It was going to be big trouble from the start. Konahomaru could tell that spies were infiltrating Taras by the dozens, but he could never put his hands on them. It would make sense that he would sense their evil hearts, but they evaded him. Always on the edges of his senses, distracting him from his usual firestorm of concentration.

It made him very irate, and three men at the bar were willing to start trouble. Evedently drunk, otherwise they would have chosen another person right off the bat, or rather not even considering it. "Ay! Ya-ou!" said the ring leader, with a small hiccup at the end of his sentence. Kona was sitting on a barstool, drinking his water and silently fuming, trying to solve problems in his labryinth mind.

"Im talen ta you! White ayes!" he shouted again, his freinds laughing at his evidently funny remark. Konahomaru did not find it amusing. Still, there had been plenty of foolish people who were actually very respectable when sober, so Kona let it pass...

That is until the man touched. He came up to Kona, grabbed his shoulder, and tried to spin him aside. "Yea dhope! Listen ta mee!" Kona did not budge, but his left hand did fly up and strike the mans elbow, and he reeled in pain.

"That was your warning, young one. The next time you shall lose your arm to me." he said calmly, although he was feeling as if ready to explode at any moment. His freinds didnt appreciate it, and stood, drew steel, and started walking towards Kona.
Kona saw them, and the shook his head and waited.

Shain opened the door to the tavern. He looked around the place, observing the drunk scoundrels. On his way to a table, he whirled around at a comment. Someone had just mentioned white eyes. His eyes. Pulling his cowl even lower over his face he double checked the room. No previous "employers". Mayhaps it was just a misunderstanding. Ordering red elven wine from a passing maid, he sat in silence, taking in every detail. These were not safe places for someone of his heiritage.

Kain felt like the bar was his home and as he walked in behind a familiar face, he took time to look around. The drunks were having their fun and Kain felt like it was about time he had some fun to. He didn't really care what was going there on or why in the blazes Shain was here... of all places for him to be. All he knew was there was alcohol and all he wanted was that alcohol.

He pulled up a chair nearby to Shain and looked at what he was drinking, he took his time to think of something to say, but all that came out was, "Elvish wine? Ugh..." He didn't ask for anything at the moment but instead he cast a sidelong glace towards a mysterious man as he drew his sword.

Kain muttered, "Bar fight..." to himself and then added a bit louder, "Sounds like fun..." He drew his sword and hopped up on a table and shouted, "Three on one, doesn't seem fair to me..."

Kona heard two other people arrive in the bar. The three men that had decided to pick a fight with him previously were now right up to him, and one of them held his blade close to Kona's ribs. Konahomaru simply smiled, and started to slowly draw his daggers under his cloak. Then he heard somebodey shout something about 3 people on 1 didnt sound fair.

It hardly seemed fair to Konahomaru either. They should have brought more freinds. Then it might have been fair. Nevertheless, he drew dagger and in a flash of speed cut through the closest man's wrists. He screamed in pain, and blod shot out his arms and his blade fell to the ground. Kona glared at the other two, daring them to make a move.

"Are you drunk already?" asked Shain, looking at Kain. He glanced over at the three men aproaching the calm one at the bar. Darn you Kain he thought. he did not want to start a fight, but couldn't let the possibly drunk man kill himself. Grabbing his wine, He hastened to the back of one of the men. Tapping his shoulder he said" Exuse me sir." As the man turned to stare at him, Shain Threw the wine in his eyes, smiking under his cowl as the man reeled, screaming for the burn.

Kain smiled and glared at Shain. The man would fall to the ground and scramble around rubbing his eyes with his right hand. That's not the way to hurt people, Kain thought to himself as he hopped off the table with his sword gripped firmly in his right hand. He walked up to the man writhing in pain and jammed his sword into the man's left hand that he was using to steady himself.

He yelled out in pain and Kain smirked, "Weakling, you drunk!" He kicked the man in the back of the head and then walked up next to him, kneeling down, "If I were as drunk as you, I could still defend myself from wine." Kain stood and turned around to face the last of the three drunks, "Well? What's it gonna be?" He said to the man...

Kona was unpleased that he had assistance in this fight, but, there intentions were good neverthless and he decided to allow them to have a helping hand in the situation. The remaining drunks were not nearly as frightened as they were blinded with rage at what Konahomaru had done to their freind.

Yelling, one of the men started to run at Kona. Swinging his sword wildly, he shouted "Yull pey fer that!" But, before he could get close enough to strike, he slipped on the blood puddle in front of Kona and hit the ground hard. "Hoof!" came out of his mouth, the air escaping his lungs for a breif second.

He tried to get up, and Konahomaru charged up his Lightning Blade with the shock enchantment. "Do not rise against me ever again, or I will not spare your lives." he said, touching the blade to the man. The electricity shot through him, and he collapsed into convulsions onto the ground.

As Shain turned from the blinded man having his hand run through, his dagger came out and caught another drunk that was getting ready to spear Kain through the back. It enterd at the base of the mans skull, sliding in and out quickly. It was an assassin's trick, a way to kill quickly without getting blood all over ones self.

Turning aroun at the sound of the fights originator, his eyes widened slightly at what he held in his hands. It was a bolt of lightning. "Darn you Kain. This man can handle himself. I didn't have to sacrifise my wine." And from what he could tell, the man was not pleased by their help. His hand tightened around the dagger. If he had to fight that one, he better be quick.

"So, who the heck cares, I've done my good deed," Kain sheathed his katana and placed his hands behind his head. Kain walked a ways before a drunkard came up behind him and screamed something in drunkish and swung a knife at Kain's back. Kain dropped to the ground and put his feet up to the man's shoulders.

"And now," Kain spun his legs around and there was a loud crack. The man moaned before falling to the ground, "I've done another..." Kain looked at the place then to the mysterious lightning man, "Nice job," Kain hinted the man on the floor that had been electrocuted, "I'm officially impressed, not that it matters to you I'm sure..." Kain popped his neck and waited for any feedback, comments, anything.

Konahomaru shook his head. What a waste. No doubt at least one woman would not have a husband come home tonight, and he had never thought he would be the cause of a situation. Even so, the huisbands were probably not being very true to their wives, getting drunk and having bastard children. Maybe they deserved it.

"You did not have to help, but, the fact that you did help is a good thing." said Kona, nodding to the two men. "May I have your names, so that I may tell the Godess of your courage? She would appreciate to know there are some such as you left in Taras."

Shain now was more on edge than ever. His name was not well known, but if in the wrong hands it could cause trouble. "Shain Volgornd is my name, and i will have no deallings with your goddess. Gods have caused me trouble in my life already. I do not mean to offend."

This man had better not cause him problems. He was already hated by two races and halfway by another. He was not antious to add one more to the list. He looked at Kain, hoping that the man would not give too much away.

Kain personally was not affilated with any gods or goddess or any deity whatsoever and this man seemed very proud of his goddess which interested Kain. Kain nodded and answered, "Kain Dunarrow. And what is your name good sir?" Kain waited for a response as Shain made his comment and Kain winced. Kain perferred that Shain didn't get on this man's bad side... if he ended up having to protect Shain from harm, it would not be easy. Kain made a sidelong glace at the man on the floor whom this man electrocuted.

Kain finally asked another follow-up question, "You speaking of your goddess interests me, what is her name? And what exactly is she the goddess of?" Kain looked at Shain; Shain may not have been interested, but Kain certainly found himself in that position.

Kona gave an indifferent look to Shain, and said "Suit yourself Shain. I will not hold it against you, I have experience similar attrocities as you. You might however be interested that she is a drow such as yourself, and was hunted at one time as you are now." he paused, and looked over to Kain.

"I am Nariwa Konahomaru." he said, now giving his new name. The glyphs on his forehead and arms glowed slightly brighter when he mentioned the name, as if answering to the holy call. "My master is Veronna, Godess of Blades. I am the Servant of the Blade, being her pupil and second." he continued, answering Kain's second question.

"Should you need a favor from me, do not hesitate to ask. I suggesy you do not bother with my master just yet, as, she has been... grumpy lately. I patrol the city often, and, I do not blend in well either, so I shant not be hard to find." said Kona, gesturing at the holy electric aura he had around him.

Kona came up to the electrified man, his holy aura touching him and reviving him with the power of Bless. He rose groggily, then ran out.

"I am no drow," Shain growled. "I shall not be confused with one. I am a half breed. My mother took to a moon elf and bor me. She has been sacrifised to the drow's goddess, Lolth, the Sider Sueen." Shain pondered. "Who is your affiliate? I would like to meet another who is hunted."

Shain was comforted that he had not been assualted by this ... person named Kona. That would have been a rather unfortunate experience. "Thankyou for your offer Kona, but lolth has caused me too much trouble for me to trust another higher being."

"By the way, Why did you heal the man. He attacked you , attempted to take your life?" Shain waited for a response from the person. he could not tell what race he was from.

Kain looked at Shain as he made more comments about his past. It was interesting and yet confusing, moon elves and drows never really made much sense to Kain. They could all die, just like humans, they weren't anything special. Kain watched the man scramble to his feet and run out of the bar and then listened as Shain asked why Konahomaru cured the man. Kain wasn't as curious but decided to listen anyway, but as he did, he pulled out a flask of Sake, his favorite alcoholic drink, from his pack and took a deep gulp of it.

"Veronna?" He asked aloud, "I've heard of her somewhere," He looked up, thoughtfully but then cast his gaze to the bar floor, "Can't remember..." It now bugged Kain and he continued to search his thoughts as he waited for Konahomaru to answer Shain first.

Kona continued on to the next man, the one he had disarmed by slitting his wrists, and similarly his holy aura healed the wounds and restored a small amount of his blood. The man rose up, and went his way out of the tavern, forgetting that Kona was even there. Then, Konahomaru went the the last man, the one whose elbow he had broken, and healed it as well. The man rose, thanked Konahomaru and left quickly as well.

"I heal them because I have forgiven them. They, as well, are repentent for their transgressions to me. It would be unright of me to hold my quarrel when they wish for no more." replied Kona, turning to face Shain.

He could feel his emotions and feelings, and felt much that he had felt in other people as well. "Do not shun your heritage, elf. You are priveleged to have the blood of two fine races running inside you. I as well am a half-breed, and have never been ashamed of it. I use my heritage as I should, for the greater good." said Kona, looking sternly into Shain's eyes.

Shain eyed this person interestedly. He had a calming way about him. "Thankyou sir, but I cannot find myself to beleive you wholy. People normaly hate drow and any thing to do with them." He looked over at Kain to see him drinking his acurrsed rice wine, sake. How that man could stand it, he would never know. Wine. That reminded him ... "You ow me a wine kain, for saving your tale. And yes, it will be elven."

He turned back to Kona. "i do not know this city well. Would you mind telling me a bit about it?" As Shain said this, he chuckled inwordly. this man had the look of justice. It was ironic that such a man might give an assassin such as himself a job opertunity.

"You are correct Shain, but keep this in mind: A godess is hardly a normal person, and somebodey with a holy aura that can heal people by just being near them is most defenitely somebody you can trust." replied Konahomaru, somewhat taken aback at the disparaging comment towards his master. His face hid it well however, and his cool white eyes did not betray any sense of the rare emotion.

He continued on, still directing his gaze at Shain. "I am not sure I want to inform you much about this city. You seem to have a darker motive towards this information, and until I am sure of what exactly you wish to do with it, I fear you may have to explore the city yourself."

Kain snapped at the comment. "I don't owe you anything, you wasted that damn wine yourself, fool!" Kain practically yelled. He covered his mouth however in surprise at how loud the burst of words had become. He shook it off and then looked towards Konahomaru; there was no doubt that Kain saw strength in him. He was powerful, needless to say, he would've been fine on his own, was Kain's sad realization. He had little to say to the man.

Kain looked back at Kona, "Dark motives?" He said raising an eyebrow. This man obviously didn't want to help those who practiced evil, making him a good person in general. That was enough to gain Kain's trust, then again, when Kain thought about it, alot of people could gain his trust, and very easily to...

"Wrong Kain. If you hadn't jumped up and down, waving your sword, I wouldn't have lost my wine. Still, I guess it's my fault." Shain said. "for thinking you were drunk from the way you acted." he added in undertones. He turned back to Kona, his eyebrows arching. Darker motives, he said. That was enough to put Shain on edge a bit with this man, but after all, he seemed pretty nice. It was not as if Shain was evil. He honestly didn't care a lick about good or evil. As long as you didn't attack him, or you weren't who he was hired to kill, he wouldn't kill you. He sometimes helped others out, when he felt like it.

"I accept your reason Kona." Shain answered. Mumbling to himself, he added, "But do not think I will tell you why. Few get to learn that." Motioning to a passing barmaid he asked for another wine and appoligized for the mess.

Looking around, He grabbed a nearby chair and sat down. Sliding two others to Kain and Kona, he commented "No need to be uncomfortable."

"Dont worry about your freind Shain, Kain. He is not necesarily evil, but, had a breif dark thought, as all of us do at times." said Kona, grabbing the chair that Shain offered him. He picked it up and moved it behind him, and then slowly sat down on it.

He had previously had a bad experience with chairs, especially flaming ones, and was from that one moment on ever cautious of them. He had always told himself it was foolish, but felt compelled to be careful nevertheless.

Kain smiled confidently as if he had won a battle, to him he had, the arguement ended in his favor and this caused the smile. As the chair was slided to him, he grabbed it, twisted it around and straddled it. It gave Kain a relaxed look, which he enjoyed, being relaxed that is. Kona spoke of Shain having a dark thought and Kain thought for a moment. This man obviously was an upright man, one that was what he would call "righteous." Kain shook the thought away. It didn't matter who this man was, this man had provided him with the satisfaction of a fight, and therefore was ok in Kain's book.

Kain watched Kona just stand there, but said nothing. He kept to himself all of a sudden then turned, realizing what Shain had said earlier. "I'm not drunk... I just wish I was..."

Shain waved to a passing bar maid. "An elven wine and a saki please." he said. Looking at Kain, he grinned. He guessed that he could help him with his wish of drunkeness. Turning to Kona, he appolagized. "Sorry, but I don't know what you like. When she comes back with the drinks, I can order you something if you like." Thinking for a minute he added, "What gave you the idea that i had a dark thought?" He wondered about this man. How could he tell about Shain's intentions? That was not something that Shain was comfortable with. Leaning back, he ran his eyes over the bar. Many people had returned to their meals and drinks. That was good.

Realizind that he was getting uncomfortably hot, turned to look at Kona from underneath his cowl. So far he had not much reason not to trust the man. yet he remembered the "white eyes" comment he had heard earlier. Ferom the drunk. Shrugging the thought away, He unfastened his cloak and laid it on the seat behind him. He swept his shoulder length black hair from in front of his eyes. White eyes. Oh well. He had been hot.

Nariwa Kona's interest was piqued when Shain removed his cloak and revealed his face. The black long hair, the definition in the face, those were not entirely surprising. What was suprising was the man's eyes. They were white, like his own. Only they were more clouded, and not the pure white that Kona had. Still, it was something to regard.

Kona gestured at himself, as part of the answer to Shain's question. "I am a half breed like you Shain. Being that, my race allows me to be in tune with the forces of good and evil. I can tell a persons intentions, see into their soul and tell what their heart truly feels. I cannot actually read thoughts, just emotions." Nariwa Kona did not want to say just yet what his race was. Most everyone in Taras knew by now, but not many wished to talke about it because it was such a rare and special thing, and nobody wanted extra attention. Especially Nariwa Konahomaru, the freshly infused half-celestial, who was growing ever closer to a full celestial.

Mostly, attention was not wanted because nobody wanted to incurr the anger of another god or goddess. Veronna didnt mind herself, but were certainly others who would be postiviely infuriated at it. That, and, secretly, Kona knew of another half-celestial he had yet to protect before he could pass the face of Imythess.

Kain smirked as the drinks were ordered; that was one way to get a drink... all he had to do was tell Shain that he wanted to be intoxicated and then Shain would take care of it from there. Kain just listened silently as Shain asked the question, about how Kona knew that Shain had a dark thought. Kain was also curious about this as well, but he just didn't ask, he assumed that Kona was some sort of mind reader. Like other people he knew...

Kain grabbed the sake as it came around, he nodded and took a sip and let it slide down his throat. He felt it burn the back of his mouth and closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation. He shook his head as Kona gave the answer to the question. He could read into someone's emotions. Kain's eyes widened slightly and he felt a pang of fear go through him, but as he realized that his thoughts were not being examined, it faded, slightly. He didn't want his emotions read, frankly, if the thoughts of the past came up, then Kona could see right through him, mainly because of his emotions and attitude towards the past. Kain would just have to keep those thoughts away...

Kain wasn't planning on making any obvious changes in the conversation. It would lead to the discovery of him trying to move away and possibly make this Kona search deeper. Kain didn't know the exact extent of these powers...

Shain eyed Kona inrestedly. The his gray skin cinkled up around his eyes as he though for a moment. "I know a bit of what you speak of. I can sense the mood of a place, or the reasons that they act in a certain way. It is helpfu..." Shain shut his mouth in a snap. Nine hells, he had to be more carful. He had almost stated his occupation. To draw attention from this, he began to cough. he wasn't to good at bluffing, but hopefuly he wouldn't be noticed.

After he finished his act, he took a large swig of his wine. He knew it was not proper to dink it this way, but Shain enjoyed the slight sting it cuased. mebye, just mebye he would order a vodca. That was an idea. he looked at Kona again. "would you like a drink. I normaly don't do as much myself, but tonight i feal like losing myself in it." With that, he ordered a vodca, smirking a bit. He was not ussualy swept up in alchohol like this, but tonight he made an exeption. Shaking his head to clear it, he looked to Kona for a reaply.

Kona did not make any facial expression to betray his motive towards Shain. No wonder he had been so hard to crack open, he too had the same ability. Kona silently chastised himself, as his face went to the trademark storm of focus and concentration.

"No thank you Shain. I do not drink alcohol for any reason. I pride myself in keeping my senses at all times, always aware of the surroundings. Alcohol reduces reaction and thinking ability in combat." replied Kona. Sure, it might make them feel uncomfortable, or maybe weird that Kona would be worried about such a thing. Although, he wasnt worried. It was the truth, and, Kona wasnt thirsty right now anyway.

"Hopefully you take the lesson learned today and apply it, so that I do not have to heal you and watch you run out the door." he added, a bit of a jest. It would probably fail however.

Kain took another drink from his sake as Shain began explaining about his strange ability to sense motives. Kain realized that this explained alot about other times that he had seen Shain; he always seemed to have a keen sense of what Kain was up to, even if Kain hadn't said anything. He was reminded of the time that he was testing Shain's morals, however, he shook the memories off as Kona started to speak. Kain sipped on his Sake until Kona started talking about the alcohol and how it clouds the mind and slows one down in combat.

Kain looked at his sake, it's brown-red color, and purposely drained it as Kona finished his sentence. “It may slow down reflexes, but when I'm fighting and I'm drunk, I become even more brash and irrational. I don't care how I achieve victory, just that I achieve it. And that helps me focus, more than when I'm sober.” Kain set his cup on a tray as it passed by, “I'll take another; it's good by the way, I'm impressed, not alot of people make a good sake. It's an art.” Kain smirked as the waitress walked away. He eyed her oddly but then turned back to Kona and added, “But, then again, that's just me...”

shain's head shook as Kain talked about his sake. It was utterly discusting in Shains oppinion. He downed the last of his vodka, listening to Kain and his battle tactics while drunk. Shain would never understand how the man could do that. Addressing kona, he said "Well, it's true that it clouds the senses, but why expect an attack all thwe time. Even you should enjoy yourself sometimes." Even though, Shain didn't order another vodka. he was waiting for kain to get too drunk to stand. Shain may find a way to exact his payment for his lost drink from Kain's purse when he was passing out.

"So, what do you do that you expect to be attckee at all times Kona?" Shain wanted to know in case it would endanger himself. Hopefully he wasn't an extremly high officer in the guard, or anything like that.

"I have a target painted on my back by several people in Imythess, more than I care to list, some of the names so evil they are unspeakable here. That, and I have no capacity to enjoy what you refer to as relaxing." Kona explained. No doubt it would only puzzle Shain much much more as to how and why Kona worked, what made him tick.

That could be a good thing though. Being unpredictable was always a good thing, even when you were unpredictable to your allies. At least thats what Kona thought. Even allis can become enemies at any minute.

It had happened before to him, 10 or so years ago, when he was still in Celestia as a trained assassin. How things have changed since then. Kona hardly even considered himself the same person as he was so far back, and was already arranging for a change in garb to reflect that change. Gone would be the dark blue, grey, and light blue colors that he was so known for.