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It is just late enough in the summer evening for the shadows to begin to dominate, with the sky a purple lit with fiery orange clouds. A breief bit of natural wonder largely unnoticed, and sure to be gone in a few minutes. There are a few people on the streets, but less than one might expect. It may be a running joke to many that "all Orientals look alike", but certainly, they don't to each other. And making a delivery in this part of town at this time, Takumi feels a little like there's a target between his shoulderblades. His looks are too typically Japanese, and there is no love lost for that group in this neighborhood. He weaves his bike past cars and turns into one of the quieter side streets. And sure enough, there's a group of youths standing by one building who glances his way, elbow each other as he starts to get off his bike and retreive a package from the saddlebag, and start to move his way.
*
"Whatever it is you're thinking about doing, I'd rethink it." Akihiro speaks up, stepping out from where he was leaned up in the alleyway. He isn't speaking to Takumi, no, he's speaking past him to the approaching youths. He's clearly Japanese too, but on top of that he's got a wild fashion sense. Tattoos are visible around his neck and exposed hands, a learther jacket concealing the rest.
*
As he's been doing for the near-year that he's now3 lived in New York, Kurt takes the evening to explore. He's usually 'bamfing' from rooftop to rooftop, observing the city from above and balancing precariously on flagpoles, scaffolding bars, fire escapes, and rooftop ledges. This evening is no different. He's made his way downtown into Chinatown, observing a slice into a culture he knows very little about. The Circus never went further than the edges of the U.S.S.R so this is new and fascinating to him.
Golden eyes make note of the one getting off of his bicycle and the others seemingly approaching him. For now, however, he watches.
*
Takumi is surprised by Akihiro stepping in, andlooks toward him greatfully… for a moment. Then he notes the atattoos and his eyes narrow. He mutters, "Out of the frying pan…" Among the Japanese, Tattoos carry the assumption of association with the Yakuza, where they are used to denote authority. He steps away from the bike., package in his hands, as the thuggish youths turn so tehy can look at both Japanese men. Takumi speaks up, "THanks, but I'm sure I'll be alright.. these guys weren't going to do anything to interfere with my delivery, right?" Making every effort to give the thugs an opportunity to save face and back off.
They don't bite, however. The one who seems to be leader/spokesman among them smirks, "I wouldn't be so sure. I mean… what's a couple of litttle Jap boys doing on our blocck. You guys must be up to no good, wouldn't do to let you be…" He slips a hand into his pocket, and comes out with a set of breass kncukles."
That's when things get weird. Takumi speaks in Japanese, seemingly in some sort of exapserated prayer, "Ancestors guide and guard me, so I may guard others…" And then his bike, sitting behind the locals, revs, and lurches forward, making one of them jump out of the way. The saddle bag opposite the one he got the package from pops open, and a long ribbon of silk, worked with Japanes characters in fine embroidery, whips out and starts to wrap itself around Takumi like some strange mummy.
*
There's a soft but sharp snikt sound as Akihiro's claws pop, a grin creeping across his face. "How about you put the toys up." But when Takumi starts getting wild, his claws sink back into his arm. "Nevermind, looks like you'll need the handicap."
He reaches up and makes a beckoning motion, assuming a combat stance. "C'mon. You get the first hit."
*
Nightcrawler leans forward as it seems like that poor kid is about to be jumped on, but then things happen and he pauses. He doesn't think too much before he disappears from his perch in a cloud of brimstone-laced smoke only to reappear behind the troublemakers with the same burst of smoke. "Everything goes much better when people mind their own business," is commented with a feral sort of grin. He is very obviously not of the area, not ony due to his German accent, but also because of his appearance. He may be dressed in jeans and a button-down, short-sleeved shirt, but he's making no attempts to hide his distinct appearance.
*
There is a scramble among the 6 youth, who don't know where to look. It is a testament to how distractin gthe bike, the animate silk wrapping and the arrival of the blue German are that some of them entirely miss Daken's extention and retraction of his blades. Takumi doesn't miss them, but doesn't react either., just dropping into a fighting stance he anticipates being needed, now covered head to toe in black and gold wrappings, though still holding the small package he was supposed to be delivering. As the end of the silk flips out of the bike, one of the thugs makes a grab for it, which results in him getting his arm wrapped, then being whipped off his feet and flung ot the ground. Then Nightcrawler pops in in his sulphurous cloud, and there are exclaimations in three languages, "Oh shit!" in English, something laregly eqivalent in Mandarin, and, from Takumi, a single word in Japanese, "Oni!"
When cowardice is dishonor (and severely punished) peole can do amazingly stupid tings in the cause of valor. ANd the Tongs that these young ment belong to do not favor cowards. SO all but one of the 6( the one flung to the ground already) go on the attack, a variety of concealed weaponry being produced. Things tha can be easily concealed, varioud knives, brazss knuckles, and one thing that could easily be a zip gun.
*
Was it a zip gun? The crowd finds out as a shot rings out and Akihiro's head gets whipped back. But he's still standing. "Alright." His lowers back down, dark gaze on the approaching men. The projectile didn't get far, as not even making it past the man's skull. As the lead falls out the hole closes itself up as well. They picked the wrong fight.
The young mutant launches himself forward, meeting a baton strike with his forearm, causing the thing to break. The thug in question is rewarded with a fist to the face, a heel to his right kneecap, followed by a punishing tornado roundhouse to the side of his head.
Backing up a bit Akihiro assesses the situation. This was going to be fun.
*
There's a disappointed sigh as the 6 decide to actually attack. Kurt waits only a moment as the two initial targets are rushed before he just reaches out to grab two of them and just teleport away. It's a multi-stop 'bamf', meant to nauseate and confuse them and leave them far enough from the fray to not be a bother. "Stay," he commands, dropping them off a few blocks away, hanging from their shirts from a fire escape, before he 'bamfs' back in.
*
The young man Akihiro kicks in the head goes down and does not rise, hopefully just concussed, but it is hard to tell in the heat of the moment. with Nightcrawler's removal of two combatants, who are left retching and weak, as his teleports are not kind to anyone's physiology except his own, the two remaining knife-wieldin combatants are suddenly outnumbered. The man Takumi whipped to the ground gets to his feet, and the numbers (though certainly not the combat, are even again). "Takumi moves in slowly, and speaks, "There's no need to fight. No one needs to be stabbed today…" which sounds simply concilatory, until the two knives being pointed towards the heroes suddenly wilt and flop like they are made of soft rubber. THe thugs look at them in disbelief, then look at each other and, as one, break into a run. Except for the one who just got up, who makes the amazingly stupdid move of making a leaping, barehanded attack on Akihiro. His martial arts skill is actually fairly good. His body, thoug well conditioned, is merely human.
*
In a shocking move, Akihiro blocks the unarmed attack with his face. The impact rocks him, but it also shatters the last thug's hand. Growling he grabs the man by the shirt and picks him straight up into the air, before delivering a nasty headbutt. Dropping the man he takes a step back and looks between Takumi and Kurt. "One of these days I'm going to be able to go for a walk without having to kick somebody's ass."
*
Nightcrawler lets the one run off — he's not going to chase after him just to teach a lesson. Maybe he's learned it? He then looks back to the others and seems almost apologetic as he offers, "I'm sorry that you two were attacked. Are you all right?" There's a glance about at any onlookers, but he's certainly not going to apologize for his presence or appearance. "It seemed to me that the two of you did nothing to cause them to want to fight."
*
Takumi looks down at the package in his hands, then shrugs, "Sometimes, being an outsider is enough?" He takes a moment to set the package down, then bends to check the pulse of the one unconscious thug. He nods then, and relaxes, relieved to find a pulse there.He then says, "Get him out of the street, please?" AT which point ether is the very odd sight of the man's own clothing getting him up and walking, even though he is clearly still unconscious. He sthen sits down, slumping by the side of a building. Takumi faces the two men who helped him , puts a fist in front of him, clasps it with the other hand and gives a small bow, "Domo arigato" He shakes his head then, and picks his package back up. Making an impressive leap, he leaves the package sitting on a second-story fire escape. Then he turns, "I should be going, but I was fortunate there were two such… impressive individuals to step in.
*
"All it takes sometimes." Akihiro agrees, giving his head a slight shake. "You'd think with everything going on people would get over it already." He reaches up to untie his hair and straighten it back out, watching as Takumi leaves. "Anyway, thanks for the assistance. Don't think they knew what they were getting themselves into when they picked a fight with us."
*
Dark eyebrows lift as he watches the man lift himself out of the street…or something unseen lift him. Fascinating! Yellow eyes then look back in time for the bow and Kurt gives a sweeping bow in return. "I was poking my nose where it does not belong, but I am happy to help. They seemed to wish harm on you," and he understands all too well the stigma of being 'different'. He then looks to the other with the tattoos and offers a three-fingered hand. "I'm Kurt. I'm sorry that you were attacked und I hope you do not mind that I popped in to help." He'll offer his hand to Takumi as well.
*
Takumi hesitates for a moment as he takes Kurt's hand, a hesitation that could be misinterpreted, though it was consideration for his own verbal response. He shrugs and answers, "Takumi. And I am not going to complain about not having to fight 5 people on hy own. Particularly when the end result is no.. permanent injuries." He glances at Akihiro, "And obviously I am not the only one who is moer than he seems. But, again, perhaps we should leave before the ones who ran return with friends? Or better weapons?"
*
"Akihiro." The tattooed mutant introduces himself, shaking Kurt's hand. "I've been shot by a squad and had my face melted off, so I don't think they'll hurt me too much. But I'd rather not have to fight any cops." He lifts his shoulder in a slight shrugs, glancing around.
"I think I'll make my way out then too. Either head towards harlem or Westchester. Not too sure which. If you run into me again, I'll buy you a drink."
*
"They would do that?" Kurt asks both Takumi and Akihiro in regards to them returning with reinforcements. There's another sigh of disappointment then, but he nods. "Very well." However, he asks Takumi, "Are you finished with what you needed here? I can wait until you are safe before I also leave. I do not think they will catch me easily even if they do return." Unless they get lucky with firing guns at him.
He adds to Akihiro's sentiments, "I have not seen many police around here. I do not think they come very often…" which sounds familiar for some of the less 'desirable' neighborhoods. One would think it might be the opposite.
*
Takumi shakes his head. His facial expression is hard to read, with it mostly covered, but his eyes crease as if he's smiling. "Thank you, but I am done here. He gives a little whistle, and his bike revs, rears up (looking or all the world like a horse pawing the air, then rols over, swerving bhind him to come up at his side. hHe hops onto the bike, nods then takes off down the street.
*
"They usually aren't around. The Triad runs this area, so they'll just try and kill us if they show up." Akihiro raises his hood and offers a wave, turning and heading back into the alleyway. "I'm sure I'll see you around."
*