((Continued from the last thread.))

Kel finds herself standing there, watching this bizarre encounter take place. She really had no idea what was going on, or what to do about it, because it was over before she could do anything about it. Kel watched as Kai jumped out the window and the other strange man ran out the door. All she could really do was shake her head and pull the throwing stars out of the windowsill with a sigh.

Gil walked into the back room, meowing as he did. Kel scooped him off the floor. "I don't know what to do with him... Should I beat him the next time he shows up?" Gil meows again and Kel nods. "That sounds like a plan." She winked at Gil and walked back out to the main room, setting the kitten on the counter. The kitten curled up on the papers and fell back asleep as Kel put Tag's gun in a drawer behind the counter. She hopped into the chair she always sat in and started reading her book.

Kel decides to take a chance and ask him a question that had been on her mind since he had paid her. "Umm... Excuse me, but... What exactly are you trying to hide from...?" She hoped that he wouldn't get mad at her for trying to get into his business.

I know... but yer... *He stopped, looking almost embarrassed at what he was about to say. Kai was never one for kind words or putting trust in a woman.*

He had been wandering around town for a bit. The hunter had the smolder cigarrette burning in his mouth. Hood covering up his face completely. Rancor knew it would be a good idea to get his scythes all fixed up before he confronted his target. It was vital to always have your equipment in prime condition before engaging in combat....years ago he learned that the hard way. When his gun jammed when he absolutely needed it....

He had a bullet scar in his chest from that little incident. He didnt want another one due to faulty weapon failure....

The Twin Reaper walked in through the shadows. Slowly gluiding over, and looking for any type of person that ran the shop.

Kel looked up and sees the strange man walk into her shop. She looked at him curiously. "...Can I help you...?" She stands up from behind the counter, watching the man cautiously.

Rancor inhaled a bit of his burning cigarrete. Then breathed a breath of smoke out. His cold, killer, eyes glanced around to see a young woman at the counter. She probably was a person who worked here....

Reaching to his back, Rancor unsheathed both of his large scythes. His silvery white scythe, and his dark black scythe. He held both of the large weapons out in front of the weapon, showing they had been a little worn out.

"...these weapons....I'll need them fixed to top condition....."

Rancor gently put the large weapons on the counter. Knowing they were advanced, the bounty hunter reached into his pocket and held out a rather large bag of belli. He put it down on the counter as well.

"....for the repairs...." Rancor was also very smart. He knew about the wanted posters around town with his name. He reached in his pocket and put out a large, but slightly smaller, bag of belli. Putting it down on the table as well.

"....for your silence...."

Kel blinked in surprise at the quite large amount of money she now was getting for the repairs and to keep her mouth shut. Not like she wouldn't anyways, she'd been around pirates and whatnot long enough to know better. Kel carefully picked up both scythes and looked them over, examining them carefully to see what needed to be done. She then looked back up at the man and nodded. "Alright. I'll do it." She smiled at him.

Rancor showed no reaction the smile. His face, though hidden by his hood, remained as cold as it always was. He simply stood straight and nodded slowly to the woman. Then a question lingered in his mind.....it would be good if he knew the answer to it.

"....how long....will it take?"

Kel thought for a moment, looking at the condition of the scythes. "Hmm... I'd say about 3 hours at the most. They're not in as bad condition as some of the weapons people bring in." She set the scythes down on the counter.

"...3...hours...." Rancor looked outside of the window for a moment. Knowing that there were probably officers looking for him, or something. He can easily evade them by moving in and out of the dark alleyways...though....he didnt really like lurking in the streets without his twin scythes. True, Rancor had his pistol, but he never used it much and knew not to rely on it alone.

"....very well." Rancor slowly walked over to a stool leaning against a wall, and sat down at it. Crossing his arms slowly and starting to wait. He didnt have anywhere to go, or any place to stay. Even if he did....he knew it wouldnt be a good idea without his trademark weapons.

Kel nodded and picked up the scythes, taking them with her back to her workroom. She rummages around for a few supplies, then sets to work on fixing the weapons. While working on them, she took a little bit of time examining them closer on their workmanship.

Rancor's cigarrete slowly burned more and more, getting shorter in length. The falling ash that fell on the man's ragged black pants seemed not to bother him. In fact, the hunter sat completely still. Arms crossed, eyes closed. He was in some sort of meditation....or something. Just being idle, being calm. Things he was very used to, and good at, doing.

Afterall....what else could he do?

After a little over 2 hours, Kel walked back out of her workroom with the fixed scythes. She went over to the man and held the up to him for him to look over. "There. They should almost as good as new."

Rancor's cigarrete, over the course of two hours, burned out completely and was nothing but a little stub on the man's lips. After the time had passed, he slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the woman who had just fixed his weapons, Rancor nodded once again. Slowly standing up and taking both of them.

Twin Reaper Rancor. The name he had earned because of his fighting style, and look with these two scythes. He was rumored to be a vicious killer, a expert bounty hunter....and a very unstable pyschotic person. It was good to know his weapons were in perfect shape now.

"...good...." Rancor slowly began to turn around. Very slowly starting for the door.

"....remember....I was never here...."

Rancor stopped in his tracks. The words of the woman sunk into his mind. He began to think....thinking about his answer that he would give. In reality, Rancor himself didnt know what he was really hiding from. Marines, pirates, fellow bounty hunters....

But then it became clear in his mind. Slowly turning his head over his shoulder, and looking at the woman dead in her eyes. Rancor responded.

"...the one who's always just a step behind me. He's angry....very angry. I cheated him alot....doesnt like being cheated. Always following me where ever I go...."

"....I can tell from that cold, cold wind thats always blowing a step behind me...."

Kel blinked at the man, obviously rather confused. "What...?" She blinked and took a slight step back.

A small, little grin crept up on his face. Though it could be barely seen by his hood. Rancor mused to himself...no one really seemed to understand anything about him. Maybe thats why he had the reputation he had....

"...I'm hiding.....I'm running....from him. The reaper. Death."

Kel blinked again, but then nodded, finally being able to understand what he meant somewhat. "Yeah... I'm sure there's a lot of people who'd like to get away from that." She giggled slightly, then looked him over a bit, as if she was trying to see what he looked like.

A giggle. That was a new response that people have given the hunter. Most usually back away in fear. It didnt really make a difference to the man though. He noticed his cigarrete was gone. He wanted another one. Reaching down into his pocket, the bounty hunter fished another one out. Taking out a lighter as well.

Rancor put the cigarrete in, igniting the lighter. For a few briefs seconds, the bright burning illuminated the man's pale face and long black hair underneath the hood. After he was done lighting, the hunter simply put away the lighter and stood.

"....its all that follows me. Which is why it'd be best to stay away. Especially if you feel a cold wind blowing...."

Kel blinked slightly when she finally gat a look at his face. She thought for a moment, then looked back at him. "You're that bounty hunter guy on the posters that they have up around here..."

Rancor smirked just a little bit as the cigarrete burned in his mouth. He gave a very calm reply.

"....yeah....I am. So now you understand why I paid for your silence...?"

Kel nodded. "Yep. You wouldn't be the only person I've had to keep my mouth shut about."

Rancor walked a bit back. Again, taking in another breath of smoke and the breathing it back out.

"....heh....silence is always a good thing. Something I've become very used to. Good to know....someone else has as well."

Kel smiled. "Yeah, but this is the first time someone's paid me not to say something..." She giggled, an idea popping into her head. "...Maybe I should start charging certain people for me to not tell anyone that I've seen them..."

Rancor shrugged a bit. Slightly, not much. He turned around just a tad and slowly spoke.

"...good alternative for putting bread on the table...."

Kel thought about it some more. "But I probably won't, unless he keeps pissing me off... I get plently of money doing my work." She walked over to the counter and sat down on it, petting the sleeping kitten.

Rancor gave one little chuckle. Not really caring who she was talking about, or knowing. The hunter had felt he had spent enough time talking, and other things. He had to go somewhere to probably rest, or meditate, or train, or gather info. Usual things he did. Not really knowing how to be friendly with greetings, or goodbyes, Rancor gave a very small simple reply before walking away through the doors.

"...heh...."

Kel watched as the man left, smiling slightly. She actually enjoyed have conversations with people like him, even though they usually don't say much. "That was fun..." She picked Gil up and set him on her lap.

*Kai walked into the blacksmith's shop, closing the door behind him quickly and hoping that no one had seen him.* Hey, anyone here?

Kel looked up when Kai walked in, and did a double-take when she saw what he was wearing. "What the hell...?!" She sat Gil down one the papers and hopped off the counter. "Why the hell are you wearing a Marine uniform?!"

It's.... a long story. *Feeling a little embrarrassed wearing the uniform in front of her* Ye dun have anything t' eat first, d' ye?

Kel glared at him, obviously not thrilled about a Marine, regardless of whether he meant to be dressed as a Marine or not, in her place. But since she had put up with him for this long, she figured she may as well deal with him longer. She motioned for him to follow her down the hall to the kitchen.

*He followed her to the kitchen. Thinking over what he was going to say. He noted that she didn't seem to be very happy about the uniform, which he understood. He would have glared down any Marines who might walk into his shop if he were in her possition.*

Kel walked into the kitchen and started rummaging around for some random things to eat, since she was hungry too. The sounds from the kitchen also caused Gil to come running into the kitchen, following Kel's every move as she searched around.

So hungry... *He sat down at the table and his head landed on it with a -thunk-*
Damn ****ing Marines... *sigh* I suppose I should tell ye what happened. *He looked up at her from the table*

Kel scooped Gil off the floor and set him on her shoulder after finally finding some food to cook up. Once she got it starting, she turned back and looked at Kai. "Yeah. That would be a good thing." She still looked a little pissed.

Well... first things first. Thar's this Marine jerk named Kon. He'd been prettending to be a pirate while he was here and he kept pestering me. He found out about me powers, t'. Anyway, he bumped int' me one night and he was with some other Marines, they had some sea stone net and captured me... *He paused for a bit, giving Kel time to have it sink in.*

Kel thought for a moment while cooking. "...They forced you to wear that god awful thing...?!" She shook her head.

Yes... but that's not all of it...
*He continued with his story.*
I was knocked unconscious, after that I found meself in Kon's office at the Marine base, with this damn thing on me neck. *He pointed to the sea stone collar around his neck.* They then forced me t' train and d' stuff like a Marine... *Leaving out a few of the more painful details.*

Kel stopped what she was doing and turned around to face him, a bit of shock on her face. "So you're a Marine now?!"