Looking straight at the child, Zelgadis queried, "How could you possibly..." At this point, the person who revealed himself to be their host appeared, effectively cutting off Zelgadis' question. 'How could this child know why I am here? Does he know of my curse? Does he know a way to end it?' He pondered, saying nothing, an introspective look in his eyes. "What of our host, then? Isn't it strange that he introduces himself, then leaves?" Speaking again to Minoru, he was curious, after all.
Princess Serenity smiled at Aeris and said, "My name is Princess Serenity but please, call me Usagi. As for our host and his display.... I find it somewhat... frightful but since I am here with many people I'm not as scared as I would normally be. What do you think?"
"I am Himura Kenshin, but just call me Kenshin. It is nice to meet you", Kenshin said to Aeris. "The display bewilders me, that it does. It would seem our host is like nothing i've ever seen, and i doubt that was the last time we will see him, that i do", he said to them. looking around the room, he noticed all the other guests faces. "It would also seem that the rest of the guests are as stunned and confused as we are", he said to them. "Who is this man, and why have we all been summoned here", he wondered.
"i also we will see him again' Aeris said to kenshin and usagi 'this place will be full of suprises though i bet" Aeris responded "also, do you two think that man was friend or foe?" Aeris asked while pondering it herself
" It is hard to tell at this point. It could go either way if the situation presents itself, that it can", he said to them. "What I wonder is what did he have to do that is so important that he only has enough time to say hi" he said out loud. "And of you Aeris and Usagi, what do you think of our strange host. Is he friend or foe", he asked them.
Minoru, still looking at the place where the host revealed himself, said to Zelgadis "Strange, you say. That is true, but he is not the only one." Looking at Zelgadis, he continued "All these people, meeting here for a common goal. They have not revealed themselves, all of them have secrets, specially you." Minoru picking a notebook from his bag, wrote a bit on it and returned it to where it was. "We may share a goal, you already know. However, this mistery, this lack of information should not be. Information will be vital for what is coming. Zelgadis-san, what do you think about him?" Minoru asked.
Mint was relieved to find that the big man seemed rather gentle and did not get mad at the other one. Guess her warning was un-needed. She just hoped it wasn't un-heeded. When she saw their host she was impressed. "Ahhh, fashionable taste in home design and a great entrance and fashion taste to boot. Maybe this won't be as boring as I thought." she said out loud. "I just wish he had stayed a little longer. I would've LOVED to find out where he does his shopping." She then looked around again, maybe she should start socializing...but it seemed everyone was talking to someone else...
"You know a lot for such a young child, Minoru. I think there is more to you than meets the eye, also." Realizing he had best change the subject, before this kid pried too much information out of him, Zelgadis said, "Perhaps you could tell me what your land is like, that you were able to come here without your parents."
Aeris started to talk to kenshin and usagi again "i have not yet decided if he is friend or foe. i think maybe we should talk to the others and find out a little more about who else is here. there is a girl in a maid type outfit over there who is not talking to anyone. do you think she may know something?" aeris asked the two
"I don't know what to think of our host either. I hope he's a friend though." Princess Serenity said. Her gaze turned to the girl in the maid like uniform as Aeris spoke and she smiled and said, "I'll go and invite her over." Serenity walked over to the girl and said, "Hello I'm Princess Serenity, but call me Usagi. We were wondering if you'd like to join us over there." Serenity gestured over towards where Kenshin and Aeris were then held out her hand and asked, "Would you like to join us?"
Slowly but surely the main doors creaked open again, the huge oaken frames fighting hard against the panting young man pushing them open. Stepping past him and into the entranceway without a second glance, came Nabiki Tendo in an elegant full-length blue silken dress. "About time, Kuno baby. You know how much I detest being late." Tatewaki Kuno grunted as she passed. "Make no mistake, Nabiki Tendo. For it is not your sake that I have personally escorted you to these godforsaken lands. Do not forget our agreement." Nabiki stopped and sighed irritably. Then she swiveled back, unhooking her small black purse and producing a disc from within. "A deal is a deal. This here is just a sample. The full goods come after you've taken me back again." Kuno cradled the small object as if it were a loved one. "Oh glorious pig-tailed goddess. Even a sampling of your fine beauty shall be enough to tide me over until the time we meet again!" Nabiki rolled her eyes as she gripped the edge of the grand entry door. "Yeah, yeah. Now go wait for me, okay?" Before he could answer, she flicked her wrist thudding the door closed again. Now this is not disappointing. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all, she thought to herself at last taking in her surroundings. While the place could use some remodeling, Nabiki's interest was peaked enough by how wealthy the owner must be. Sure, a few of the tapestries showed flawed signs of copies rather than originals, but there was a sizeable sum nonetheless. The guests were something else. She casually looked each over while in process of scripting her attendence vertically across the guestbook. There was a girl in an extravagant dress. She looked none too bright, but loaded. She had to be one of the guests judging by the occassional looks she was making around the room. There was a samurai of sorts. He didn't look all that dangerous, but he'd probably give Kuno a hard time. His clothes looked well-worn and patched in places. Maybe he was a bum, or perhaps his wife threw him out? There was a man garbed in white whom Nabiki couldn't quite make out. A traveler of sorts. He was speaking in an unemotional voice that was quiet, but still strong. There was a kid. Nothing seemed to immediately stand out about him. There was a large man, towering over everyone with a full framed body. Nabiki wondered if he was in some sort of military. There was a very nervous guy who appeared to be jumpy. He didn't look like he was too well off - probably a student. There was a woman in a pink dress. There was something suspicious about her, but Nabiki couldn't quite put her finger on it. There was a servent girl. Perfect. Nabiki strode over to Mint, nodding to the laid out table. "Excuse me. I'll have the best wine the house has to offer, thanks."
Regarding Serenity, or Usagi, Mint nodded. "Uh sure...My name's Mint Aizawa..." she said with a small curtsey. "Excuse me. I'll have the best wine the house has to offer, thanks." Mint paused, and turned around slowly a glare on her face. "Excuse me, were you talking to me?" she asked. She scoffed a little 'hmph!' but grabbed a random bottle of wine anyways. "Here..." she said, handing it to the girl, unsure if it was the finest or not. "I'm only doing this, because I'm nice and polite. I'm not a servant. Next time get it yourself." She turned back to Serenity and sighed heavily. "I knew I should've worn one of my gowns. Why did this thing have to be so cute?"
Aeris noticed that another guest had arrived addressing kenshin she said,"what do you make of the new guess? from the looks of her and the boy that came with her she seems to be extravegent or trying to be extravagent." aeris casually said to kenshin without taking her eyes off of usagi, the girl in maids type clothing, and the new arrival in a blue dress.
"Well," Nabiki mused to herself, keeping calm as always. "I guess maid clothing is just another trend." She frowned at the bottle of wine she'd been given. Definately not the best. Nabiki traded up for an older vintage, then set her calculating gaze around the crowd studying each individuals mannerisms and pose.
"My land, you say. 'Land of the rising sun'. It is called Japan nowadays. Nowhere else you can see how tradition and modernism share the same space. I have been living alone there, if you are wondering. No, not alone" Minoru was saying, but now, memories of joy changed his voice tone "Yuzuki, she has been with me since I lost my closest member of my family." "Zelgadis-san, I am interested in your land as well. I can't figure where you come from. Also, I have not heard what you think about our host." Minoru asked, feeling that Zelgadis have not little to say.
"She seems she is not used to being scuffed at, that she does", noticing the new guest. "The question we need to be wondering about is why we are here and why our guest came and went so fast", he said to aeris. Noticing Usagi talking to the girl in the maid outfit, "It would seem Usagi has already made a new friend, that she does", he said to her. He decided it was time to start getting some info. "So how were did you get an invite to this place?" he asked her.
"So, you've lost someone important to you? I suppose it's better than what I had..." Trailing off at that, he was glad for the change of subject. "My homeland? I have no home. I've wandered since "that" day." Of course, Zelgadis was referring to the day he was cursed, but Minoru couldn't know that. "Our host... I barely had a chance to see him. I'll hold my opinion of him for now."
addressing kenshin aeris said" i got my invitation in the mail. it told me to go to the sector seven train station and take the 5pm train. it was strange since there was no 5pm train but i went i got there at 5 and there was the train. i boarded and ended up outside the mansion. thats how i got my invite and got you. how about you kenshin?" aeris said in her casuall tone
Kagura opened the doors and ran inside. She was so embarrassed for being so late. "Oh, if Kyo only did what I asked him to, I wouldn't be late. Oh well! You can't blame my Kyo!" she thought to herself. She was wearing a cute little green dress and her leather black boots and she never went anywhere without her kitty-backpack. Quite embarrassed, Kagura looked around the room. She studied each of the guests and noticed a little confusion. She then looked at the table and saw a book lying open. She stepped towards it and saw that the guests had written their names in and she wrote her name in as well. Kagura Sohma Kagura looked to see refreshments on the side and decided on just a glass of milk. Of course, that what Kyo would of chosen. She sipped it quietly while thinking of what her love must be up to. She smiled gleefully with just the thought of him.
Shortly after Kagura arrived, the massive doors that led into the castle opened. Slowly, creaking slightly on old hinges, the doors swung outward, revealing a lush garden beyond it, carefully taken care of the garden was a beautiful site, with vines trailing up the side of the walls, lush, green grass growing everywhere, flowers and shrubbery carefully placed to capture the natural beauty of their surroundings. A small, quiet stream ran through the center of the courtyard, with a small stone bridge extending across it, and a path, made up of flagstones, led to it from the entrance, and to another massive set of doors beyond that. On the bridge, stood their host, looking the same as he had before. Walking toward the doorway, he said, "So, it seems everyone has arrived. I say again, welcome to my castle. I hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Please, come, join me in my garden, that we may enjoy it's beauty together." As they walked toward the gate, he spoke again. Bowing slightly, he said, "Do forgive me for not being here to begin with, but I had pressing matters that called me away. Unfortunately, my lady is away on business as well, and she will be unable to join us. However, I, at least, will remain here. My business is finished, so I can concentrate on being your host." Bowing slightly again, he continued, "Now, forgive me for not doing so before, I have the time now, to make a more formal introduction. I am Shinryu, lord of this castle." Bowing again, he went on, "It is my pleasure to host you here, for the duration of your visit. I sincerely hope that you all enjoy your stay here."
