Her actions elicited a pause from Jyuuzou, the man taking a moment to study her with an evaluating look in his eyes. Kaleissa resisted the urge to avert her eyes, though she could do nothing about the blush on her face; hiding her emotions was a skill more suited for Maya's line of work, and it was something she had never really mastered. In the end, though, Jyuuzou revealed a small smile, an appreciative one that suggested his estimation for her had gone up a few notches.<br/><br/><span style="color: gold">"This one would never have have thought to hear a Sabakujin Ritual Verse from you, <span style="font-style: italic">'jou-chan</span>...Very well then -"</span>Jyuuzou picked up the knife she had left for him and mirrored her actions, letting a few drops of his own blood drip into the teacup before her.<span style="color: gold">"From the moment your blood flows in this one's veins, and this one's blood in yours; and until our task is done, and our deserved rewards reaped; this one will consider you as Clan. To you, this one pledges his blades, his skills, and his body. This one will give you everything."</span><br/><br/>As one, the two of them drained the cups in front of them, sealing their pact. Setting her cup down, Kaleissa felt a mixture of excitement and relief. The relief was easy to explain; even she had to concede that last night had not been a restful one as she deliberated over how to deal with the appearance of two others chasing after the same thing as herself. She had hoped, of course, that they could cooperate, since improving the chances of getting her wish granted sooner rather than later was not insignificant to her. But more than that, the girl had worried over what to do if their alliance fell through; there was only one treasure, so there could only be one 'winner' among the three of them. It's not like Kaleissa had any qualms about killing off the competition, it was just that...with Ariana and Jyuuzou, she didn't have the confidence that she could kill them off on the first try and make it out alive.<br/><br/><span style="color: violet"><span style="font-style: italic">'The excitement though...'</span></span>Kaleissa mused over the source of that feeling as she wiped off her small blade and returned it to her pouch. Maybe it was the sense of adventure, renewed? Forming a group with a common objective, it was just like returning to her days with the warband, launching raids into south Kaminoyama and Kanzem. It had been two years since she had any companions travelling with her and fighting for the same goal.<span style="color: violet"><span style="font-style: italic">'No, it's more than that.'</span></span>She shook her head slightly, her expression softening. It was probably the sense of family, of belonging, of being recognized and accepted as is, in her entirely. In the warband she had become close to her comrades, but there had always been a wall that had never been breached between the Jakuuzoku and the Sabakujin members (the walls between Jakuuzoku were as immutable as a mountain range). Now, for the first time…<span style="color: violet"><span style="font-style: italic">'So this is how it feels to be Clan...'</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: gold">"Now, about this...Super...Super..."</span>Kaleissa was drawn from her thoughts as Jyuuzou turned the conversation into a more practical direction. She could not help but smile a little when she saw his brows furrow in exasperation as he struggled to remember the full name of the artifact they were seeking. Truth be told, she too had difficulty remembering it, and had simply resorted to calling it the 'Chair Leg', if she even bothered to refer to it by name at all.<br/><br/><span style="color: gold">"...Super Dragon...Rising...Breathless Chair Leg of..."</span><span style="color: crimson">"...Devastating Glory."</span><br/><br/>The voice that completed Jyuuzou's sentence came from nowhere, a polite whisper in her ear when there should have been nobody around. Kaleissa's eyes flashed from back to red in an instant, every trace of jet black darkness washed away by blood red fury as she concentrated her magic to her senses. A fraction of her awareness noted that Jyuuzou responded similarly, a sign that he too was not aware that they had company. Her hearing, boosted exponentially, confirmed that nobody sitting at the tables around them was the culprit without even needing her to turn her head; everyone within a five meter radius was still engaged in their own conversations with their table partners. For the quiet whisper to have reached only the two of them, no, even the feat of eavesdropping on the two of them while evading notice...without even realizing it, her right hand had made its way down to rest on the hilt of the dagger at her back.<br/><br/><span style="color: crimson">“Nice to meet you, I’m Rei. Sorry to interrupt, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation...It seems we have some common interests.”</span><br/><br/>Pinpointing the speaker's location from her next statement, Kaleissa turned her head towards the source, her gaze falling on a diminutive hooded figure sitting at a table across the entirety of the shop. She felt the currents in the air around her shift, informing her that Jyuuzou too had located the eavesdropper. As if feeling their gazes on her, the girl who had introduced herself as Rei revealed a brilliant smile and stood, collecting her belongings and making her way towards them, teapot and teacup held in either hand. As she watched the other girl's approach, Kaleissa could not detect any trace of animosity. She could smell the scent of oiled steel, suggesting that Rei was armed, but not nearly to the same extent as pretty much any other person in the room, save the proprietor. The way the girl moved was enough to tell her that Rei was no warrior, so that air of lacking concern meant that she was either a very naive fool, or a very competent mage; Kaleissa was betting on the latter. At last, the shorter woman arrived to stand before their table, sending a small nod in greeting in their direction.<br/><br/><span style="color: crimson">“May I join you? Please don’t be alarmed. I am merely a scholar searching for the same object that you seem to be seeking. I believe we all can…mutually benefit if we join forces.”</span><br/><br/>Letting the crimson fade from her eyes, Kaleissa leveled a glare at the newcomer, her eyes narrowed in obvious displeasure as they looked the other girl over. Facial features that were elegant and refined, the face of nobility. However, the dark hair and fair skin, so reminiscent of her own, suggested origins in Jakuu, where noble families were a thing of the past. For there to be two Jakuuzoku so far north at the same time was an unbelievably rare occasion, but rather than any feeling of kinship, this only served to fuel her suspicions. Of all the peoples in the world, the Jakuuzoku knew best the reasons not to trust one of their own.<br/><br/>However, leaving Rei standing there was starting to attract unwanted attention. Had they been in a more secluded location, Kaleissa would have seriously considered attacking right there, but in the middle of a crowded tea shop, this was not a vialbe option. Suppressing a sigh, Kaleissa glanced at Jyuuzou, before gesturing for the woman to sit. Finally letting go of her blade, her hand went to the teapot, refilling both her own teacup and Jyuuzou's before she rested her gaze on the now-seated woman.<br/><br/><span style="color: violet">"Rei is it? Well? You mentioned mutual benefit."</span>Her voice was casual as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, but the small smile that appeared on her face as she stared into the eyes of the older woman harbored nearly enough killing intent to cut with.<span style="color: violet">"Do explain."</span><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~ . - . ~</div><br/><br/>The two men waited in a second floor room of the inn near the central square, the open window looking out onto the street below. The younger man paced incessantly, muttering under his breath, while his older companion stood near the door in a relaxed stance, watching the scene with quiet amusement.<br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"How is the situation?"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"As per your orders, young master, the six mercenaries who came to Khalem-Dol with us have divided themselves between the eastern and southern gates and are keeping watch. Our young friend Alfrei is out on the street looking to hire more mercenaries."</span><br/><br/>The young man nodded, slightly mollified now that he knew his orders had been executed promptly. His greatest fear was that his quarry would escape the city without his notice, leaving him with no way to find her again.<span style="color: gray">"And how is the recruiting going?"</span><br/><br/>At this, the older man revealed a small smile, stroking his graying beard in apparent satisfaction.<span style="color: gray">"I have enlisted a blademaster from the Yagyuu clan, a veteran of the war with Kaminoyama nearly a decade ago. He is accompanied by three youngsters from his Clan on their first time abroad. I was also told that there is a Kounai clansman in town, and have reached out to her. I am certain she will agree to assist us, for we are blood kin. I have heard that she has a companion, a Kazari earth-shaker, who is likely to join us as well."</span>Checking the position of the sunlight coming in from the window, the man turned to the door.<span style="color: gray">"I will be meeting with them now. The Yagyuu group is downstairs and will serve as your temporary guard in my absence, young master."</span><br/><br/>The younger man voiced his assent, and turned back to the window, shaking with impatience. Leaving his employer behind, the older man made his way out of the inn and down the street, heading for Khalem-Dol's most famous tea shop for a much overdue reunion with his grand-niece.