuke back to the house, where the other three were sitting around a hearth, with a lit fire. Makadu walked to Yuna, and Yusuke laid behind Hiroko. “She is mean.” Yusuke said. “What this guy has done is beyond disrespectful. You and your friends owe me, and the queen. You will all be put to work, to fix our current issues. Afterwards you will attend the festivities as guests.” Makadu said to Yuna. “Festivities, like actual Ryukyuan festivals?” Yuna asked, standing up. “Ryu-? I’m going to say yes, even if it’s false.” Makadu said. “Thank you, we will pay for the actions of the fool. We are sorry for his actions tonight. We hope you forgive us.” Yuna said, bowing. Makadu ended up smiling from Yuna’s bow. “Get some sleep, you need energy for tomorrow. I don’t think you deserve what he brought onto you, or your friends.” Makadu said. “It’s fine, we are friends, so I guess being friends means we have to help clean up their messes.” Yuna said. “You are a king girl. If you stay a while, I hope to become friends with you. Maybe I’ll invite you to my band.” Makadu said. “Please do.” Yuna said impulsively, before getting embarrassed and looking away. “Good night.” Makadu said, walking to the door. “You as well.” Yuna said. Makadu left.