Temple Daze [P]

A slight shifting of weight to one side was all it took. The loose blade clinked on the ground behind Lucian. it wasn't too hard to dodge a blade that was not meant to kill. Interestingly none of the commotion in the alley drew any attention from outside. Merchants went about their business, holy men preached and civilians continued on their way. How odd it was. Were people blind? Or did they just simply not care what happened? Both prospects were worrying, but the Nazar boy did not have time to ponder either question too heavily.

The smoking man was not as vulnerable as he looked and two of the assailants had fled while one remained, injured. Yet it appeared that the smoking man had taken the worst of the beating. Now, Lucian was no doctor nor even a halfway qualified medic, but common sense told him that a bleeding man was in more danger than one who showed no real signs of external injury. That being said he could not leave both men lying in the alley. Ah, morals.

First thing was first, revealing his true identity. There was no point in holding the transformation as it looked like the smoking man was going to need help getting to a hospital of sorts. A poof of smoke and the one time queensguard was gone. In his place stood Lucian or perhaps it is better to say walked Lucian. For the boy was making his way down the alley and closer to the pair of injured men.

"Get up," Lucian demanded of the remaining attacker. "An injured arm will not hinder your stride. Get to a hospital now, go!"

Merciless? Uncaring? No, Lucian was none of these. He simply had no respect for thugs and miscreants. Another shinobi may have roughed the man up more, maybe killed him. However, Lucian valued human life. The man would live, he'd have a broken arm, but he'd live. The smoking man, on the other hand? He may yet die, but not if Lucian could help it.

"Are you alright?"

Stupid question, the guy is bleeding. Lucian walked closer and knelt down next to the man.

"Can you stand? We have to get you to a hospital." Lucian asked offer the man his shoulder; one way or another the man was going to the hospital.

Were Lucian a medic he might be worried about air entering the man's chest. Or maybe the possible infection he might be exposing himself to by rolling about in the dirt of an alley. However, all Lucian could think was how much blood there was. Sure, the boy was no stranger to blood as he often helped butcher the animals back home, but never this much human blood. No, nothing on this scale.

When the guard asked if he was alright Pinku merely stared at him. His face clearly saying exactly what he thought of the question. The cigarette had stayed pressed between his lips and he merely exhaled causing the plume of smoke to waft at the man's face. Taking a shuddering breath he found he had moved closer to his robe. Reaching out with his foot he dragged it closer.

As this went on his eyes shifted and caught in detail the face of his attacker. The others he could probably identify but this one would see himself repayed. Tearing at the fabric he made more of a bundle than an actual wound dressing. Taking the glob of fabric he pressed it hard against his side, wincing while he did so. "Hospitals are we're people go to die so no thanks, I intend to be just fine."

Attempting to stand he lost his feet and fell back to his bottom. This did nothing to help his already severe problem. "If your going to help I'll show you were to go." He would then extend his hand hoping to be helped up. Pride was a powerful thing, but he also knew it needed shelved sometime. If he was helped up he would lean heavily on Lucian and point the way.

Wading through multiple alleys Pinku would begin to consider the irregularity of the guard appearing. He had become accustomed with the patrols and most of the faces. Many attended mass at certain times and this one seemed different. "What are you doing this way sir? Should patrol have long moved out by now?" He would ask in a polite way. He had no intention of drawing negative attention, but if patrol routes had changed so would distribution and smuggling routes have to change.

As they talked they would soon find themselves in front of one of the many brothels that lay within the seedier neighborhoods. While the store front was for the seamstress guild only the most ignorant and gullible of individuals would believe that. Looking up at the establishment, a bit more pale than he probably should have been, he started to dread the steps. "Second floor of you please."

Can't breathe.

Smoking, Lucian never thought much of the habit. Yet here he was being initiated to his first smell of the stuff. Frankly it was awful. The boy coughed once as his eyes burned. Surely only a madman would want to fill their lungs with the stuff. No, Lucian would not being taking up smoking anytime soon. However, that was not the worst of it.

Clearly the injured man was pretty out of it. After all, would a sane human try and stand after sustaining such wounds? Probably not. Of course, none of these thoughts probably passed through the injured man's mind as he tried and failed to get up. Lucian could do nothing but watch; the Nazar clan was very respectful about personal space. If someone did not want to be touched or helped it was not on the Nazar clansman to force help upon them. A higher power would guide all parties involved to go on the right path. Lucian could not help but hope that this man before him was destined to live just a while longer.

Sure, death was not a new concept to a native of Funkagakure. Denying such a fact of life was hardheaded and counterproductive. No, death was natural; the reaper came for everyone. That being said, Lucian did not much like watching those die who could be saved. Too often Funkagakure offered experiences in which one could only watch another die or, worse yet, being eaten alive.

Yes!

Luckily the man finally accepted help with one odd caveat, no hospitals. Strange. However, at the moment there was no arguing with a bleeding man; getting him anywhere was better than leaving him lying in a godforsaken alleyway.

"Fine." Lucian replied pulling the man up. This would be Lucian's first time as a human crutch.

Best to stay off the streets...

It appeared the fallen man had much the same idea as the path he led the pair on mostly kept to the backstreets. For the most part each alleyway was devoid of people. Maybe a homeless waif here and there or a merchant trying to move goods without getting caught up in the rush of midday. However, no one seemed to pay Lucian, nor the bleeding man leaning on him, any mind.

"That doesn't matter right now," Lucian said when the bleeding man brought up the irregularity of the patrols. "Try not to talk too much."

How much longer will this charade have to work for...

A few minutes of walking brought the pair to an odd destination, a seamstresses. Lucian had passed by the place, but never had an occasion to enter. Why would he anyway? The boy did all his own repairs.

"Sure, second floor it is..." Lucian muttered more to himself than the man at his side.

Pulling open the front door, the Nazar stepped into the seamstresses......

Why here of all places?

As the door open a gaggle of girls started to move towards them only to freeze at the sight of Pinku's dripping side. Forcing a weak smile he waved one of them over to help. Using Lucian and the girl they started moving forward into the building. It wasn't so late so the place wasn't busy, and if one had a keen eye thy would realize not much actual seamstress work was going on, apart from one old lady in the corner working a loom.

"Thanks Alarah..." He said his breathing a bit more ragged than it had been. His head was starting to swim a little, not a good sign. Still it was better than a hospital right? At least he would die with a view. Moving back through the staircase they would soon reach the maze of halls. "Take me to my office, then get Katah, she's the best with a needle.....best get Seera as well she trained in the castle as a medics apprentice I think." Each word looked like it cost him something, but that was because it did.

Behind some of the door certain carnal sounds could be heard. This place had proved an excellent place to set up shop. The legitimacy of the front, and well the attraction for the girls to make money. It all ended up working well. It also aided in gossip, and having a large amount of skills underneath the same roof. All of which Pinku did his best to use to his advantage.

Once they had pushed open his door, he collapsed on the small cot that occupied one corner of the office. Around the room where half finished manuscripts and a large collection of painting in varying levels of completion. As he lay there breathing deeply the one named Alarah brought him a bottle of shimmering brown liquid. Taking a deep drink he lay back. The next two girls came in soon after.

"This might hurt..." The girl who must be Katah said with a smile and wink. Tipping the bottle up with her forefinger to make Pinku drink deeper she then took it and let the liquor splash onto the wound. Cutting the fabric of his shirt away she began to stitch up while the other girl simply watched bandages at the ready. "Make yourself comfy..." Pinku said to the guard. He would probably have to kill him if he was a soldier of the Queen. Shame he had been helpful, but he didn't like the idea of a soldier seeing the inside of the guild. As if to drive the point home three girls walked by the open door in les than what was appropriate clothe wise. Well, unless he was an idiot he would probably start to realize this place wasn't what the sign had said.

Any idea what will keep one's mind at the task at hand on not his or her surroundings? Well, as it turned out, having a bleeding man leaning on it will do that as Lucian found out. He did not pay much attention to his surroundings, why should he? He had been in a seamstresses store before. Everyone seemed pretty normal out of the corner of his eye. Plus there was an old lady working on a loom, how was that not normal? Yep, nothing out of place here.

Following the lead of the one named Alarah, Lucian helped the bleeding to his 'office'. On the way they passed a room from which some slightly offensive noises were spilling from. Lucian, of course, wrote the sounds off as some seamstress thing, a machine maybe? Yes, that was it. Perhaps it was some new fangled sewing device? That was probably it, nothing else it could be, right?

Suffice to say the 'office' the trio entered looked nothing like an office the Nazar boy had seen before. Truth be told Lucian figured it looked a lot like an archive. Or maybe it was more of a library? No...an art gallery? Lucian honestly couldn't place what the room looked like. All he did know was this was no office. Who exactly was this bleeding man?

Now came the awkward part, the part where Lucian stood in the center of the messy room as the bleeding man lay on a cot. In a few moments two women entered the room; Lucian stepped out of their way trying to look like part of the wallpaper. Why were there so many woman working here? And why were they so good looking? These questions edged on the outskirts of Lucian's mind as he was more worried about the state of the stabbed man.

When asked to relax Lucian did just that taking a seat in a convenient stool by the door. Then something caught the boy's eye. Was it lace? Turning his head out the door he noted that it was indeed lace, lace clad women walking down the hall. They were in no hurry either. Perhaps were Lucian a different man these would all be tips and hints, but none of that occurred to him. Instead he just counted his lucky stars for the sighting and returned his gaze to the bleeding man and his attendants.

Well, now is a good a time as any...

The chakra that once shrouded the man drifted off in a plume of smoke. Where a queensguard once sat Lucian now waited silently. Seeing as he had nothing better to do he watched the operation intently. Sure, he had no real knowledge of medicine, but he knew a good nurse when he saw one, Katah was a good nurse. The thought never occurred to him where he was or that he would have to explain his transformation; he still had a lot to learn. Ah, the naivety of youth.

Each stitch caused a twinge in his face. She was quick, nimble fingers and all yet the feeling of the hooked needle accessing his skin wasn't lessened by this fact. All in all it took around 20 minutes for her to completely finish her work. She hadn't said much, merely working and soaking up the excess blood with one of the towels. So it was stained red, but the bleeding was staunched for now, and while he felt light headed he was fairly confident he would live.

Taking one last sip and feelings
The edge come right off his pain he looked to the corner where the guardsmen had sat, only now a young baldy sat there. "Errr not much of a queens guard aye?" He asked a little slurred. He wasn't sue of the liquor had been to strong or if his blood loss had diminished his mental faculties. Sitting up with a touch of assistance he thanked his nurse and the seamstress and all three girls left. He'd have to divert some of the finances from the next art job to their pockets for the help.

"So who are you then?" He would ask as his eyes took in the boy more. It took a few moments to realize he had been the one at the temple of the sun. He sighed inwardly wondering how this was going to go. If the boy was observant he'd have to do something, he went to a temple so there was no telling if he was going to try to rat on the place. Or would he ask to many questions about the disappearance of Malvin and his own being in the alley. He would let the boy talk first though before jumping to any conclusions.......though they were sitting in the middle of a plethora of manuscripts and unfinished religious art the boy would have to be pretty unobservant to not know something was up.

If he introduced himself as he had Pinku would withhold his impatience at having to be introduced to the same person a second time. It was an occupational hazard when one delt in disguises over and over again. "Well you saved my life I suppose. At least gave the girls a chance, at the very least. Anything I can do for you?" He would say. Sure he might have to kill him, but it was polite to return a favor. After all, if things went that route he wouldn't know it until the deed was done.

"No, I'm afraid not," Lucian said with a small smile in response to the man's inquiry about being a Queensguard. "I'm just a helpful passerby. I couldn't leave you to die in the streets could I?"

The man's last words made everything click in the Nazar's mind. No, this was not a seamstresses storefront. No, those sounds he had heard before were not the sounds of work, well at least not the work he thought it had been. And no, he would not be getting his clothes patched up here anytime soon. Yes, Lucian had heard of these places, but never made the connection. Oh, if his teacher could see him now.

"No, I would not want to distract them," A slight pause as the boy considered his next words carefully. "From their work. As for compensation? I require none, seeing you alive is enough. Honestly, I should be off I am expected at an evening mass. Perhaps out paths will cross again sometime."

If not stopped Lucian would push himself out of his chair and go on his way. Winding his way out he took special care not to allow his eyes to linger anywhere for too long. Better not to show interest than show too much. Saving knifing victims? It was all in a days work.

[Exit if not stopped, TWC: 4440. +22 stats]