{"sf1_id":742814,"sf2_id":"dmB4JgR1","title":"Between Gods and Gentlemen","author":"Ocean","words":1541,"posted_at":"2014-08-11T23:26:00.000Z","tags":["Flash Fiction","Revenge","Samurai","thief"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/742814-between-gods-and-gentlemen","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/dmB4JgR1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/f7/2b/f72be42a-69f4-49bd-8740-b6f4f3430786","description":"A thief crosses paths with a samurai searching for vengeance.\nNot a furry story. This is a flash fiction story I wrote for a small writing contest.","content":" **Between Gods and Gentlemen**\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Spare a few coins? \u0026nbsp;C'mon, just a few mon? Buy a drink for a guy who's down on his luck.\" \u0026nbsp;Placing a hand on the man in the blue robe's shoulder, the beggar accosted him further. \u0026nbsp;\"Hey pal, help a friend out?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The blue robes produced a few coins, sliding them on the counter and waving the man away, hoping to now enjoy his drink in peace. \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The beggar pawed them into his clutches, bowing and retreating. \u0026nbsp;\"Oh thank you sir. \u0026nbsp;Bless you. \u0026nbsp;You are so kind.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Just buy a drink already so you can start filling that mouth with alcohol instead of words.\" \u0026nbsp;The other man sighed.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Of course, of course.\" He nodded again, sliding his hand off the blue-robed man's shoulder and turning to the person sitting next to him. \u0026nbsp;\"What about you sir? \u0026nbsp;Would you care to ease your mind and give into karma? \u0026nbsp;Help someone less fortunate out?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The man with the tied-back hair didn't acknowledge the beggar beside him. \u0026nbsp;Bringing the hot sake to his lips, he sipped his drink, acting as if he was alone in the bar.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Just a few more mon and I can enjoy a drink with you!\" \u0026nbsp;The beggar placed his hand on the man's shoulder and leaned in closer. \"The gods will grant you good luck and-- oh my, those swords! \u0026nbsp;You must be samurai!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The beggar snapped his hand back, cringing as he waited for a reaction. \u0026nbsp;To his surprise, he continued to be ignored.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;He decided to test his luck. \u0026nbsp;\"Certainly a great samurai could spare a few coins. \u0026nbsp;Those blades you have are certainly not cheap by any means, but what samurai would spare any less with his tools? \u0026nbsp;Surely you could loan a few coins to one so much lesser than yourself?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Ever hopeful he waited as the samurai took another sip and placed his clay cup on the bar. \u0026nbsp;His form still hunched over, only paying attention to his drink. \u0026nbsp;After a few more moments, the beggar sighed and turned to walk away, his hand brushing the samurai's side.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The tied-back hair twitched and a hand shot out, grabbing the beggar's wrist and pulling it up and away from his waist.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Hey! What? Whoa!\" \u0026nbsp;The greasy haired beggar shouted.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Turning, the samurai's gaze stared down the man. \u0026nbsp;His cold eyes piercing the beggar before looking to the hand held high, grasping onto a small bag of coins.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Oh this? \u0026nbsp;Sometimes you have to help yourself. \u0026nbsp;No harm done right?\" \u0026nbsp;The thief nervously released his hold on the coin bag, tossing it on the bar. \u0026nbsp;\"See,\" he opened his palm towards his captor, \"we're square?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The samurai's eyes went wide. \u0026nbsp;He slammed the thief's wrist against the bar, the cup tumbling over with the shock and spilling onto the counter. \u0026nbsp;A swift motion brought a wakizashi to the quivering thief's throat. \u0026nbsp;The air was silent as the attention of the other patrons was now turned to the samurai with an unsheathed blade.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Pu--please don't hurt me.\" The thief shuddered with a gulp, feeling the edge of the blade press against his skin. \u0026nbsp;\"I--I mean no harm, just looking for some coins. \u0026nbsp;A worthless piece of scum like me is not worth dulling your blades on. \u0026nbsp;Spare my life, please!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The samurai pushed his thumb down the man's wrist, running over the black marking etched there. \u0026nbsp;Reading the symbol ? - God, he withdrew his sword and let go of the arm. \u0026nbsp;The released man stepped back, panting and bowing low.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Your mark is not the one I am looking for.\" \u0026nbsp;The samurai sat back down, grabbing his coin bag and attaching it to his belt. \u0026nbsp;He returned his cup to its upright position and placed a few mon next to it. \u0026nbsp;\"Tell me, why would a thief have the symbol of god on his wrist?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The thief's shoulders slumped, gaze shifting about looking for perked ears. \u0026nbsp;\"We must do what we must to survive. \u0026nbsp;Through all I have endured, the gods continue to provide for me and watch over me. \u0026nbsp;They have just saved my life have they not?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"I suppose they have,\" the samurai murmured as he watched the bartender wipe up the spill and fill the cup back up.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"What...\" The thief paused, pondering whether to take his good fortune and leave or give in to his curiosity. \u0026nbsp;He bit his lip and swallowed hard. \"What is it a samurai is looking for? \u0026nbsp;What mark on a man would bring such fury upon him?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Taking a sip of the freshly poured sake, the samurai swished the liquid in his mouth and swallowed before answering. \u0026nbsp;\"I search for the man who killed my wife.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The thief took a step back. \u0026nbsp;\"W--w--what happened?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The samurai sighed and closed his eyes. \u0026nbsp;\"It was late spring. \u0026nbsp;I had returned from travelling, it had been over a month since I had seen home. \u0026nbsp;She had patiently waited for my return, only to fall the day I came back.\" \u0026nbsp;He took a long sip and slid another few mon on the counter to the bartender. \u0026nbsp;\"I found her in the garden. \u0026nbsp;The killer had just left as she still had life when I found her. \u0026nbsp;Her body lay limp on a bed of blossoming white lilies with one flower placed on her chest.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"On a bed of white lilies? A single flower?\" The thief's eyes went wide. \"The white flower killer!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"But wait,\" the man in blue robes interrupted, \"aren't the victims of that killer usually seduced first? \u0026nbsp;Picking up lonely women looking for--\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The tied-back hair flicked harshly as the samurai shot the man a glance.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"My apologies dear samurai, I have been drinking. \u0026nbsp;Forgive my loose tongue.\" \u0026nbsp;The blue robes gulped and raised an open hand of surrender. \u0026nbsp;\"The authorities have been unsuccessfully trying to catch him for a while now. They've kept most information to themselves, how do you think you'll fare any better?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"So far all that is known to the public is that a single white flower is left on the body before leaving. \u0026nbsp;But if you'll remember our friend's marking on his wrist, I know that the killer has his own marking. \u0026nbsp;When I found my wife laying on her deathbed, she had not fully passed. \u0026nbsp;Gasping for breath and holding on, she waited my return to tell me one detail about him. \u0026nbsp;She whispered in my ear that he had the mark of a gentleman. \u0026nbsp;It was with her last breath in which she told me this before dying in my arms.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The man in the blue robes coughed on his drink. \u0026nbsp;\"So you're just going to go check everyone's wrist everywhere you go? \u0026nbsp;How ridiculous! \u0026nbsp;That man could be anywhere, and what if someone else has the same marking?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"Do you... Does this... wait...\" The thief stuttered in confusion. \u0026nbsp;\"The flower killer is around here? \u0026nbsp;Is that what's brought you here?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The samurai placed his cup back on the bar. \u0026nbsp;\"I believe he lives nearby.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The blue robed man shook his head. \u0026nbsp;\"Preposterous! \u0026nbsp;The flower killer has never struck this town, and there are no lotus blooms here in--\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;His words hung in the air. \u0026nbsp;The man's shock remained frozen on his face as his head fell from his shoulders and hit the floor. \u0026nbsp;The flash of steel had not registered with those around until after the samurai had cleaned and sheathed his blade. \u0026nbsp;It was the thief who screamed first. The body in the blue robes slumped over the bar.\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"It does not seem like he will need his coins back. \u0026nbsp;You may as well keep them.\" \u0026nbsp;The samurai patted the thief on the shoulder as he walked past. \u0026nbsp;\"Perhaps the gods are watching over you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;The rest of the patrons at the bar began to stumble over one another as they raced out of the building, reeling from the spectacle of the samurai's sword. \u0026nbsp;Staring in horror at the headless body on the bar, the thief saw a shimmer of white in the sleeve of the blue kimono. \u0026nbsp;His shaking hand pulled the cloth back causing a white lotus to fall from its hiding place. \u0026nbsp;Grasping the still warm wrist, he turned it over in his hand. \u0026nbsp;A gasp escaped his throat as he dropped the limb and ran out of the bar. \u0026nbsp;The arm fell back against the bar, palm up, showing the black marking etched into the flesh. \u0026nbsp;? - Gentlemen.\n\n  \n  \n\n"}