Chapter Text
The stranger arrived at the teahouse at noon, unnoticed in the din of clattering cups and conversation. He was wearing travel-stained robes that perhaps had once been white and a hat that left his face in shadow. He sat down at a table by himself and asked for some tea, which he drank in silence, paying no attention to the commotion of gamblers, brawlers, and drunkards around him.
All this would have been unremarkable indeed, if the stranger had not taken off his hat to reveal golden hair above a face as pale as the full moon. Those who caught sight of him paused to stare; the serving girl who brought him a platter of bao tripped over her feet and nearly dropped the tray.
In a beautiful, melodic voice, he said, “Thank you, miss,” and the girl blushed, as he took out his purse, which clinked against the surface of the table.
That noise, of course, immediately drew the attention of everyone in the teahouse. Such a sound could only have been made by a pouch full of gold coins.
Kasamatsu rolled his eyes and sighed. He looked over at Moriyama and Nakamura, who were stationed on the ground floor; they both nodded and began making their way discreetly to join him. Kasamatsu stayed where he was, huddled up against the rickety railing of the second floor, getting a bird’s eye view of the teahouse customers who were getting to their feet and approaching the stranger’s table.
“You’re new to these parts.”
“Yes, I am,” said the stranger, before taking a long sip of tea.
“Where are you headed?”
“Nowhere in particular.” He looked up at the crowd of people around him and smiled. His teeth were very white. “Why all the questions?”
“Well, sir,” drawled one of the men, leaning one arm on the table, “if you must know, we’re all rather interested in the contents of that pouch.”
“This pouch?” The stranger lifted the purse off the table. The heavy coins inside clinked again. “Well, I’m afraid it’s not for sale.”
A hand shot out to make a grab for it, but in the same instant, the stranger leapt onto the table. He dodged the fists making their way towards him and kicked out, knocking several bodies backwards, before he sailed over the crowd in an elegant flip.
Kasamatsu instantly sprang to his feet, leaning over the railing as he watched the stranger fight off the crowd, a whirl of limbs and shining hair, a miniature storm at the center of the teahouse floor. Tables were hurled over and chairs crashed against the walls, as teahouse customers either made their escape while they could or joined in the fight.
“He’s strong,” said Nakamura, who along with Moriyama, had joined him at the railing to watch the fight erupt below.
Moriyama added, “Did you notice the way he’s fighting?”
Underneath, the stranger blocked a pummel of rapid blows aimed at his center, then kicked off the wall, giving him the momentum to return the attack, his motions mirroring his opponent’s, punch for punch. Startled, his opponent paused—and that pause was enough to win him a roundhouse kick to the head.
Kasamatsu said, “He’s copying their movements. I’ve heard of this martial arts style. There’s a renowned hero, of the Teikou sect, who is known to be a master—”
Below, the stranger jumped into the air and kicked out with both feet, before jabbing his elbow back into the face of an attacker coming up behind him.
“—his name, what was his name—”
The fight had deteriorated into a free-for-all, and many of the ruffians were now fighting one another, but the stranger was still at the center of it all, his hair plastered against his scalp with sweat. He was dodging blows with near-preternatural reflexes, but even from a distance, it was apparent that his attacks were losing power.
“Kise,” Kasamatsu said aloud. “That’s the name. Kise Ryouta.”
“He looks like he’s slowing,” Moriyama said, his eyes narrowing.
“Should we do something?” Nakamura asked.
Kasamatsu grinned and hauled himself up to stand on the railing. “Never let it be said that the Kaijou Brotherhood failed to come to the aid of a hero.” With a yell, he hurled himself onto the floor below, breaking his fall by landing on a brutish looking man, who had gotten his hands around the stranger’s neck. Kasamatsu jabbed at a pressure point, and the man collapsed, unconscious.
Kise Ryouta blinked and rubbed his neck with a rueful smile. “Thank you.”
Nakamura and Moriyama had also landed behind him and were making short work of the brawling crowd. Kasamatsu and Kise immediately drew together back to back, arms out, ready to fend off the next wave of attackers.
“May I know your name, friend?”
“Kasamatsu Yukio. You’re Kise Ryouta, aren’t you? One of the Teikou prodigies—”
“Teikou no longer exists,” Kise said, as he blocked a punch then twisted the attacker’s arm. “But yes, I’m Kise. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Kasamatsu noted that Nakamura and Moriyama had quite efficiently cleared a path to the nearest exit. “Not the best time or place for introductions, I think,” he said, with a jerk of his head.
Kise nodded. “Time to take our leave.”
They ran out the door, Nakamura and Moriyama bringing up the rear guard as they burst out of the teahouse. Some of their attackers were astute enough to follow, so they took off at top speed, putting as much distance behind them as possible.
Kasamatsu launched himself up into a grove of bamboo and zigzagged from stalk to stalk, as he headed towards the branches for cover. His companions kept pace, and they sailed through the air, their path marked only by the swaying of bamboo and occasional flutter of falling leaves.
They landed lightly on their toes on top of the wall that ran around Kaijou headquarters. Kise glanced around, scanning the area, before turning back to Kasamatsu and his companions with a charming smile.
“I take it you’ve granted me the honor of leading me to your home.”
Kasamatsu snorted. “We’re not that foolish. We live elsewhere. But this is the place where we conduct official business.”
“Ah, my mistake.” Kise drew himself up, gave an extravagant albeit graceful bow, and said, “Well, it is time for me to take my leave and continue on my journey, but may I express how much I appreciate your lending me a little assistance back at the teahouse—”
“A little assistance?” Kasamatsu exclaimed, lunging forward to grab at Kise’s sleeve. “That was more than a little assistance. And don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’ve used up all your qi. You need to recuperate.”
Kise’s smile took on an edge. “I really must be going.”
Kasamatsu rolled his eyes and punched Kise in the jaw before he had a chance to react. As Nakamura stepped forward to deftly catch Kise’s sagging body, Kasamatsu said, “Welcome to Kaijou, Kise Ryouta.”