He sat on one of the market benches. The wind was good today, slightly cool but mostly lukewarm and refreshing. It was Autumn starting to take the edge off of Summer. None of the leaves were changing but everything felt that the change was coming. Even Tag. His was, though, a bit more direct than that.

It was a thunderstorm arriving on a sunny day, he just knew it was coming. Had someone asked him if he knew that Li would seek him out today, he would have told them no. But it was eventual, inevitable and like the sunrise. Each day he expected it no more or less than the next.

Today he was waiting for a new leather jacket outside one of the shops. It had to be tailored because his build was different from most of the men here. He wasn't as tall, his shoulders were broader and his arms a little more lengthy. He didn't often buy those extravagant things, but he noticed what looked like it was a hole wanting to grow is his elbow and decided six years of wear had been too much and it was time for another. His cotton shirt was light, clean and worn down at the bottom. He wore shoes that laced up his ankle under his pants and squinted down the way at the shops in the marketplace.

For many people the day started out like any ordinary day. His head bowed, his palms pressed to the floor, and a small statue settled before him on a desk. The smell of smoke and lavender filled the room, a small cup and teakettle of china presentenced. He was praying to the ancestors that had guided him along his path to this day.

Once prayer was completed he rose, moving to the pictures of his wife and brother he had acquired when they came during Christmas. Fingers stroked the flawless face of his lovely bride, knowing that what he was about to do could more than likely destroy them. It was a risk he would have to take. Eventually he found his way to the marketplace, eighty times folded steel in his possession.

A pair of silk pants and a silk top, his choice clothing that would bring either honor or failure to his family. He stopped before the fountain, looking over the Marketplace and observing it in all its wonder. Yoshiro would have been happy here. He could have given her a happy life, a content life here. Never the less, today would secure a life for his family, one in which their honor was restored. As he rounded the fountain he stopped, standing before Tag with one goal in mind. The storm was coming, and they were in the middle of it.

His dark eyes, just as dark as Liang's, rose up to meet his. He stayed seated for a moment, the stare between them lasting. Slowly he rose to his feet and made a hand signal which requested a moment. Since Liang had made his intentions clear, Tag had come prepared every day. Today was not just a day for new jackets, but also a cleaned blade. He was interrupting the man at work when he asked for it back. After minor protest he acquired it and stepped back outside, squinting in the light of day.

His eyebrows knit together and he nodded that they might get away from the public eye. He didn't say hello, he only asked, "You are sure you want to do this?" Tag was older than him, it showed in his flesh around his eyes and with the slight limp in his walk. But he wasn't weak, just an enormous oak tree that had survived the storm.

In the time that Liang had been here he had gotten to know the man before him. He had come to respect him, understand him, and even regard him as a friend. However, his resolve was sure and certain when his wife and brother reminded him. After all that had been gained, he had to remember that there was a family that needed this. His family had been suffering, been wallowing in squalor since his elder brother's misfortune with this man.

There was no time like the present moment, the man standing before him had made it clear with his question. Was he sure he wanted to do this. A strong, sure breath was taken in, allowing him to revel in the Rhy'din air. Dark eyes continued to observe Tag, eyeing the limp, the way his flesh betrayed his age, and even then he couldn't help but feel respect for him. Perhaps his resolve had given way in him after all. He couldn't tell. The longing for a new life for his wife and son clouded his judgment many times. This was for them, but this world showed opportunity. He didn't know. What was he supposed to do'

"I am certain." Now more than ever he needed his mind and spirit to be one, to not betray him until his quest was won.

"If I am to die, I have only one wish." He said as he stepped along the path that went between the marketplace and ultimately, the house he had never been able to sell. He stopped and regarded Liang, "There is a young girl named Penelope at an orphanage. I promised myself I would adopt her so if I am unable, I wish for you to carry out my promise." It wasn't unusual for foes to grant the last wish of another. Tag had so little else that was important to him that a small girl who hardly knew him warranted his last wish. So he stood, with his blade not yet draw but a good five paces from Liang. He was awaiting his request before they began.

The final request rattled him. His eyes locked on the man, watching him for any sign of him tricking him. Such a request, he never thought he'd hear from the man's lips. His head bowed. "So be it, but on one condition." Suppose it wouldn't hurt' Who knows"

"I have a wife, a son, a family filled with sisters and a brother, mother and father. For those who wish to come here, who wish to live life here, help them. Make sure my wife understands this world if I should die." He knew that his brother would look after her, but if she chose not to have his help, he wanted to make sure there would be others who would be there for her. "A young woman by the name of Maria has been kind to me here, give her my thanks."

There was more, he had a room in the Inn, he wanted it sorted, his things sent to his wife and some sent to Maria, who had been a sister to him. But he wasn't sure he could request so much from the man before him. Even then, he held onto certain things in that silk, a set of keys, a letter with further requests, and the room number where he had been staying.

"It takes a while," he wasn't going to lie about what a culture shock meant. But it was clear that he had agreed with Liang and that the two had made that tentative agreement that enemies make. He took in a breath and exhaled. He sheathed his sword. It was the same sword he had had since he left their country. A long katana, worn at the hilt but the blade showed love. It was the sort of sword a general had, that sort of quality and ornamentation.

He drew his shoulders back and lowered the tip of his blade. He was waiting for Liang to prepare himself. They had never smiled at each other but perhaps knew one another more than brothers did. Was he ready"

To that he nodded, he knew too well the effects of culture shock. The eight times folded katana at his side lifted, presented. Smooth steel and silver glimmered in the sunlight as he stepped forwards and bowed as was directed by tradition. "You have been an honorable man Mamoru, a good friend, and a wise guide. For that I respect you, but I trust you understand why I must do this?" He wanted his family's honor back. If there was a way to do that without bloodshed, now was the time for Tag to say so.

"The hurt of a dead loved one can do that. I hope this brings resolution." He cleared his throat and his knees bent. He began with a quick forward motion and then his blade slash across the air, chest level, for Liang. He had steady eyes and right now, his limp was not so apparent as it had been.

He hoped as much with this action. As Tag's blade came in, his blade sprung out, moving quickly to counter the slashing motion presented. A slick shink of sparks, or damn near, was made as he drew back, brought his blade low behind him, and then moved inwards, aiming for a low and then high blow, meant to cut into both bad leg and left shoulder as quickly as he could.

The clang of blades isn't as loud as someone would thing. It was like sharpening a blade, only that it sounded unwanted. Perhaps he didn't expect Liang to be as fast as he was. His sword bit into part of his knee but was stopped before then. He shrank back, letting Liang put weight onto him before he shoved back. His blade shoving his back with that drawing, metal noise. There was no following pause, he went for a jab just under the left ribs and kept his head low for it.

He wasn't going to die that easily. He wasn't going to fall so quickly. The sting of a tip had pressed beneath the ribs, but he has pulled away quickly enough that it was merely the tip that had cut through the silk covered skin. No pain, nor expression was shown on his face. He lifted his blade again, bringing it in at a straight point for Tag's chest. His breath was already short, his determination and resolve seemed to be shorter. Such a direct attack would surely be predicted.

Tag's response was to turn away from it. To roll one shoulder away and then the other. Though when he had turned around, Liang was shoulder to shoulder with him and he had his sword ready to nestle itself between his ribs. Would it' Tag's eyes moved down to check, which he probably shouldn't have done.

"Kh?" Dark eyes turned down to the center of his chest, watching crimson pool around jagged hilt. A silver blade protruded from his back draped in crimson rolling down wards, south. His eyes went wide, his lips parted to drawn in a rough breath. Katana in his hands was dropped, clattering at his feet. A hard breath, shaking frame, and a grunt, ?" Khh.." Did it happen so quickly' Had he really gave such an opening" He did, and even he couldn't believe it. His mind raced, he wanted his last thoughts to be as he hoped they'd be. Ah' There was that flawless face. "Yo...Yoshi?"

When he realized he'd won he twisted, caught Liang by the shoulders and eased the man down to the ground. He kneeled beside him. Most sword fights ended that quickly when you were looking for blood. His lips did not dip much with his frown, but the expression on such a subtle man looked deep on his lips. "It won't be long." It never seemed like it was until you were holding your breath. He stayed beside him like that, crouched over and watched him, quietly. Waiting for his eyes to get like stone.

His dark eyes locked on his killer's face and lingered there. He could see why his brother was so devoted and loyal to such a man. He made it easy to find a cause. Hands pushed into his silk and pulled out a piece of parchment along with keys.

A pained grunt, a hard wince, and a rough rasp left his lips all at once. "Yo...Don't...Don't let' Don't let her live" Help her?? He couldn't even form words properly. His hand clasped his shirt, crimson staining the cotton fabric. Eyes widened, hard breaths pushed in and out, and then silenced. Those eyes lost all light, voided, and indeed became like stone.

It was as thought he worried a thief was on his back. he pocketed what was given to him quickly and shut Liang's eyes. When he stood up he made a long exhale, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Tag then looked around himself and saw he was not with too much of an audience. He sheathed his sword on his back and also sheathed Liang's.

He picked through the man's pockets for anything else and then he clasped him by the forearms and began to drag him along the way. This was Rhy'din, and thought the sight was not an unfamiliar one, he hoped it would be his last like that with the land. Liang needed to be buried somewhere, it seemed inappropriate to let the birds have him. Worms had that additional dignity the dead seemed to need.

((The end of the life of Liang brought to you by Li Angelo and Tag Sentry! Thank you Tag for such a fun play! Let the life of Yoshiro begin!))