|
|
Post by Chase Sato on Aug 11, 2012 22:35:40 GMT -5
He smiled back at her, holding her close after her request. It felt so nice to just have her close, to know that they were all safe. It didn't seem like long at all before Mai was pulling away, looking over to the door. Well they may as well get used to this, Hiyro was going to be interrupting moments like that a lot.
Chase was so glad that Mai was this way with Hiyro. He wouldn't know the first thing about taking care of her. He wouldn't have known how to keep her hair, how to dress her, other then play, he never really had anything to do with Hiyro. Up to this point they hadn't really been that close, being so distant in age. Chase always just used to focus on his training, not being a big brother. But he would have to change, and fast. At least he could use Mai's actions as guidelines.
He smiled back at her, Zala breaking free from Hiyro to circle around Chase's feet. She hated being held by anyone. "I'll let you ladies do your thing. I'm just going to go take care of something." he said, ruffling Hiyro's hair as he passed her. She frowned and giggled at the same time, batting his hand away. Giving Mai a small kiss on the cheek before he went down the stairs. It would take a little for Hiyro to be in bed, so he had some time to go do this.
The night was cool, unlike most humid nights, which was nice. He strolled over to the fire bending school entering through the front gates. Even though it was sunset, there were still some benders doing some drills in the courtyard. The place itself was beautiful, the architecture very reminiscent of fire nation buildings, but with a modern twist. He was greeted by the owner, a man who he had met a couple of weeks ago. He had offered him a job here, but Chase didn't accept, thinking that he wasn't going to be staying in the City much longer. Now that he was staying, he needed a stable job, and this was a plus, because Hiyro could train here as well.
He explained the situation as best he could without giving away any major details. He told Chase he was still welcome to take up the position in the morning. Bowing and thanking the man, he made his way back to the house, just as Mai was tucking Hiyro into bed, all washed up. Giving the girl a kiss on the forehead like their mother used to do before bed "I found a school for you to go to." he told her. She didn't look too impressed, but at least it was something for her to do. "And I got a job." he told Mai with a smile.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mai Toriko on Aug 12, 2012 21:16:38 GMT -5
Mai smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "That's wonderful." she whispered as she laid down next to Hiyro and patted the spot next to her on the bed for Chase to snuggle up on. The pets curled at the foot of the futon and Mai laid down, petting Hiyro's hair and carding her fingers through it until the little girl was fast asleep. Turning over to face Chase she smiled and whispered, "What kind of job is it?" they knew to whisper so not to wake her up.
Mai knew sleeping so close to eachother had become normal for them but at the same time Mai knew she needed to let Chase to to her with these kinds of things. She didn't know what and when he would be ready for things to progress. Sleeping next to eacother, let alone holding eachother while they slept, was something to gain that closeness without the pressure being too high. She leaned over and kissed his cheek good night before she snuggled in and waited for him to relax for the evening. The nights were definately getting cooler and Mai was glad for it, with winter on it's way she was excited. Maybe it was because of her water bending, but winter and early spring were her favourite times of the year. She loves it and everything about it, the colder weather for layering up the clothing, snuggling into warm blankets and sitting by the fire. She had received that when she was at the manor, only when she was with a costumer however. Winter nights in an attic with little heat did little to make her like the winter time. But it was better than nothing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chase Sato on Aug 12, 2012 21:48:19 GMT -5
He whispered his response, not wanting to wake Hiyro either. "I don't know, actually." he really didn't know what kind of help the man needed around the school. He assumed just odd tasks and the like. It didn't matter, it was steady work, he didn't have just himself to take care of anymore. Before when it was just him, it was alright if he didn't get work for a while, he could go without. But he wasn't going to make Hiyro go hungry, for any reason. "It's at a firebending school." he told her, explaining the only details that he had to her.
He settled down into the bed, even though he wasn't tired. It's not like he had anything else to do tonight anyways, may as well go to sleep. Laying on his side, he put an arm around Mai, waiting for sleep to take over. It was a while before he was able to finally slumber.
Zala was the one to wake him up, Rubbing against his face, letting out a meow. Groaning, he say up, seeing Hiyro already awake, playing with Kiku on the bed quietly. Mai was still sleeping, so he carefully got out of bed, going downstairs to the smell of cooking food. The seamstress was making a nice breakfast for them. He never thought that just by renting a place from her that they would receive such hospitality from her. She was a very nice woman.
After eating and helping with the clean up, Chase brought breakfast upstairs for the girls, setting their plates on the bed. Mai was awake by the time he got back. "Morning." he gave Mai a kiss, feeling kind of affectionate today.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mai Toriko on Aug 13, 2012 21:31:08 GMT -5
Mai smiled as she received the kiss, blushing a little at how he did it without coaxing or her having to do it first. She returned it happily before helping herself to some breakfast and readying Hiyro for school. Chase could take her to school in the morning with him working there now so then the little girl wasn't alone wandering the streets. However when June, the elderly woman who owned the shop, needed Mai to run errands, it meant that now she was on her own. She pulled on her cloak and walked out to the market to fetch some groceries and some more thread and fabric dyes. She kept a low profile, not wanting to stir up any trouble.
As she rounded the corner she saw one of the men who used to keep her locked up and she ducked into an alley way. Keeping herself hidden she watched as she met with another, exchanges some sort of cash deal before she heard the words, "I don't have enough..."
"I told you we'd take her,"
"Please leave her out of this!"
"Twenty four hours, or you know the price."
It was another transacation, probably what had happened with her own parents but...was it to settle a bet? Some gambling incidient gone horribly wrong? Mai shook her head and as the man came around the corner she grabbed him by the collar and pinned him to the wall. "Hello Jathro..."
"Well hey there pretty bird..."
"Cut the crap." she hissed, using her dagger to press it against his throat. "I'll drain you in a second unless you pay close attention...why were you bothering that man."
"It's none of your concern,"
"Try me..."
As she pressed the knife tighter he finally gave in, "Its how the boss gets some of the younger girls into the system. People gamble, cant pay their debts off....he makes them the offer of their kid for a debt free life. No one ever takes it...except one." he smirked.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're dad was in the whole and the boss, he wanted your sister...but yur father offered you up instead. he gave ya to us willingly...but he was supposed to make another payment along with ya and when he didn't we took what we could and...squared the deal." Mai dropped him with a thud. He knew the guard wouldn't say where she wa,s he was a useless thug as far as her boss was concerned and going after her at this point would have been a waste of time. She sent him off and disappeared, perching on a scaffold and looking down into the alley way...
"He..gave me up..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chase Sato on Aug 13, 2012 21:58:50 GMT -5
He felt bad for leaving Mai alone, especially since the city was a little dangerous for her, but he was sure nothing would happen. Hiyro asked to be carried on their way to school. Chase knelt down and let her climb onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck "Don't choke me." he said as she gripped tightly. "I don't want to go to school." she told her brother, he shook his head. "You have to go, if you stay home all day you'll get bored and start getting into trouble. And it won't be too bad, i'll be there." They arrived at the school fairly early, there were only a few students walking about. He led them over to the Master of the school, ready to start his work.
"Ah, our new teacher and pupil." the man said with a kind smile. He reminded Chase of Kazu, before all this shit happened. "Teacher, me?" Chase asked him. He nodded in response. "But I've never taught before, I don't even know how" the man laughed "You'll do fine, your class starts in ten minutes in the south class, Hiyro will be one of your students." Hiyro laughed "You'll be a great teacher" he laughed with her as they made their way to their class. He didn't really like teaching, but it was all he could do for now, it might not even be that bad.
The day went pretty well, he felt nervous to be standing in front of people, trying to teach them to bend, even if they were all only 10-12 years old. Their skill level was definitely very low, barely half of them could produce a flame, but by the end of the class, everyone but Hiyro was able to burn the practice dummy. Happy with the progress they made, he let them go early for the day, walking home with Hiyro. "It's okay if you don't get it right away, we can practice at home." he told her, noticing she looked down. She seemed to pick up after this, skipping the rest of the way home.
When they got there, Hiyro went into the backyard to practice some more, Chase going upstairs to the attic. Opening the door, he saw Mai sitting on the bed, she didn't look happy at all. "Mai, are you okay?" he asked, sitting beside her, putting a hand on her arm comfortingly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mai Toriko on Aug 14, 2012 22:37:45 GMT -5
Mai sighed and rubbed her temples, then leaned close and made his arm slide around her. "I met one of the thugs in the southern market place. I have to travel to that sector to run the errands for June." she laid her head on his shoulder and explained what the man had said to her. She was quiet for a long while before she managed to find her words again. "My dad gave me up...he took the offer...he gave me instead of my sister...I remember other bodies but I never knew I have silbings..." she met his eyes, "He chose to give me up, at five years old he chose to give me to a whore house..he would have rather given me up than paid the price of death or a beating...instead he got both..." she stood up and rubbed her face down.
"Jathro was a thug, he'd have no reason to lie...he just collects on the deals for cash and makes the threats but never actually fufills the orders...how screw up of a family did I come from if he gave me up to be a prostitute at four!" she was yelling but not really breaking a normal tone, scared that Hiyro might hear her.
"I mean, how do you go about processing that...." she had yet to get over the nightmares. "I want...I want closure of some kind..." she looked out the window, "I may need to make a trip to the southern manor..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chase Sato on Aug 15, 2012 21:26:30 GMT -5
He wrapped his arms around her as she leaned into him, explaining what had happened. He was glad that she didn't get hurt. Physically at least. Finding this out about her father really seemed to have upset her, understandably so. He didn't quite know what to say to comfort her, but tried his best to think of something. "It's not fair that happened to you" he said standing up, wrapping his arms around her again. "We can go tonight, after Hiyro is in bed."
After they got the girl ready for bed, they tucked her in, making sure she was asleep before leaving the house, explaining to the old woman they were going out for a bit. She agreed to take care of Hiyro if she woke until they got home. It was a pretty cool night, the smell of a storm in the air. They made their way to the manor, stopping in the alley next to it. "So what's our plan?" he asked, turning around to face her
|
|
|
|
Post by Mai Toriko on Aug 16, 2012 22:53:45 GMT -5
"I need to get to the main chamber at the back east end. The lord is in there. He's the one who would have ordered the deal if one was to be made with my father..." she was quiet as she stared at the front entrance pulled her hood over her face, leaving her hair down and pulling peices to help mask it as they walked in. They would sit at a table, order a drink and mull around while looking for a good time to excuse themselves. If they turned down the left corridor, it led to the privacy suites for the ladies and gents to fulfil their payments, but if they went right and got passed the two guards it would lead them to the living quarters of the mansion's Lord.
As they waited Mai tried to remain calm as she smelt the smoke and heard that sick music playing as the women worked. She was the only there a slave, most worked and earned a living to this...she was about to throw up and simply held Chase's hand tighter. A woman came by and pushed her breasts in Chase's face, "hey darling..." but Mai glared at her and she shurnk off when Mai snapped.
"If he wants that he knows where to get it." she growled as the girl walked away.
It took a while before they were able to move back and heard down the hallway. The guards were simply enough, Mai was glad for the moonlight and bent them and made them lay down. She slipped by with Chase and sighed as she felt the door. "Here we go..." she whispered, still holding his hand. Pushing it open she saw him sitting there drinking.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chase Sato on Aug 20, 2012 22:48:55 GMT -5
As they entered the building, he made sure all his hair was tucked away under his hood. This place gave him such a horrible feeling, he could only imagine the kind of emotions it was stirring up inside of Mai. He knew that she needed some sort of closure, but being back here was probably really hard. He wanted to be there to support her, though, like she had for him. Plus he wasn't going to let her come here alone.
Sitting at the table he tried to keep his head down as people walked by, holding onto Mai's hand. He would squeeze it as she gripped tighter, wanting to be able to give her more comfort, but knew this wasn't the time. They didn't want to attract any type of attention. Chase didn't quite know what to do as a woman shoved her chest in his face. He tried backing off but was met with the back of his chair. He was glad when Mai scared her off. "Thanks." he said with a small smile. He never knew how to handle situations like that.
They waited a while, but he sat patiently, listening to the music. It wasn't the best, but it was something. It was better then observing the surroundings. Eventually they had the opportunity to slip away, slipping down a hallway. Mai knew he way around so he just followed her, not even needing to help her take care of the guards. She navigated them to the door of the lord, he squeezed her shoulder encouragingly as she readied to open the door.
He readied to defend as she pushed open the door, the man sitting there sipping on a large glass of an alcohol of some sort. There were no guards inside, but Chase knew that more were probably on their way, so he stood in the doorway as Mai entered the room to watch and defend. No one was getting into this room until Mai had her answers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mai Toriko on Aug 20, 2012 23:29:50 GMT -5
Mai walked forward carefully, her feet padding silently on the wooden floors as the man casually sipped at his drink and swirled it in his glass. "I wondered where my little darling wandered off to, come home to see your dear family?" he asked with a sickly sweet tone in his voice.
"Far from it..." she replied, making her way closer to the table before she stood in front of him. "I'm here to gather answers..."
"Yes, Jathro informed me of your tossle in the marketplace earlier today. He said you were most upset with the news he gave you, such a shame. You look so much prettier when you smile."
"Cut the shit."
"Vulgarity will get you nowhere pet..." he then felt his throat get tight as she started to work the muscle tissue with her bending and force the blood away from his head. "New tricks..."
"A whole bag full of 'em." she chuckled, that dark tone back like everytime the blood bending began. "No I can keep going, or you can answer my questions..."
"I don't think I have much of a choice..." he grunted as she slammed his body to the ground and stood on his face, pressed her heel into his temple. "Okay...ask away..."
Mai let up on the bending enough to allow him to answer correctly,"What was my father in debt for?"
"He was using my concubines and didn't pay up..."
"So what was the deal?" she pressed harder as he took a moment to answer.
"Calm yourself you didn't give me a chance to answer!"
"I'm getting impatient!" she shouted, pulling him from the gorund and pinning him to the wall, his feet dangling.
"Your father was so behind I told him if he didn't pay up I would make his daughter a concubine. She was of age and ready to be made a slave, but she was getting married to a wealthy man soon enough and instead you were offered a payment."
Mai took a moment to process the information before he continued, "We arrived to make the payment and your mother refused. She clung to you and fought, but we took you. Your father was murdered because he was caught already trying to steal from my territory...the family all died in the fire."
"I met the man who carried me out...I set him free...who is the man who killed my mother and sister." she demanded, caring less of what
happened to her father.
"I cannot give that! It was years ago!"
"Answer me!" she grabbed him and shook him, "I know you know him! WHO!?"
She heard the gaurds comung and dropped him as she grabbed Chase's hand and fled to the window. But before she could jump out she heard, " What use is it, you have no family left...let it go. we let you go." and with that they slipped away into the night...
|
|
