Shangri La Pt. 1

7: Same as Always

Izumi hadn't gone out to the city in a long time since she started working for the Yaoyorozu Clan. 

'I wonder if anything's changed since I last went to the city... maybe I can see Shinso!' Izumi thought and felt herself getting excited. She picked up the pace and ran out of the gates from the large temple and was heading for the city. 

'I hope he's still wanting to become a Scholar...' Izumi thought with happiness.

She covered her hair before she arrived into the city and walked through the busy streets. 

'Busy as always, so where's Shinso?' Izumi thought, trying to look for that familiar face. 

She turned her head and saw the familiar sight, but it was more than that when she looked at what she saw. She saw that familiar dark purple hair and droopy eyes, but there was a group of men surrounding this person. 

These men looked like they were taunting this lone man. 

'Shinso!' Izumi walked faster and got closer to see everything and was able to hear what the men were saying. 

They sounded like they were interrogating this man, and the man didn't appear to do anything wrong.

'I've got to save him!' Izumi thought. 

She was about to go out there and do something, but what? Her fighting skills were nothing like her cousin's and it's not like she could wield a weapon or speak words of fear. 

She looked up and saw how calm the man being interrogated was, but she still worried something bad would happen if she waited any longer. 

'If only I wasn't a scaredy cat, then none of this would continue. If Emra was here, what would she do?' Izumi thought and remembered all the times Emra spoke up for her and how strong she appeared. 

'Right- let's try that!' Izumi thought and stopped hiding.

"Don't think you can run from us this time-" 

"Leave him alone!" 

The men turned their heads and saw a woman walking up to them. They couldn't see the color of her hair, but they saw her large and soft Emerald Green eyes staring at them. 

"Huh? What does someone like you want? We're busy!" one of the men yelled. 

"Leave this man alone, he's done nothing wrong for you to threaten him." Izumi said in a strong tone. 

Though she was acting strong, she felt her body shaking.

"Heh- are you saying we should mess with you then?" 

"No, but that doesn't mean you need to cause trouble to someone who's done nothing wrong." Izumi said. 

"Oh yeah- what do you think'll stop us then?" one of them said. 

Izumi lifted her hand and placed it over her neck and grabbed something resting on her neck. She pulled what she grabbed, it was a necklace wrapped around her neck and she held it in her hand. 

She lifted up the chain and the sight of a stone of bright Green appeared to the men. 

"This is a sacred Emerald that I am willing to give to you. It is known to be a fortune, and gives anyone who wears it peace and practically immortality if worn on the right person. Does this settle for you?" Izumi asked them.

The leader quickly snatched the necklace from her hand and looked at the Green stone. 

"Where the hell'd you get this?"