On a Train to Tokyo [Akira/Ryoko]

The trains of 2123 were wonderfully smooth rides, so it was easy to fall asleep. That’s why most people surrounding Ryoko were already out for the rest of the ride. It was later in the night, and blue neon lights lined the floor for people to see. Ryoko, however, had her spotlight on and was taking the time to read a novel she picked up from a book store in the previous town she was in. Occasionally, she glanced up from her book, usually when something caught her attention, like a conductor checking tickets or someone getting up to go to the bathroom.

Since it was night, the three seats around her were empty, which unfortunately caught the attention of some wandering passengers. Without being invited, a man sat down next to her and two across from her, surrounding her from all sides. Instantly, she felt uncomfortable and on edge... Looking up at them, she sighed, and closed her book.

"Hey, beautiful," the one next to her said, leaning in way too close. Ryoko instinctively leaned back, lifting the book to cover her nose from his bad breath. The second one chuckled, "She don't like you, man. Bet she'll like me." Ryoko rolled her eyes, moving to stand up, but was stopped when when a boot from the man across from her was pressed against her stomach. Ryoko sat down, gripping the train arm, trying to keep control.

AKIRA TAIRITSU

The silence of the train was slightly refreshing, feeling the touch of thin paper against his thumb whilst two fingers held a leatherbound backbone of an older book. It was an older take on Dracula, authentic and easily held an aroma of pine as the slightly marred pages only granted it a slight charm. It didn’t take an astute individual though to note the violet beauty that stood out as every ray of sunlight formed a shimmering silhouette, forcing his attention ever so briefly.

She was cute and reading a book.

Only for his gold iris to refocus back on the tantalizing pages, yet information and idle thoughts came to an abrupt halt once a certain trio elected to harass this woman. Akira didn’t consider himself a hero, though such reading time was getting rarer by the minute. The point which lips parted into sterner words were as the boot rested on Ryoko’s stomach.

"Gentleman, whilst I confess it is understandable you’re lulled by such beauty I believe it is men or women she’d seek to court, not Apes. There is a zoo nearby so I do ponder if they’re missing exhibitions, it’d be a shame if such rarities had to be….”

He glanced in their direction as the book closed softly.

"Put to rest.”

Ryoko was calm and focused on the fool that had his boot against her stomach. If she really wanted to, she could break his leg, but she knew that would only draw her closer to losing control. It was the new voice that caught her attention. She looked over to a white haired man, taking note of the rather flowery way he talked. She saw his book, his posture, the look in his eyes… Attractive, polite, high-class vernacular… Intriguing.

"Uh... What? Did... Did he just call us apes?"

"He said somethin' about a zoo or somethin', I don't know."

"Hey fella, you got somethin' to say?"

As the man holding her down shifted to look over to Akira, his boot pressed harder into her stomach, making it a little uncomfortable for her to breathe. She glanced up to the overhead storage, where her sword was, and regretted her decision to keep it out of sight...

AKIRA TAIRITSU

There was a soft exhale, unfortunate that such individuals lacked self preservation instincts. Akira could tell this woman could have brought all three to heel already yet elected not too, mercy? Something more? It didn’t matter. He shifted to rise now, a hand moving to tug at the cuff of his pearly overcoat and began to make his way over to the trio with a gentle smile.

"It was foolish of me to attempt to communicate as if we’re of similar stock, allow me to rectify my mistake by breaking down this language barrier.”

He coughed softly before a leg raised for his shoe to strike at the man’s other leg, aiming to buck it due to the angle and absolute idiocy on letting it be so unstable whilst the hardbound leather backbone of his book shifted to strike the bridge of anothers nose! It was only after did Akira bring his gaze to the unharmed third which resided beside Ryoko, a tilt of his head proceeding.

"Understand or shall I reiterate?”

Ryoko was attempting to mentally ground herself when the Gentleman came to her rescue. She was quickly freed, and the man yelled out in pain. Ryoko’s leg came up under the man’s jaw, her heel pressed into it so hard he couldn’t open his mouth, forcefully muffling his screams and keeping him pinned there. The second man groaned, yelling, “FUCK, MAN” as he held his nose and blood quickly soaked his hand and the front of his shirt. The final man froze, eyes wide, legs shaking, jaw dropped.

Ryoko was still silent, leg still stretched with her heel pinning the man by his jaw. She crossed her arms, watching the cowering man to see what he would do next. It took the coward a few seconds to realize they weren't attacking again. He got up, tripping over his own feet three times as he ran down the aisle. With him gone, Ryoko removed her heel from the man's jaw and immediately shoved it into his gut, causing him to bend over in pain, holding his stomach. Ryoko stood and stepped into the aisle.

"You'll pay for this, bitch!" the Coward seemed to gain some confidence as he disappeared beyond the second door of the next section of train. Ryoko blinked, her demeanor strangely calm, and then looked to the Gentleman.

"Thank you. I appreciate the help."

AKIRA TAIRITSU

Don’t kill him.

Akira had to restrict his actions, electing to crack his neck whilst watching Ryoko’s own firm method of revenge. Curious. It did have a certain charm to it though witnessing them scurry off was better than handling their situation, though it was a quick flick as a handkerchief flowed into the palm and offered to Ryoko.

"For your heel. I don’t think it should be marred by the touch of imbeciles, alas no need to offer thanks. It’s a tiresome thing to witness insecurity combined with self aggrandization accost a woman of your calibre, I admire your restraint. Truly.”

He then glanced at the opposite end.

"Would you like to adjourn to a different cart, buy you something so you may enjoy your book in peace?”

Smooth.

Ryoko nodded as she took the handkerchief and did as he suggested, wiping the blood from her heel. Assuming he didn’t want it back, she tossed it at Broken Nose, who was using his shirt to stop the bleeding.

“Thank you,” she spoke with a low, tranquil voice.

Opening the overhead storage, she pulled out her katana, a rather large ornately decorated weapon and placed it back where it belonged, on her side. She then gave the Gentleman a nod and was ready to move when a voice yelled into the cart. Ryoko looked back over her shoulder.

"You done fucked up!" Coward returned with a line of men that Ryoko couldn't count. "Told you, you're gonna pay." The Coward moved out the way and that line of men in suits with glasses began entering the cart.

AKIRA TAIRITSU

Akira’s gaze lingered a little on violet as his head tilted in an offer of thankfulness, moving to offer a gesture with the right hand until hearing a rather familiar tone. Well. That was an interesting development, a soft exhale departing his soft lips whilst each shoulder rotated to begin shrugging off the white overcoat, an idle glance revealed smaller scarring around the forearm which tensed in anticipation, beginning to speak whilst folding the attire.

"Gentleman, I struck two of your assumed colleagues down with a leatherbound book and idle irritants to disturbing my peace alongside that of the beauty to my side. I’d like you all to use but a fragment of your ability to think and listen to that gut instinct, because now she’s watching and I’m a man who performs very well under pressure.”

The overcoat finally folded neatly and was placed onto the side, neck cracking before bringing his gaze to the trail of suited men before him, uttering in a hushed tone for Ryoko’s ear.

"Forgive my bravado, I wish not to insult your skill in combat but should you desire to abstain then I will not blame you…Though I do have a few more handkerchiefs.”

The offer of more handkerchiefs was tempting, but Ryoko could tell she was walking the edge. If she fell off that edge and shifted, she wasn’t sure anyone on this train would survive... Was she willing to risk it?

“Look at this fucker talkin’ about this bitch like she anything more than a two-cent whore," Coward yelled, laughing like the cocky son of a yakuza.

Yes, she was willing to risk it. Ryoko narrowed her eyes, a slight irritation showing after being called something so... insulting. Grabbing the sheath below the guard, she prepared to fight. The first two guys pushed the Coward to the side and came forward with their fists up.

Guy 1: This man was large, well-built, and broad. He rushed forward, closing the distance between him and Akira. Two quick punches were aimed toward the white haired man's head.

Guy 2: Ignoring the female, moved in beside Guy 1 and put brass knuckles on, aiming a good punch to his side. Ryoko, however, interrupted such a thing, smacking her sheath against the man's wrist. "Don't ignore me," she said, immediately raising her sheathed sword up in a strong swing, striking him under the chin like she did the last guy.

Guy 3: This agile man suddenly burst forward, maneuvering around the brawl with unnatural speed. He didn't attack, just repositioned behind the two. "Shouldn't of hit the boss' kid... I hate having to deal with this shit."

AKIRA TAIRITSU

This was about to get violent. Very well.

Akira glanced at Ryoko briefly, noticing the thrust of her sheathe that brought a man to heel with a relatively swiftness and a crunch of bone. Whoever she was? Struggled to confine their conflicting desires it would seem, a stress he could relate too due to the unwelcome monstrosity that writhed at his core. Woah. Big guy. Isamu is still larger and he had already considered methods to handle muscle heads. Let the game begin.

The burlier figure shifted to swing his fists though found the figure ducking, bringing a fist into the crotch and whilst he reeled in anguish, the vizard found his body darting upward, knee colliding with the bridge of the nose, a hand grasping an ear as it slammed the disorientated sack of muscle’s temple into the edge of the seats. One down.

Another burst behind, golden iris though followed like a predator with prey and whilst landing a twist of the body saw him using the overcoat to distract the gentleman from behind! No doubt mid monologue before the man launched a vicious knee to the solar plexus, followed by an elbow to the temple which saw the man drop shortly after. His final movement? A heel to the head that caused the cranium to meet the floor.

"Speeches after you’ve acquired victory, not before.”

He shifted his gaze to two individuals who intended to take their place, a hand moving to hover near Ryoko’s waist whilst a gentle muttering followed suit.

"Forgive my insistence in handling this but I believe it best if you relax for a moment.!.”

Akira didn’t waste anytime after this, grabbing the hair of the guy with the broken nose who had been writhing already and dragged his features in front of an incoming kick before thrusting him onto the guy, though taking a left hook to the cheek by the second. That brief window that he could focus on one though was a saving grace, delivering a jab to the throat and a harsh kick to the chest, which saw them fall to the floor. It was shortly after that his right hand moved to hook onto a dangling hoop that was used for stability for those standing, lifting himself up to deliver a violent knee into the man under his friend, directly in the solar plexus before a violent fist drove down to bust his lip.


He found the foot of the fifth trying to piston into his cranium, though his left forearm took the blow whilst the right hand raised to push upward, causing him to fall onto his back, only for three brutal strikes of Akira’s heel to crunch into the stomach, a final one within the ribcage. Finally it left the final man and that fucking coward, a trickle of blood moving down the corner of his lip though spoke with an aerie smile and patient tone.

"Gentleman…You’ve sullied this woman's air with a foulness that I can’t tolerate, violets should not wilt due to the stench of pollution by sub-par people at best. Atleast animals contribute to an environment. I’m sure forgiveness can be granted once- ”

A few shuffles followed into the left pocket, taking out two coins.

"You have paid for your accusation. ”