Bait

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn wasn't a patrolman, nor did he ever aspire to be one. He was the guardian of his country in the sense that he would respond immediately to dire threats but he had never been the man to watch every village one by one and butt his head into every squabble he saw. Despite that, he had a keen eye for trouble and countless thoughts about what justice was supposed to be--so, he tended to intervene in problems when they presented themselves if only because of the fickle nature of what justice looked like to him.

Two farmers were arguing over a fairy mound, claiming ownership over a magic bow that sprung out of it. It had been hovering in the air, moving around on occasion from their perspective. Cu Chulainn, puzzled, wondered if the two men were fools--as there was clearly a man in white attire holding the damned thing. He stepped down from his horse to approach the two in the middle of their quarrel, watching the bowman, who was ignoring them as he read from a thin piece of paper held up in front of him. The two men didn't notice the bowman at all.

The bowman met eyes with Cu Chulainn, perplexed.

"You can see me?"

"Yeah. You can call me Cu Chulainn and... I'm curious. Never seen an archer carry that kind of bow, before."

Their exchange of words was brief, if not polite on Cu Chulainn's end. The farmers backed off immediately when they saw Cu Chulainn speaking to what they presumed was a demented ghost clutching the bow and ran when the bow lifted and fired, trying to take off Cu Chulainn's head from the neck. The young man let out a terse sigh, unstrapping his spear from his back after avoiding the volley before making a bit more effort to close the gap and stride towards him. The dark-haired archer was stunned that his shot hadn't landed and even more so when the following dozen bolts were parried and redirected just as easily. He jumped up and kicked the bowman square in the chest, dropping him to the ground before there had been a few popping sounds.

Strange. It didn't sound like the sound of bones breaking--he didn't think he kicked hard enough to do that. The bowman stumbled back, coughing and wheezing, his eyes bulging open as he buried his hand in his clothing to pull out a vial. The thing had broken in the center and little white tablets fell to the ground, dissolving. The shocked expression he wore spoke more about what happened than whatever he could pull out with his strange accent.

"I--I can't stay here!"

He threw a capsule to the ground, blinding light shining and catching Cu Chulainn off guard. He stepped back, vanishing into a tear in thin air, just as a few more of the tablets landed on the ground where he had been standing. Cu Chulainn rubbed under his eyes before stepping over to the remaining tablets, picking them up with a scowl.

"What a pain--fairy mounds are just troubling these days. Nothing good comes out of the damned things anymore--"

As if proving him right, a dozen or so howling voices rose up in the woods, the town, and the mountains all at once. Screaming farmers and milling people came shortly after, clearly bothered by the owners of those inhuman howls. His irritated scowl deepened and he ran off, away from the mound and towards the sound of trouble, "Speak of the devil... and he'll come crawling right away, huh?"

Comments

[goneonenight]

She steps back as he flexes his hands, surprised to see how quickly he recovers. Even as her spell was working, she could feel it taking affect more quickly than usual.

But Cu Chulainn's rapid healing is forgotten as he continues, his expression somewhat grim as he makes it clear that finding their way back to Seireitei is going to be no easy feat. Whoever had gone to the trouble of stopping them here will almost certainly be willing to do as much once they see the duo trying to circumvent the block.

"All right." She doesn't look happy, but she's accepted that this is how it is, and is already resolved to see it through. "So where do we start looking? And--"

Hunger curls in her stomach a split second before she hears it growl, audibly enough for Cu Chulainn to hear. Embarrassment flashes over her face for a second, and she slaps an arm over her belly as if it would make any bit of difference.

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn, briefly lost in thought, had been considering the possibility that if he went in one fairy mound to return Yoruichi--he'd probably end up in another part of the world entirely when he came back around. That thought, while concerning, didn't seem to change his mind at all about helping her. Unreasonable promises were regular for him.

That aside, his train of thought derailed as a croaking noise interrupted him. Yoruichi's question didn't last long in mind as he discovered something new.

"Spirits can get hungry?"

And, apparently, they didn't like sharing it.

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi huffs out a long sigh, deliberately lowering her arm from her stomach. "Some of us, yeah. Regular spirits just get thirsty but if you have a lot of spiritual energy, you have to eat just like humans do."

She frowns. Given her background, she's never had to worry about where her next meal would come from, and it's not a feeling she enjoys. She pauses, looking apprehensive before she speaks again.

"I didn't bring any money, but if you know where I can get some food, I can pay you back when I get home." Yoruichi can take care of herself, but here in this place, she's at a serious disadvantage. She doesn't know the customs or the magic they use, and most regular humans probably won't even be able to see her. It puts her off balance, and she can't help but try to keep the scales as level as she can.

[red_branch]

"Oh."

There was a certain quality to learning something that turned out to be exceptionally trivial. For some reason, it was clear that Yoruichi didn't like admitting it--at least, that was what he thought original. Gawking at her, Cu Chulainn found himself barking out a laugh the moment she offered repayment.

"Hah!" Realizing what he did without thinking, Cu Chulainn raised his hands in apology. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting to hear anything like that at all. If anything--it's kind of a relief."

He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb, still perplexed but he had an impression of how she must have felt. Offering to pay--it was probably an issue of pride. So, maybe she'd appreciate something else.

"That said, there's no need to worry about money. My uncle lives nearby and he's always fine with feeding guests--especially the sort who help out the local villages."

[goneonenight]

His laugh makes her bristle, but his apology mollifies her somewhat. Having grown up around other spirits, she doesn't see anything strange about the fact that she needs to eat. She needs to sleep and use the bathroom too, just like anyone else would. Maybe the spirits here are different?

"If you're sure he doesn't mind." She doesn't like being dependent on a stranger, but it's not as though she has much choice. Her only other option is going hungry and sleeping on the ground until she can make her way back to Soul Society.

She hesitates, then speaks anyway, giving in to her curiosity. "Why is it a relief that I eat?"

[red_branch]

Placing two fingers in his mouth, Cu Chulainn let out a sharp whistle and called for his horses, "Blackie! Grey! Come on, it's time to go home for the night!

He didn't bother asking if Yoruichi could ride.

Finally, he answered her question, having used his chance to whistle for his horses as an excuse to look for a good response. In truth, he had no idea what gave him the impression that spirits didn't eat. It was probably an issue in story-telling that spirits never ate or slept because their impression was that, lacking bodies, they didn't have the same weaknesses as people.

"Well, I guess it's the stories I've heard as a boy. I always thought spirits were restless, always looking for the path to their next life and didn't have the same needs as they did when they were alive," One misconception leads to another and he offered Yoruichi a shrug, matching her curiosity with more of his own. He wasn't usually the type to ask so many questions but it seemed like a good chance to learn. Scathach resided in the realm of the dead but he never really hunted spirits down for conversations. "I mean, do you remember being alive? You must have heard stories about spirits then."

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi blinks as his horses run to his side, as well-trained as any dogs. She knows what horses are, but they're hardly common in Soul Society. These are the first she's seen in person. Their coats are glossy over smooth muscle, and their long faces are actually somewhat endearing. Her face lights up, and she wonders if they would mind being pet.

She's reaching out a tentative hand to touch one of their flanks when Cu Chulainn's question registers. "When I was--no, I'm not--" She pulls her hand back, shaking her head.

"I'm not dead," she says, her voice a little sharp. "I was born in the afterlife, just like the rest of my family.

[red_branch]

The grey horse, seemingly oblivious, made no motion to move when Yoruichi reached out to touch him. He did seem to follow her with his eyes when she pulled her hand back--almost disappointed. The black-maned horse tailing around Cu Chulainn seemed to make a noise of impatience. Cu Chulainn, tapping the snout of the horse sneaking around him without looking, chided him.

"Come on, don't make me the mature one, here."

Yoruichi's response pried a similar reaction out of him.

"Wait, so--" He couldn't say he expected something like that. Cu Chulainn had seated himself through weird enough things that day but did sound a little surprised. "So, you're a spirit that was born a spirit? That puts a weird spin on the cycle of death."

[goneonenight]

"Does it?" Yoruichi frowns in concentration; it seems natural to her, having grown up with it. "When humans die, they come to Soul Society."

She reaches out a hand again, carefully patting the grey horse's neck. "But if you die there, you're reincarnated into the living world. The souls going back and forth keeps everything in balance."

The horse seems to like it, so she keeps it up, her movements more assured. "How do your spirits work, then?"

[red_branch]

There was a definitive pause and stillness in Cu Chulainn that showed just how taken aback he was. It wasn't very often that someone came up to him and told him what would happen if he died. The mystery of the afterlife was always something that bordered on speculation even with the minute evidence that magic gave them. So, in the end--

"Well--I guess I don't know my ass from my elbow! All I've ever heard were stories and, usually, they came from my drunk uncles."

He placed one hand against the back of Blackie's mane and threw his leg over--seating himself on the horse's back. He snapped his fingers and Grey leaned his head down, giving a grunt of irritation. It was clear he wanted to have the petting continue. Grey kept his head low so Yoruichi could get on his back.

"But, I'm sure you can tell me more about it over dinner. Ready?"

[goneonenight]

It's strange that he doesn't know any more--Yoruichi had just assumed that since he could see spirits, he'd be more knowledgeable than the average human. But she doesn't see the harm in what she's told him.

The horse, who'd been happy enough to be pet, seems annoyed now that it's time to go. Yoruichi blinks, bemused when she realizes he's waiting for her to mount. Suddenly, the cute horse seems alien all over again.

"Oh, you want me to--" She shakes her head, giving the horse another pat before stepping back. "No, I can keep up on foot."

She's never been on a horse in her life, and she has no idea how to go about it. It's easier just to run herself--she can't imagine they can go any faster than she can. And hell if she's going to make a fool of herself by falling off--today's been bad enough without that added humiliation.

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn swallowed hard, looking a little nervous at the idea. Yoruichi's reluctance threw him just more off than he might normally have been surprised.

"Well, I--"

"Hm," Thinking on it, he realized that going home on horseback with a noble lady following him on foot would make him look like a horrible host. Even if she would easily catch up, it was likely his mother would crack him over the head with something over bad manners. You made her walk the whole way!?


So, he threw his leg back over Blackie's flank and dropped back to the dirt, grinning through his worry. Yoruichi didn't seem ill-mannered about it but he got the quick impression that it wasn't worth bugging her about.

"I guess we'll jog, then! It may even be better for me--I tend to doze off on Blackie's back, anyway."

With a quick whistle, he sent Grey and Blackie off, the two horses bolting with a rumble of the earth as they went off back toward the castle.

[goneonenight]

Setanta gives her a strained smile, seemingly lost for what to do. He hesitated, then sends the horses off with a command. Both look set off obediently, looking eager to get back to their stalls.

"Why'd you send them home? I don't mind if you ride, I've just never been on one before." She idly fiddles with the sword at the small of her back, then forces herself to stop fidgeting.

Yoruichi has no idea how far his uncle's house is--maybe it's too far for a human to walk? It doesn't occur to her that having a guest show up on foot while he rides would be seen as a massive breach of hospitality.

[red_branch]

He couldn't help but feel the need to fight off a little bit of exasperation--mostly with himself. The young prince knew better than to try and make everyone go with his flow all the time--he was supposed to have been broken out of that habit years ago. When he realized he was putting Yoruichi on the spot, he offered her a little shrug.

"Horses and cattle are a pretty big deal for humans," He replied honestly to Yoruichi, leaning down to loosen one of the buckles on his shin-guards. Whether or not it would be a short jog for them didn't matter--nobody wanted to pull a hamstring when they were eager to look dignified in front of a pretty girl.

"If I showed up on my mount with you walking behind me with Grey lacking a rider, it'd make you look like a servant of mine rather than a guest. If you rode against my back, you'd also look more like my future betrothed--at least to my mother."

The humor in him came back with that.

"And, while I'm not entirely throwing up a white flag on that--I'd rather not bug you with that woman's harping."

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi huffs. "Good, I'd rather not be rude to your mother." It's easy enough to refuse Setanta, but while she'd manage to do the same with his mother, it's harder to do so and remain polite as a guest in another woman's home.

She watches him adjust his shin-guards, then blinks as something occurs to her. "Will the people at your house be able to see me?" The warriors here had, but they'd seemed trained in techniques that allowed them to do so.

[red_branch]

"Y'know" Drawling slightly, Cu Chulainn was forced to look aside in thought. He thought he would have a quicker answer but it took a little bit of time to process when he actually considered how many people were in the castle. If it were his own castle, that wouldn't be much of a question. The halls of his castle were warded and would have exposed any spirit striding through but he hadn't considered Emain Macha at all.

"Uncle and my mother definitely will. Old man Cathbad won't have any trouble. If Fergus is here for the evening, he shouldn't have any trouble."

Briefly considering Fergus, Cu Chulainn seemed to scowl for a moment. He didn't hate his old uncle but something told him that the guy would make a move on Yoruichi the second he saw her, regardless of whether or not she was walking around with him. Even if he didn't like acting possessively, Cu Chulainn immediately wondered if she had a thing for older men--something he'd never be able to contend with if it came down to his complete and utter inability to grow a beard.

"As for the warriors and servants, well... A couple mixed in will probably be able to see you but if it's an issue, we can just use a few spells to end that inconvenience."

[goneonenight]

"It's up to you," Yoruichi shrugs. "I just didn't want to get there and have everything think you were crazy." Her stomach growls again, and she stops herself from curling an arm around her waist.

"Which way is it?" She manages to speak without blushing; it's not like she doesn't get plenty of food at home, but she rarely has to wait for it once she wants it. Her body is clearly making its objections known to the unusual delay. "And why don't you tell me about your family as we go?"

No sense walking in completely blind. Cu Chulainn may not mind her being there, but that doesn't guarantee his family wil lfeel the same way.

[red_branch]

"Well!"

At least it was a little refreshing to realize that Yoruichi's stomach was impatient for her. When he heard the latest rumble, he couldn't quite hide his smile in time.

If she was getting bored standing around, then she had been all too polite to tell him about it. So, he hopped up on his feet and began walking south--adjusting every few steps as he let his eyes linger on the direction of the sun. It was setting by then and dinner would be served and finished once it was fully down but he doubted they would miss it.

His trotting got faster and faster, pushing into a jog and then into a sprint that would leave most winded--figuring she'd follow easily along.

"Emain Macha is south of here! It's our nation's capital. As for my family... What type of story is your favorite to hear? We've got a bunch but we'll only have time for one if you're as fast as I think you are."

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi doesn't miss his smile, but thankfully he doesn't say anything--embarrassment and hunger might have made her snappish.

Instead, he heads off, gradually increasing his speed until he's running flat out. It's a ground-eating stride that he maintains easily, and it's just as simple for her to keep up, even without shunpo.

"I like funny stories, and stories with fighting," she replies, not at all out of breath as they run. "Who will I see besides your uncle and your mother?"

[red_branch]

"Oh, you're liable to see more than you like," There was a derisive laugh at that from Cu Chulainn, though nothing too mean. By his estimate of Yoruichi, he imagined plenty of his cousins would wear her patience thin and even more likely wouldn't work up the nerve to talk to her. It could have been that slight edge to her that kept him excited to keep talking, even if he couldn't quite vocalize it.

"So, I've got one--the story of my king!" The swift run they were in the middle of didn't seem interrupted at all by passersby--as Cu Chulainn made it an issue to take the 'long' way around to work in a longer chat with Yoruichi. She wouldn't notice, he imagined.

"I'll ruin it with my poor story-telling skills but--" He went into some lavish depth on Conchobor's coronation as king: how Cathbad seduced Princess Nessa with the promise that their child would become king and how she raised their child to be royalty until they tricked Fergus into giving up his kingdom for a year. After gaining the favor of the farmers, the smiths, and the warriors--Conchobor built a reputation so everyone wanted him to stay the king even after the agreement was done. Furious, Fergus challenged Conchobor to a duel and lost, giving up his kingdom before retiring to a neighboring country to seduce the Queen and settle down.

"'Course, Uncle Fergus visits on the regular even if he acts frustrated every time he comes around. It's pretty apparent that he doesn't have it in him to really go for Conchobor's neck, anymore."

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi remains alert of her surroundings as they travel, but is still drawn into Cu Chulainn's tale. Fergus seems kind of dumb to have given up his throne for any reason; even if he wound up getting another one, having been ousted with his own unwitting agreement has to still sting.

"He still visits?" Yoruichi blinks, lengthening her stride to jump over a tree root. "Why? I'd think he'd just want to stay away and forget it happened." Most men are so touchy about their pride, after all.

[red_branch]

"Who really knows?"

Honestly, it was a bad idea to let Fergus hang around the way they did. It might have seemed arrogant on Conchobor's part, letting Fergus walk around his fortress as a former rival. Even worse--Cu Chulainn took a vow to surrender any time Fergus presented his weapon in person, so even his kingdom's champion couldn't prevent an attack. Despite all that, it seemed to be working out, though.

"Maybe he's attached to a cook or a lady on our grounds. He's always been the simple sorta guy who's only really cared about food and women."

Gradually, he began slowing down. In the distance, a fortress presented itself--something of a fixture that overtook part of the mountain. It was made of walls of stone and large stone towers that melded into the hills and the walls of a cliff.

"By the way, that's it--my uncle's place. Unfortunately, we've got wards against spirits on the walls, so we gotta go through the front gate."

[goneonenight]

What a strange place. Yoruichi couldn't imagine the same scenario playing out in Seireitei. If anyone had been dumb enough to be tricked into abdicating, they certainly wouldn't keep showing their face after the fact. No sense intentionally subjecting yourself to that sort of ridicule, public or not.

Yoruichi's eyes widen as the castle comes into view. It's not like any building she's ever seen. It's heavy and dark, and it also looks graceless compared to the building style she'd grown up with.

Still, it's impressive. She'd bet it's secure and easy to defend, as well.

"Wow." She makes a note of the wards; it'll be an issue if she ever needs to leave in a hurry, but she can't expect them to adjust their defenses just for one guest. "Is this how most castles look in your country?"

A call goes up from the walls as they approach; by habit, her eyes mark where the sentries stand, as well as the position of any defenses. With any luck, she won't need the information, but old habits die hard.

[red_branch]

"Not really. This is a stronghold fortress, so it's meant to stop armies," He commented offhandedly, giving the front sentries a wave as he walked right by them with Yoruichi. He curled his fingers in the air and removed a few seals on the main gate to keep Yoruichi from getting warded off. Most village seals would have stung her a bit, he imagined--but Emain Macha's seals were meant to stave off things as scary as demons and the fae. She probably wouldn't have liked dealing with it. The sentries didn't pay Cu Chulainn too much mind. They were busy chatting with traders and farmers looking to get into the fortress for work, shelter, and food. A few of the sentries seemed spooked by Yoruichi, even if they most didn't see her.

At the very least, Cu Chulainn noticed Yoruichi's wandering eye. Her initial interest had been in the size of the place, he imagined, so it seemed interesting that he caught her glancing at defensive points. That was warlike training that went well beyond what an exorcist should have focused on. Needless to say, he had his already piqued interest in her livened.

"Anyway, the main dining hall is right down this ro--"

He was cut off by a sudden crack of a wooden stave against his nose. There was a crunch as his nose broke and he stumbled back a step. Funny enough, he didn't look surprised. If anything, he looked nonplussed by being bludgeoned in the face.

"Old man," He spoke up, giving a robed, wisened looking old man a dejected look. "What gives at this time of day?"

The 'old man' bore absolutely no presence of power and, by all means, looked like a stiff wind would blow him over. Even so, Cu Chulainn didn't like looking him in the eye.

"Boy, your attitudes been gettin' worse with me. Call me 'Old Man' and I'll send you to the medics for new teeth!" He shifted his gaze to Yoruichi, keeping his eyes on hers. "Explain yourself, boy. Why're you leading a soul reaper into your uncle's home? Is there a problem with your pants? Do we need to sew the blasted things to you?"

[goneonenight]

As she'd thought, most of the sentries didn't seem to see her at all. Which would make this visit awkward if Cu Chulainn hadn't assured her of a way around it. She also notes the attitudes of the soldiers and civilians--they seem healthy and content enough--none of the cringing and sullen fear to be seen with rulers who care more for their purses than their people.

Maybe this place won't be so bad after--

The attack comes from nowhere, from a man who looks like she could snap him over one knee. She can't explain his animosity--towards her or Cu Chulainn. For his part, he looks used to it, not even fazed by the blood pouring from what is almost certainly a broken nose.

Not only can this man see her, but he's none too happy to have her in the house. Her temper, all too easily roused on a good day, snaps quite decisively.

"I am here as a guest," Yoruichi snarls, her hands on her hips. "I don't know what your problem is with shinigami, but my intentions are peaceful." Considering the way she'd bitten out that last word, one might be forgiven for doubting her.

Her voice starts to climb, heedless of whether anyone surrounding them could hear. "And maybe you let people paw all over you just because they invited you to dinner but some of us have standards, you ass." She glares right back at him, refusing to show the usual respect for an elder to someone who would insult her with no reason.

The nerve of this man, assuming just spread her legs for Cu Chulainn just because she'd walked in with him. It's not as though she's never been insulted or condescended to just because she's a woman before, but it still pisses her off every time.