The Hearts of the People (Kiyoshi/???)

[Delilah A. Black]

The dawn was just beginning to come over the horizon, its light masked by a light gray blanket of cloud. In the distance, what little of the sun that could be seen shone red and yellow through the overcast sky, like an ember glowing in the distance through a sheet of ash. There had been many fires in the days since the bombs had fallen: some were still burning, all these months later. It seemed fitting that the sun would reflect that in the sky, far above the earth that smoldered beneath it. Delilah knew that it was in those fires that change would come. The sun did not stop moving to contemplate the fires blazing down below. Humanity was much the same. It continued and begat itself. Time made no amends for disasters or for the dead, for those who suffered. It marched on, dragging everyone else with it. The fires were dying or had died already in these people. They were left with the ashes of the life they used to lead, their hopes, their desires, their families. It was time to light a spark in the people again. Provide tinder to the fading coals.

That all seemed very abstract to Delilah, but it felt true nonetheless.

She jogged up the stairs to Kiyoshi’s room, trying to get her blood up and to shake off the desire to sleep. She had been up the entire night talking with “Unfettered”. Taking direction was more like it, actually,[/i] she thought with a smirk, delicately sidestepping a broken piece of stair before continuing her pace upward. It had been an eye opening conversation, to say the least. This was important for the future here and not just for the Crows.

Let’s hope Kiyoshi feels that way, too, She alighted upon the landing neatly, the door leading to the Zero’s room only just ahead of her. Delilah cocked her head to the side and slowly inhaled, tasting the salt from the nearby sea on the air, listening for noises within. She heard nothing. Was he still sleeping? It was possible: Delilah knew it was early. She hadn’t even had the chance to change out of her black tank top and jeans from the day before. This had to be dealt with as soon as possible, before Kiyoshi became busy for the day.

Stifling a yawn, Delilah raised her hand and knocked on the door in light raps. If it went unanswered the first time, she would wait about thirty seconds then knock again. Wait twenty seconds, knock again. Ten seconds. Knock. Five? Keep knockin'.

If he hadn’t opened the door by then, Delilah would saunter backwards slowly, judging the distance between herself and the door. She would weigh her options; either the man wasn’t home or he was deliberately ignoring her. I would too, at this hour. she sighed inwardly. She could either kick the door down, which would be easy but was not at all polite not that ignoring someone at the door was impolite at all, or she could draw him out on his own accord.

Instead, if he hadn’t already opened the door by this point, she would inhale sharply and collect herself, closing her eyes. Her eyes would fly open upon her exhaling as she shoved, pushing a killer intent at the door, emanating the aura that all fighters do when they’re on the cusp of attacking with everything they’ve got. Anyone wary enough would be able to sense it if they were nearby, almost as a prickle on the back of their neck indicating an impending danger. She would try that for about a minute and, failing that, she would pound on the door persistently until the man answered.

If and when Kiyoshi opened the door or found the door lying on the ground depending on when he got to it, he would find Delilah standing there, smiling cheerfully. “Oh good, you’re up! Ohaiyo-gosaimasu, Akechi-sama. May I come in?” [/size]

[Deleted]

No one could really know Kiyoshi's schedule for a certainty as he was nothing if not erratic. However, due to certain circumstances, Delilah had lucked out and caught him while he was in his room, awake, and sober. This didn't mean he'd open the door, which he didn't. Instead Delilah's first knock would be met with a call from inside.

"It is open."

It was always open as the Crows' leader kept an open door policy, any member could come see him at any time. It was how he ran things. Regardless, upon entering, Delilah would see him sitting in the lotus position in a meditative state. The light shown through the window behind him, casting an oddly serene glow over him. Kiyoshi sat there with just a pair of loose fitting pair of sweatpants and his sword laid across his lap. He slowly opened his eyes to gaze at newcomer.

"How can I help you, Dee?"

Someone had a new pet/nickname.

[Delilah A. Black]

"It is open."

Delilah opened the door swiftly, but still stood just beyond the threshold, eyes darting over the apartment, her body tense until she could determine there was no threat aside from the Zero with a sword in his lap. An old habit made all the more necessary with time. She relaxed a moment later and strode in casually, eyes traveling over the meditating Japanese man in the centre of the room, resting on the sword, and then wandering over his upper body. He healed up nicely, she decided, checking a box in her mind.

Smiling slightly, Delilah sat with her legs under her about five feet in front of him, waiting patiently for him to finish his reflections, very much aware that she was in his living space: even the air in here was different, almost palpable. She felt a twinge of jealously, wishing she had been able to meditate. Alas, the past few days had been rather hectic for the mechanic. When he opened his eyes, Delilah would smile and incline her head respectfully to him.

"How can I help you, Dee?"[/b][/size]

Her smile widened at the nickname, causing her to emit a light laugh. “Sorry to disturb you, at this hour, sir. There were some things I wanted to discuss with you.

“I’m here on “Unfettered”’s behalf, acting as his emissary or ambassador or whatever-else-people-are-called for the time being. He wanted me specifically for this: I’m not quite sure why, but I’m sure it will make sense eventually*. He had some advice he wanted me to impart. Ahem…” Delilah took a moment to collect herself. When she next opened her mouth, she would be speaking in a good imitation of “Unfettered”’s speech, complete with his accent and particular inflections. She would never be able to nail the baritone depth of his voice, but c’est la vie. It was close enough.

“‘Ve have been building up our base of power und training. Ve have sufficient power to help ze people vithin our territory..."

"Now ist ze time to introduce ourselves. Ve must rally them into a meeting, preferably vith food und drink. There, ve shall lay out our plans und communicate vith ze people.’”

She sat back, mildly pleased with herself for being able to remember that with minimal paraphrasing. Delilah switched back to her own voice “He had some suggestions as to what we should do, if you’ll bear with me.” she resumed speaking with her impression of “Unfettered”.


"First, to tell zem who we are. Second, our current position in absence of ze government, for ze time being. Third... ve MUST identify the cause of all their misery: Sean Barker."

"Give them a picture, a name, und they will rally about you so long as you promise them retribution, give them a point to focus zer long begrudged anger."

"Fourth... vat ve can do for them."

"Ze people have been living without anything real law to bind zem. There may have been rape, murder, und vorst... famine."

"Establish simple laws vith Crows at ze center. No murder, no theft, no rape, punishable by death. Ask lawyers, police, judges to help und give advice, but establish your standing of power. Ze people look for leadership, look for strength. Your hopes will alleviate ze people."

"Establish currency. If ve can take claim of a counterfeiting machine, make use of it. Re-establish ze economy, vith Crows setting ze price levels. Money ist not allowed to gain interest in our self-contained economy, because ve do not know ven ze Government will come back to alleviate us und because ve do not vant people holding onto zer money. People must be spending to buy food, work to earn money und help repair infrastructure. Seek economists und uzzer related talented figures for advice."

"If ve are a source of people's freedoms, let zem be heard. Let zem give counsel in this time of heartache, do not let people's voices be stifled. Give ze people incentive to help us, to begin fishing again."

"...Ve shall need them vith our building projects. If ve vant to vin zis var, ve shall need ze people's support."

Delilah exhaled, the gravity of “Unfettered”’s words settling over her again. “I’m sure you’ve already thought about all those things, but it needed to be said. I realize you are a busy man, Akechi-sama, and that this may take some time to implement. If you have any instructions or tasks you would like carried out, I am at your disposal,” she would incline her head to him again, more of a habitual tendency towards politeness than a formality. “However, I personally feel that this is important to the success of the Crows’ position here. We can’t hold onto territory if we don’t have the citizens around us on our side. Everyone is in survival mode right now; they’ll likely take the first offer they get that involves not dying.

“That said, we can’t guarantee that offers haven’t already be made to them, by either Barker or other gangs. If that’s the case, then it’s that much more imperative to our stance here that we get involved with them as soon as possible. Draw the parallels between them and us.” Delilah silenced herself there to prevent herself from rambling, patiently awaiting Kiyoshi's words, no matter how long it would take.

OOC : *-insert meaningful glance at the fourth wall-.

[Deleted]

A small smile formed on Kiyoshi's lips at the sound of Delilah's laugh, deep down he was the same young man yearning for the freedom of the wind in his hair and the the open road before him. However he had far more important things to tend to these days, heavy burdens to be sure but all taken upon his shoulders willingly. Thus he shook his head at her initial apology as there was no need for it, this is what he was here for... what he was spared for. Regardless the Zero listened to Delilah's relaying of Fett's message intently, inwardly impressed at her impression of him. It was quite good.

After she finished, Kiyoshi sat there in thought for a moment before running his right hand and laughing to himself in a rather low tone. This would continue for a bit before it would finish, leaving Delilah to ponder the cause. Once Kiyoshi wrapped up his little laughing fit he shook his head in disbelief.

"Sometimes I wonder why I'm not following him... or maybe I am."

The comment was said in partial jest, which left part as an actual expression of curiosity. Either way he didn't dwell on it much before continuing.

"It sounds like a fine plan but I wonder how much we can do with our numbers."

Their numbers may have seemed large in comparison to others but they still weren't even one hundred strong. However that would prove they needed assistance from the people. Again Kiyoshi thought for a time about what to do, the best course of action.

"Dee, what do you know about the feudal system from Japan?"

He would wait for her answer upon asking, believing it would be rather in depth given her knowledge of the language though that could be a false assumption. After she finished her answer, Kiyoshi would slake her curiosity about why he asked whether she asked or not.

"Because that is how we will run things... for now."

He couldn't deny a possible change in the future but now they needed stability and control. Of course that didn't mean the people would go unheard, the proper ideal for what Kiyoshi would create is Philosopher King.

"Creating an economy will take time, people won't just jump to another type of money so for the immediate future we will have rely on trading goods for other goods and services. We can switch payment once it starts to take hold. However if an economist can be found, bring them."

One subject down.

"We can expand upon our own code, with the help of any law makers we can find though a book might do just as good, and then pay any officers in the area with food to return to their jobs under the Crows authority."

Two.

"Also have Jazz track down all the construction workers and materials. Our main building and the armory/storehouse are fine but I want to refurbish the other two nearby to create a hospital and a greenhouse. Additionally I want to create a wall that encompasses all four buildings with one gate to the city and guarding access for us to the docks and the sea. I suppose the shipping containers would suffice when stacked two or three high and maybe two deep. I want to make this a fortress where all those who look to use for protection can find safety and shelter."

An idea from the war mind.

"For the hospital, talk to Marina and... I guess Dora, though she might not have the temperament for it, about a list of supplies and finding any medically experienced personnel to run it. Of course, it will be free and open to the public."

Four.

"With the greenhouse we will need people who know plants, and figure out if we can run it in a contained manner or need to open it to the elements. Also planting could be placed outside around it as well. We need to make sure our food source is sustainable for everyone for as long as possible."

Five. Kiyoshi rested a moment waiting to hear Dee's thoughts on everything.

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah’s head tilted slightly to the left and raised an eyebrow as she watched Kiyoshi laugh. She was a little curious, of course, but she waited patiently. If anything, she found it somewhat endearing: she hadn’t really seen the Zero laugh before. Finally, he shook his head.
"Sometimes I wonder why I'm not following him... or maybe I am."

She left her head cocked at its sideways angle although her eyebrow came back down. She wasn’t sure how to react, so she figured it was probably better if she simply didn’t.

"It sounds like a fine plan but I wonder how much we can do with our numbers."[/b]

Delilah nodded her head at that. There were no quick fixes here. The question was: what now?

"Dee, what do you know about the feudal system from Japan?"[/size][/b]

She blinked at that and cast her eyes off to the side as she thought about it, bringing a hand up to rub the back of her bare neck. After a moment, she shrugged and bobbed her head a little, “More than most people, less than others, I’m sure. My knowledge mostly lies in tradition, class systems and customs, you know, bushido, presenting a sword when in the presence of a lord, rights of the ‘peasant’ classes, that sort of thing. Why do you ask?”

"Because that is how we will run things... for now."[/b][/size]

Her bright blue eyes widened at the concept and she leaned back a little, taking that in. As she began to warm to the idea, a slow smile began spreading across her face. Yes. That would work well, actually.

Delilah didn’t dwell on it for long, however, as she was listening intently to Kiyoshi’s thoughts and instructions on the issues she had brought up. She nodded along for the most part as she compiled a mental list of tasks to carry out and things to gather. By the end of it, she knew exactly what she needed and would have to get except for a few minor details she wasn’t one hundred percent on. When he finished, Delilah pursed her lips and laced her hands together beneath her jaw, tapping her chin with both of her index fingers. She was silent for a moment before chuckling.

“I take it this isn’t your first time thinking about the matter,” she smiled. It wasn’t a question – more of a statement of fact than anything else. “Everything sounds good to me and it’s all doable, if a little difficult to accomplish at first. The wall might be one of the hardest things to get started without a lot of man power and resources on our hands, but it’s pretty important. The hospital and the green house, however…you’re absolutely right about us not having enough bodies for this sort of work. For that, we’ll have to mostly rely on the citizens to get us up and running with those two things as well as maintaining it. Of course, both facilities will still be ours, but that’s where the feudal system comes in.” She grinned here as everything began falling into place.

The Japanese feudal system was both similar and very different from the European systems. In Europe, a lord was given both land and a title that he could use as he wanted. The people who lived on the lord’s land and worked it for him were serf’s and lived off of what the lord would provide for them. If a town or a business were built on the lord’s land, the lord would be entitled to a percentage of the profits of the business. European lords also taxed those who lived on their land heavily and were able to take what they wanted from the peasants if they so desired. Peasants were also required to swear an oath of fealty to the lord simply to live there.

The Japanese system, however, was much more fair to the lower classes. The peasants of a Daimyo or a shogun’s land were still required to pay rent for the land they worked, but that was more often paid in food or services to the Daimyo’s household. The people would get a percentage of the food that the land produced based off of how much land was owned by the peasant and how many services were performed for the lord of the land. In exchange, the Daimyo protected the people with the samurai loyal to his service. However, the Japanese class system was very particular about who was doing what. If you were born into a family of tailors, you were going to be a tailor. If you were born to a man who had once been in an army, you were going to be a solider too. There was no ‘doing better’. There was only maintaining the status quo.

Right now, though, society didn’t have a quo of any kind, and that why this was so necessary, if only for the time being.

“If this feudal system is going to work,” Delilah continued, “then we should offer ‘public servants’ our facilities in exchange for services rendered. As for the economy…

“ ‘Ze seed vill not grow if it is not planted’.” She intoned with the German accent and an ironic smile. “I agree with you, though. A barter and trade system is simple and effective, but we can’t keep that up forever and it might not work out all that well, especially for us. We won’t profit much from a barter system, if at all. The money thing on its own simply isn’t doable either; it would make already distressed people desperate. They might turn on each other, or worse, us. Theft or robbery would become a problem for sure. I think…we should do both.

“In exchange for services rendered that aren’t ‘public’ services – producing food, healing, gathering supplies, construction – we should offer coupons or vouchers to the people who are working for us but aren’t acting on our behalf. Then they can come and give these vouchers to the quartermaster for weapons or training, the cooks for food, in exchange for a bed for the night, that sort of thing. I think that the citizens should barter and trade amongst themselves as they please, but they should move to our system of exchange given enough success and time.

“I will gladly carry out these instructions on your behalf. My first priority will be getting the leaders among the citizens to tell people about the rally, and we’ll take it from there.

“Other than that, I must ask one more teeny, tiny thing from you,” She said lightly, her smile became a little devious. She reached into her right pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper with seven names scrawled onto it in Delilah’s messy handwriting. She rested the paper on both of her open palms and held it out for him to take at his leisure.

“You might recognize some of the names you see on this list, Akechi-sama. These seven people range from either entirely useless to us or have caused major problems in our ranks. Every one of them has given someone a major headache at some point. They don’t work well with others, they’re brash, crude and deliberately unhelpful to say the least.

“I’ve been scouting these seven out for some time now and I think I’ve gotten to the point where they trust me, albeit somewhat begrudgingly. But they need a firm hand. If you’ll let me, I’d like to take them off of your hands and make something out of them. I can assure you that, with your permission, I will make them something you can be proud of.” As she spoke, her smile stretched into a diabolical grin, the last few words of her request laced with malevolent glee.

Was Delilah a little crazy? Perhaps. But there was always a method to her madness. Unorthodox methods. Methods her sensei used to impose on her, actually. They were effective, of course…It just made the one implementing them look unreasonably sadistic.

Her grin widened a little further.[/size]

[Deleted]

Kiyoshi sat back and listened as Dee responded to his own list of tasks to be completed, a list that grew with each passing day. He often thought about the future and how they would survive moving forward. There was no guarantee that the government would ever recover, thus they needed to start thinking and moving toward their own city-state. Even in the more immediate future was food and medicine to keep his troops in prime condition to win this war against Barker.

A small smile crept across the Zero's face as she continued to speak, definitely one of Fett's. That man certainly had an amazing eye for talent, which was part of the reason that Kiyoshi had put such effort into recruiting the man. He should probably count his blessings that he'd succeeded. Anyway Kiyoshi had thought to speak when she said she would take care of his instructions but was stopped by a request. He raised his brow in curiosity while nodding for Dee to continue.

He quickly took the list when it was offered to him, looking it over quite abruptly. It wasn't a pleasing discovery to say the least, especially when he offered everyone the chance to run at the start of this but minds can falter. For a moment, Kiyoshi sat quietly while dwelling on everything to make sure his decision would be the right one. He couldn't afford to be too impulsive anymore. Apparently having reached his decision, the Crows leader rose to his feet with the sheath of his katana held firmly in his left hand. The light from the window cast a shadow on the scarred and tattooed torso of the man while adding a strange glow to his back.

"I see..."

In an instant Kiyoshi drew the blade at full speed, halting just before Delilah's neck as a gust of wind came off of it. There was a cold steel in his eyes as he looked down on her for a long moment.

"Do you swear your undying loyalty to the Crows and to me?"

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah watched as he rose to his feet and a chill rippled through her body. She knew that feeling, that aura he was emanating. She tensed without thinking and had a sudden urge to roll away or draw her own knife (which, of course, had been left in her room prior). She forced herself to remain steady, even though the grin had long since fallen from her face.

"I see..."[/size][/b]

For a moment, with the sunlight bending around his frame, he looked almost demonic.

The blade flashed out of its scabbard so quickly that Delilah barely had time to react, not that it mattered. She had remained still in spite of the impulse to avoid the strike that never touched her. The mechanic’s eyes swiveled to the side, looking at the blade that hovered just before her neck, exhaling slowly. As the gust of wind faded, part of her hair had came out of the clip, falling against her skin like ebony feathers.

"Do you swear your undying loyalty to the Crows and to me?"[/b][/size]

She blinked in mild surprise, her eyes flicking upwards to meet his cold blue ones. For only a moment, her eyes were hard chips of ice, a reaction to the intent in the air. Then, her eyes softened although they did not remove from Kiyoshi’s steely gaze, her expression remaining serious. If it was words he wanted, she had them…but Delilah believed staunchly that actions spoke much louder than words, a gesture to go along with her oath. With deliberate slowness, she raised her left hand.

If she were permitted to touch his blade, she would press her left palm lightly against the edge of the katana, not enough to push it away from her but enough to slice through her flesh. The blood would well quickly and the cut would burn like fire, but she did not wince. As one could tell by her myriad of straight scars adorning her arms, Delilah was no stranger to cuts from a blade.

Next, as the blood ran freely down her arm, Delilah reached behind her head and unclipped the rest of her hair, letting it cascade across her shoulders, being very careful not to spill her own blood anywhere but on herself. Again, if she were allowed, she would gather her hair in her hands and wipe her blood from his blade with it. Only after the blade had been cleaned of her blood did she go into her pocket to pull out a (mostly) clean rag and laid it across the wound. Using her teeth, she tied the rag around the palm of her hand to stem the bleeding.

Her reasons for doing this were threefold. The first: a warrior never unsheathed his blade without the intention of drawing blood. In the days of the samurai, if a warrior drew his blade without cutting someone, he would be expected to cut himself as he sheathed it again. The blade of a warrior was a sacred thing and it cried for blood. By cutting herself on Kiyoshi’s sword, Delilah hoped to show the Zero that she valued his blood – and ultimately his life - above her own. Second: she had used her hair to dry his blade, a level of subservience which spoke for itself. Third: Only after she had attended to his welfare did she consider her own by tying off the cut on her hand.

In Delilah’s mind, she was already his vassal. If he had been good enough for “Unfettered” to swear his fealty too, he was more than welcome to hers as well. Not to mention she was the German man's woman (or so to speak) through and through. She was acting on his behalf now. It would not do to reflect on her old friend and boss poorly.

Whether or not she would be permitted to do the above, Delilah would bow her head to him, her eyes shifting slightly lower than his. In a soft voice that somehow carried, she would give him her word.

“Sessha no meiyo-jo no, chikai masu de gosaimasu.”
<On This One’s honor, I swear it.>

SPOILER: Click to show

OOC: This is for context and reference only.

“de gosaimasu” is the most formal way of using “desu” and was most often used by samurai. It’s a strong verb that can mean “it will be done” or “so it shall be”, but is hard to translate in English when out of context.

Delilah's use of "Sessha" here also indicates her subservience. By refering to herself as "this one", she indicates that she is not worthy of refering to herself as "I" or any other stong pronoun. While the Japanese tend to infer that they are speaking about themselves, using "this one" is particularly humbling.

Also: =D?!

[Deleted]

((OoC: I need to learn Japanese... and Gaelic and Arabic.))

Kiyoshi remained still throughout Delilah's display without even a single twitch, though he was impressed with the show. It was a rare find to get a woman like this. Still he remained like a statue with not even the slightest waver in his sword arm. However even as she finished by vocalizing what she'd shown through her actions, Kiyoshi remained still just staring down at her. Slowly his arm began to move, the blade shifted around Delilah's jawline to rest with the flat side underneath the woman's chin. In time a small smirk started to form on his lips.

"Good..."

Delilah would soon feel the blade press up, though not enough to draw blood but a clear indicator for her to raise to her feet. Once she was standing Kiyoshi would sheath his sword before addressing her again rather informally as he often did with anyone.

"Then I hereby raise you to the rank of First within the Crows and appoint you as public liason and domestic officer. Continue with your duties, Dee, and contact me whenever you might need my assistance."

He might have asked in any other situation but this was an order through and through.

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah suppressed a small shudder as the cold steel skated over Delilah’s skin to the underside of her chin, suddenly very aware that this was a killing instrument and that her cut hand was throbbing painfully. She watched Kiyoshi’s stern expression carefully for any changes. After a long while, his lips began to curve upwards.

“Good…”[/size]

A small smile alighted her own lips and her body relaxed somewhat at his reply in Japanese. She rose gracefully with the pressure under her chin to her feet and watched as he sheathed his sword in one fluid motion. She raised an impressed eyebrow, but she knew she shouldn’t be surprised.

This was Kiyoshi Akechi, after all. He was infamous.

"Then I hereby raise you to the rank of First within the Crows and appoint you as public liason and domestic officer. Continue with your duties, Dee, and contact me whenever you might need my assistance."
[/b][/size]

Her sharp blue eyes widened as his words washed over her, uncomprehending. Then, she positively beamed at him with delight and bowed forward at the waist towards him, holding it for a good fifteen seconds. So was so thrilled by the prospect that she forgot the pain in her hand momentarily.

“Thank you, Akechi-sama. I will.”she managed, knowing full well that those were instructions and not a request. “And I am at your beck and call, sir.” She straightened and snapped off a salute to the Zero, smiling cheerfully. “If you have no further instructions, sir, I’d like to get to work.” If she were dismissed, she would salute him again and leave his rooms without further delay. He was a busy man, after all. If not, she would remain and wait patiently for him to finish relaying his instructions to her before leaving with a salute. Once out of the rooms, she would make her way down to the medical ward.

Dora was going to be so mad.

OOC: And the final word, good sir, is yours, unless you’d like to invite others to this thread at this point! =D

-flailswithglee-

[Deleted]

"You're good."

Kiyoshi gave Dee permission to depart on her tasks with a wave and words that held a bit of a double meaning.

((OoC: parting tag line from me, we good. ))