Just poking around (Kiyoshi Akechi/Invite)

[Erik Masters]

[OOC: This thread takes place after Erik had his meeting with Marcus. Kiyoshi Akechi/invite]

It was morning. There was a slight breeze and the felt heavy. It was mostly cloudy with only a few places that the sky could peak through. Erik was out looking for some new clothes to wear. The ones he had one were rather worn out. He could almost see his socks through his shoes. As much as he had tried to get his clothes clean he just could get some of the stains out. No reason to look like a bum when I meet the Crows he thought to himself. He was currently on the edge of the crows territory inside what was once one of those super stores that America used to be so fond of. He was walking around the store looking for some new cargo pants a new long sleeve shirt and shoes that fit. So far he had no luck finding anything. He stopped to thumb through a rack of men’s clothing. “Nothing here that I would wear.” He held up a bright orange shirt in his size. “Not even if this was the last shirt in the whole world.” He put the shirt back on the rack. He continued to move down the aisle occasionally stopping to look at clothes. He let out a big sigh and stopped to look over the tops of the racks. He noticed in the corner there seemed to be rows of camping stuff. He moved over to it and began sorting through the remains of the gear. Everything seem to be either too torn of had pieces missing. After about 5 minutes of searching he found a backpack. Tugging on the straps and trying to put his foot through the bottom he decided that it was sturdy enough to carry some clothes back to the apartment.

He stood up and began to scan the store again for anything useful. About half to the other side of the store he saw a sign that said footwear. “Might as well go see if they have and shoes that fit me. Probably don’t. Worth a shot though.” He moved down the aisle scanning for anything useful as he went. He stopped to pick up a box. He wiped the dirt off of it and revealed a pack of cracks. He opened the pack and discovered that they were moldy and rotten. He threw the pack to the side. Suddenly a raccoon ran out form under a rack of women’s clothing causing him to jump. He thought he heard someone laugh and say something. He quickly started to scan the store slowly turning around. No one seemed to be there. There was no movement or noise in the store except for the slight rustling for the raccoon scurrying away. “Must have been my imagination. I really need to get more human contact.” He took a deep breath and began moving to the shoe section of the store.

[Deleted]

Outside the sounds of vehicles pulling up to the building, halting quickly, and the passengers departing quickly and in mass could be heard well within the desolate shadow of commercialism. The pounding of boots soon echoed through the building as one of the doors was slammed open, a voice following suit.

"Remember what we're hear for! Clothing, tents, rope, outdoor gear... I don't give a shit about the pretty lace panties for your girlfriend. Move out and watch for Barker's men."

[Erik Masters]

He was looking a pair of shoes when suddenly he heard shouting. He couldn’t quite make out the what was being shouted but he thought he heard the word Barker. He dropped the shoes that he was looking at and looked for a place to hide. Crouching down low he moved from the shoe section towards the front of the store. Of course they would decided to come here the first time I venture to a new area. Guess I better make my escape fast. He moved carefully through the aisle of clothing occasionally poking his head above the clothes to take a peek at where the men where. As he neared the front of the store he stopped to re adjust his bag on his back. He poked his head above the clothes rack. Well that will make things a little more complicated, he thought. At the entrance to the store he saw 2 people who seemed to be guarding the entrance. He couldn’t see any way around them. He began looking around the store and decided that maybe he could just avoid them if he moved into the grocery section. He slowly made his way to the grocery aisle.

He was crouching in the frozen food aisle when he heard footsteps coming. He moved to the opposite end of the aisle and peeked around the corner to make sure the coast was clear. He didn’t see anyone so he moved to the next aisle. He pressed his body against the end of the shelf and peek around the corner. Seeing no one he silently moved to the end of the next shelf. As he moved into the next aisle his backpack got caught on a box of ice cream cones. The box hit the ground with a rather loud crunch. Well so much for not staying quiet. Better see if I can make a break for it. Erik pulled himself to the top of the shelf he was standing near and began to run down on the top of it. He reached the end of the aisle and jumped the gap to the next one. He grabbed the edge of the shelf and pulled himself up. As he neared the end of the next shelf he looked for somewhere else to go. He could very well just run through the middle of the store to the entrance. He reached the end of the shelf and decided maybe he could escape through the whole in the roof. He hopped over the top of the aisles. About three aisles down he jumped over a group of men who were shouting something. He couldn’t really tell he was to busy trying to get to the wall. As he came to the wall he took 2 steps up the wall and pushed off. Turning in mid air he grabbed hold of one of the metal rafters.

[Deleted]

It wasn't hard for Kiyoshi to keep up with the fleeing guest as his men kept relaying the being's location around as they moved to intercept. Nor was it difficult for the Crows leader to see what the guy's goal was when he began to run for the hills. Now Erik might have been able to make the jump if there wasn't a rather powerful gust of wind heading for him while he was in mid-air. Once it hit, he'd been thrown of his intended course while the other Crows circled around to the aisle where he would likely land.

"I want him alive."

[Erik Masters]

Right as Erik was about to grab one of the rafters a sudden gust of wind pushed him right out of reach. He flailed and attempted to grab the railing with his other hand but missed. Luckily he had his feet under him and landed on top of a shelf. Unluckily the shelf collapsed from his weight falling on it. He laid under the debris for a few seconds checking to make sure hw wasn’t seriously hurt. He groaned and pulled himself from under the debris. He looked around and noticed he was surrounded. His world started to narrow and be fighting from blacking out. He heard someone say ‘I want him alive.’ And the darkness receded. He could hear the slight whispering of someone telling him to fight. This time the words were clear. Hurt them before they hurt us! The voice sounded strangely familiar, but where had he heard it before? The he remembered, it was the voice he often heard during his blackouts. No time to worry about that, he thought to himself, There are more important things to worry about.

“You’ll never get anything useful out of me. I don’t know anything.” He readied himself for the men to close in on him and attack him. From the stories he had heard about Barkers men they were not the type to leave someone alone even if they surrendered. He figured he could take out 3 or 4 before they got the better of him. At least he would go down fighting.

[Deleted]

The men encircling Erik don't advance but merely wait in their formation as their leader approached. He walked slowly from the position he'd struck from to take place in front of the interloper.

"What is your name?"

Kiyoshi eyed the lad with his sword still drawn. It was rare for Barker to send individual troops anywhere.

[Erik Masters]

“My name is Erik.” He tensed up seeing the man approaching him with his sword drawn. “If you let me go I wont tell the Crows that you are encroaching on there territory.” He slid the back pack off his shoulder and held it in his right hand. “I’m just here to get some supplies for myself and that’s all. I have no interest in fighting you.” If the man attempted to attack him he would throw the backpack to give himself a few seconds to widen the gap between them. Hopefully giving him enough to time to make it to the rafters and escape. He had no intention of not telling the Crows that Barker was near there territory. At least he would have something to tell Marcus at there next meeting. Hopefully that would give him some credit with the Crows and they would be more willing to accept him.

[Deleted]

The man tilts his head with a grin.

"Is that so?"

[Erik Masters]

“Yes. I’m only here to get some supplies for myself. If this is a restricted area I was not aware. Maybe a sign could help.” Erik was hoping that his answer would allow for him to escape without any injuries. He tried to keep his sarcasm to a minimum and hoped that his last comment didn’t come off as snarky.

[Deleted]

The man stood in deliberation for a time before nodding lightly and signaling the others to stand down.

"Very well. Go and tell no one of our presence here."

[Erik Masters]

Erik swung his back pack over his shoulder and moved towards the door. He did not turn his back to the group until he was 30 meters away. Then he turned and sprinted out the door. He ran for 5 minutes or so into Crows territory stopped to see if he had been followed.

[Deleted]

Kiyoshi just smirked as the boy ran. There was no reason to follow him thus he was free to travel as he pleased. The test was afoot.