Shimazu Teahouse

Carl let out a sigh of appreciation as he let the aroma of the freshly heated tea waft through his nostrils. The scent did well to soothe his mind as it reminded him of simpler times. Of happier times.

He immediately brushed those thoughts off to the side. He knew that, as a vigilante, he could never let his guard down for even a second. While the tea was a bonus, he was here to determine the whereabouts of one Ragna the Bloodedge. As such, he deemed the teahouse a good place as any to learn what he can.

He slowly took the cup and sipped from it, smiling as he savored the flavor "This tea is quite heavenly!" he smiled as he addressed his sister "You should try some too, sis!"

While pleased with her patron's response, she was not one to be able to let this little feeling in the center of her feelings blind her. She could tell that something about this young man was not only very sophisticated by his demeanor, but likely he held a secret or two of his own. She was in no position to prod and thusly, acted in her right only as the server. "I am pleased that you are one to enjoy our tea so much, sir, I thank you for the compliment." it was something more or less a pleasant thing to hear. She imagined she would see a shard of this young man's reason for being here; doubting it was just tea. This young man likely had a firm reputation, but she didn't know many faces of the vigilante world, not like her grandchild did.

"I dare to ask that this place is quite the hot spot, isn't it?" Carl asked with a calm and amicable tone of voice after putting down his cup. Inwardly, he was making sure to remember the name of this place so that he'd come more often. The tea was simply exquisite and he had no doubt that whatever pastries they had would go well with it.

"..."

"Don't worry, sis." The young puppeteer chuckled as he brought his cup to his lips for another sip "I'm not being lax with my job." He was addressing, of course, Ada/Nirvana and spoke to it as if it were a person.

She heard the comment, hotspot? That wasn't the reputation of the slightly out of the place teahouse. It attracted enough business to not go under, but they were by no means really famous. "You flatter our quaint little teahouse, it is but another business attempting to remain afloat. By that standard, I would imagine we are just getting by." she'd smiled again, he was kind, but of course right to business. She knew that his truest intentions were to be made clear and likely soon.

"Well, anyway." Carl nodded as he finished the last of his tea "If I may be so bold to ask..."

The young lad looked around to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation. If any had been, he would simply have no choice but crush them then and there. After all, it wouldn't do if someone got to the Grim Reaper before him.

"What is the word on the street about a certain Ragna the Bloodedge?" he stated his query "It seems that many a vigilante, including myself, has heard that he would be in this city."

Now that was a name that most anyone knew, she'd seen the increased patrols in the city and naturally it left her that much more troubled, since the men were quick to shove an old woman aside for being there; if but being a beastkin didn't help her cause. It was nothing new, but ignoring those thoughts of how her day was a little more complicated due to the presence of Ragna; she'd answer the young vigilante to the best of her ability. After all, there was no reason to hide anything right? "Little more than word and murmurs from the streets are what I have for you, sir. Only that rumors of the Grim Reaper being spotted around in Ronan-Gai and that the well known hero of the people of Ronan-Gai and even here, in Orient Town to a point; Bang Shishigami was after him to punish him for his crimes." she preferred to stay out of the loop, anything she'd heard was of little consequence right? Well it did have to do with such a threat, so she did keep her ears open for the purpose of her family's safety; if above all else.

"...I see then." Carl nodded with an unreadable expression. Yes, he still vehemently distrusted adults, but the info from the beastkin woman sounded quite sincere. Even now, he could sense that what he had learned was all she genuinely knew.

"Thank you, Ma'am." He smiled as he placed his bill on the table and got to his feet "I believe you've given me the information I needed. C'mon, sis!"

Ada/Nirvana responded quickly as it ambled after her 'little brother'. Now that he had a lead, one could say that the hunt truly began.

(Leaving for...wherever, I guess.xD)

"Do take care sir, the streets can be cruel. Thank you for your patronage, please come again!" she'd said this as he left at his leisure, she'd given a head bow in turn, he was there just long enough that she'd gotten the impression in slight of his presence; so he was after Ragna the Bloodedge? Well, she imagined soon that he'd run into him, it was a dangerous game to be after someone who's reputation was likely not all falsehoods.

Jay watched the woman closely it seemed rather complex to weave the two into one move but it was probably do able, he heard someone shouting and then noticed the teacher leaving the room. While she was away he decided to continue, his left foot was out in front balance within a moment his right heel whipped around for a roundhouse kick and then he extended the toes before it was complete. In one fast motion he had brought his right foot up a little then brought it down in a axe kick, with a small thud sound his foot was panted onto the ground, he moved forwards not with the same speed as the old woman but still pretty fast, then brought up his leg for the high rise snap kick, since there was nothing there to grab.

There seemed to be an odd burning feeling in his legs, it was painful but it was rather welcoming in a way it really had been some time since he had such training, A smile appeared on his face as he no doubt was very proud of himself as he brought the leg down. The thought of refacing Kinjou seemed to surface into his mind, but was he ready ? This was Kinjous style and Jay was only learning basics, is what he should have thought rather than "I am ready".

As the Elder beastkin returned to the courtyard, she'd decided then to press the matter with a question as she saw her student's aiming had gone somewhere, so what was it that he was doing now? She noted his pause, though she spied his sweat and knew that he hadn't stopped since she stepped away. There was still little word that she'd choose beyond what matter. "Well you seem ready to show me what success you've had while I was gone, right? So why don't you do that then, my student?" she wanted to see only something of a well executed motion, since she imagined he must have managed pretty well so far.

Jay turned his head around a little hearing the teachers voice, he nodded as a response to the elderly beastkin he shook his legs a little then walked back to his previous position, placing the left foot forwards lifting the heel off the ground and balancing on his toes the right heel had spun round in a roundhouse kick and before completing its motion the toes snapped out in a hooking motion. The leg raised slightly then came down in a axe kick, the thud of his foot hitting the ground was followed by him sliding forwards and delving a high snap kick, as though there was someones head there.

She seemed to approve of the maneuver, well as it was, it seemed that his great affinity for learning was pretty smooth. She'd give him that, he was picking up on the form much sooner than she might have guessed. But she too imagined that this time might change further down the line. Her new student would not have the time for more than what she would show him for the last. "I will have to send you on your way after this sixth form, young one, with my son-in-law coming soon, we will have lots to do. I almost lost track of time instructing you...but its been a nice distraction." she smiled lightly, meaning to compliment his presence. He was at the very least, a diligent student to say the least.

Jay scratched the back of his head, to be honest it was a bit of a complement to him but he felt rather bad that he had taken the elder beastkin from her work. S-sorry I didn't realize.. he didn't really know what to say T-thank you.. it was a little preemptive but still he wanted to say thanks. He hadn't met a person like her in years, not since the woman who had saved him and taught him the ways of magic, it gave him a nice warm feeling knowing that there were more people like her in the world, someone who would help others even if it inconvenienced themselves. He wondered if he could be like that...

She'd only shook her head with a light smile, straightening up as she walked over to him and gently put a hand on his shoulder, "Do me that favor, young one, carry on our principles. I know you've sworn to do so, but use your own discretion...as this world does not live by honor. You have proven that you have much, forsaking any of those reasons to learn anything from my as you have. I only wish for you to do well for yourself, hold your head up high. Realize that you, are a student of the Shimazu Clan. Do us...and your prior teachers honor." it was this she said while patting his shoulder a few times.

Jay listened intently as the teacher asked him a favor, his eyes glimmered for a moment to be honest he felt like crying as it felt like he was with his father or his previous teacher for a moment. The burning feeling from his muscles seemed to fade as the warm feeling spread through him I will, he spoke with a great sense of certainty and courage in his eyes. He had a strange feeling swell within him, it was oddly nostalgic Can we go onto the last form ?

"Called the Dragon heel's claim, it is our usual ending maneuvers, a set of finalizing kicks. It is designed to end a bout quickly, if it started." She'd taken a stance, raising her hand above her head and lowered her right hand into an open palm, just before kicking her left foot up in front of her. Taking her left heel and dropping it to the ground before kicking her right foot out in a thrusting motion. Leaping into a low tumble, as she rose up and swept her left foot into a wide sweep and then brought her right heel up in an angled rising kick.

Pushing up on her feet outward and kicking outward with her in a rising double kick, before bringing her feet slamming into the ground. Just before flipping backwards and whipping her feet into an upward motion before landing on both heels. "And that...my student, is our most difficult form. Each blow packs tremendous force, meant to end a fight should any hit."

For one last time Jay watched as the teacher showed him the final form, to be honest the sounds of this technique sounded over kill if each blow packed as much of a punch as the elderly beastkin said then Jay would need to be careful when using this move.  
He took a deep breath, focusing for a moment it was odd there was a weird feeling from his body as though he had grew in an understanding of it, even just a little.  With his eyes closed her raised his left arm above his head and brought his right down low with an open palm, he exhaled then kicked his leg up then he brought his heel down as the foot touched the ground he kicked his right foot out forwards in a thrusting motion.  

On his one leg he mustered the strength to leap up a little, coming down in a low tumble he rose up and swept his left foot into a wide sweep.  As his body was twisted around he brought the right heel up for the rising angle kick, then he pushed both legs up into a double rising kick, before his feet slammed onto the ground.   Legs tensed and knelled down a little, he sprung up for a back flip, his feet whipped out in a upwards motion before landing his legs came in and he landed on both feet. Oddly enough there was some sparks around Jays feet for a moment before disappearing.

As the elder Beastkin watched him complete the move, she spied the sparks and imagined that it was his gift innately at work. She'd consider a congratulations to him later, as he performed the task rather well. Each move had not been perfect, but he'd executed it well enough; time was now short enough that she knew she'd have a chance to speak parting words to him. She could sense her son-in-law's presence just outside the courtyard. "Well I must say, the time has passed for instruction. The last thing I will ask of you, is the statement of your name. Before I send you on your way, student of the Shimazu Clan. Be just, use your best judgment, and may your path be straight before you."

Sweat dripped form Jays body as he was done, if felt like his very soul was set ablaze by using that technique, the training paid off it seemed. Hearing the teacher talk her turned to face her listening intently at her words Joshua Suzuki he said smiling That's my name, he walked over to where his stuff was I'll get going quickly he got his jacket on I'll come over to the teahouse he said smiling, it was a heartfelt smile

She'd heard his name and smiled in turn, he was a good young man, he put a lot on the line and he'd not denied her his name, something that some of her students had in the past. "You are a genuine soul, young Joshua. Do us proud and yourself proud." though strange, this young man had managed to give the Grandmother a bit more hope about the youth of the future, even though she wasn't sure what it all meant. She was still mostly certain that the youth had been self destructive and too eager. But she had some high hopes, at least a few towards his future.

Jay looked back at the elderly beastkin and nodded, there was a certainty about his smile that said he would do all he could, but inside he had a strange feeling that he may break the promise he made today in the future, but hat was an uncertainty. With the spear back in its back he slung it around his shoulder I will come back, your tea is amazing he said with a cheerful demeanor, he made his way out of the room waving goodbye, he had ran into Kinjou but simply gave him a smile and wave as he walked off.

--> ????

As the soft smile that rested upon her face, Meilen had rubbed her hands together and just smiled as he left. Turning to her son-in-law, Keikan and greeting him with a nod. "Before you ask, Keikan, yes I...just trained that young man. I believe he will make his decision, but he will carry our life skills in honor. He seems to have adapted some of our code, within such a short time frame" She said this with a small smile, just before taking herself and heading into the back of the teahouse; Keikan would watch the front while she tended to paperwork and sorted things out.

----------------------(Yay, jumping into action :3)----------------------->
As she walked to the teahouse, Mima looked around. Orient Town was chock-full of people able to beat up criminals by themselves, so the place looked full of danger to her who was more afraid of those crime-hunters than she was of the criminals.
Especially in some alley such as this. Which was in no way somewhere she thought Kaname was able to do. But she was a woman of her word, and she needed to check around here.
"Um, greetings..?", she said, poking her head inside and taking careful steps in. Hopefully, she would meet the persons in charge of this place quickly and get her information just as quickly: she disliked the idea of roaming somewhere like this and staying in a place full of so many rivals...

As the elderly matron heard the words of a female entering the establishment, the elder Shimazu greeted her new guest as well expected as a maître d of the Pale Lotus. "Hello ma'am and welcome to the Pale Lotus Teahouse, how may I be of service to you?" such hustle and bustle today, how good for business she'd thought.

The persons in charge of this place were beastkins? Orient Town sure was a source of surprises. Little, unimpactful surprises, but still surprises that kept life interesting and washed the blandness of everyday life away.
Taking her time and clearing her throat before speaking, the blonde got around to talking her request: "I would like to know if you haven't seen a certain young girl around here."
She searched in the tiny pocket of her waistcoat briefly, taking a photo out of it and showing it to the elderly beast-woman. "Here's a photo of her." The photo showed the face of a youthful girl with deep blue eyes and short hair colored a silvery white. A girl who had stepped in this place mere hours ago: Youna Amanogawa.
Mima awaited her answer with a little anxiety, so she tried to help her "work" atmosphere a bit more relaxing: "And, if you don't mind, I would like a cup of your finest black tea."