Peach Village [open to all]

[XiaolinLilith]

There was a reason everyone called the little village by the sea, the Peach Village. Nestled between many small houses, there was a large tract of land that had been converted to a thriving peach orchard long ago, by the Matsuura family's men. In the back of this lush green paradise there was a lovely little estate owned by one Ayumi Matsuura, whom everyone said grew the best peaches in the land.

She lived alone, with only a few servants, two guards and a tiny Pekingese dog named Ping. Lately, there had been a rash of peach thieves, and the guards had been told to bring anyone suspicious to her; and all the children had been warned by their parents not to go into the estate.

However, no one listened.

That night, Ayumi stood in the backyard, whacking the dust out of rugs with the carpetbeater, when she heard a loud rustle and several thuds. A few seconds later, three shadows skittered across the yard, and Ping began to yap loudly...

[Lakot]

Kichirou found a comfortable tree to sit against and started chowing down on his pilfered peach. The kitsune boy grinned as he chewed on the sweet fruit. His long red hair was tied in an impromptu pony tail with twine and hung between his shoulder blades. His tail was the same color as his hair, deep red except for a white tuft at the end. His clothes were torn and worn and his entire body was filthy. Clearly he led a hard life.

But you'd never be able to tell by the way he joyusly ate the peach, green eyes closed and ears perked up, huge grin on his face. Under his torn shirt the golden chain of a necklace could be seen, peach juice running down it.

[XiaolinLilith]

"Aiiii~! Guards! Guards! Peach thieves!" Ayumi squealed, as Ping barked away. She ran to the front of her house to look around, her obi untying itself as the Pekingese scurried along behind her.

Two slightly burly men in black uniforms began poking around to find the miscreants; any red-blooded child would be scared half to death and would have fled by now. They held small, bright lanterns; as they got closer, people could see they were ookami--wolf men.

[Lakot]

Kichirou gave a tiny eep and bolted from his tree as the ookami approached him with their lanterns. "These guys weren't here before!" he thought frantically as he ran through the trees.

[XiaolinLilith]

Suddenly, one of the wolves reached...and grabbed the little kitsune's shoulder. "You're coming with us, to see the mistress..." he growled.

[Lakot]

"Oh no, thats all right, i was just leaving" he said with a nervous smile, pulling on his shoulder. "I don;t want to bother anyone" he reasoned as he dug his heels into the ground.

[XiaolinLilith]

The wolf simply ignored the little fox's pleas and pulled him along like a rag doll, to the porch where Ayumi sat with a cup of hot sake. "You've found one!! Little boy, do you know that stealing is VERY wrong?" She fixed a steely gaze on Kichirou and sipped lightly at the steaming wine. "Bring him up here, guards."

[Lakot]

Kichirou was dragged along the steps, resisting the best he could. "Hey, let's not jump to conclusions here" he said, not liking the look in her eyes.

[XiaolinLilith]

"Jump to conclusions? Well, let's see here...what about all that peach juice on your shirt?" Ayumi's tone would probably make anyone nervous; however, the looks that lady could give you...like getting a scolding from your own mom...

The wolves continued up the steps with the kitsune and plopped him on the wooden floor. "Thank you, sir. I'll be dealing with this shortly..." Ayumi said quietly, setting the little sake glass on the ground.

[Lakot]

Kichirou was dumped on the floor in heap. He quickly stood up, a nervous smile on his face as he slowly began backing away from her. "Well.....I was just....sampling some of your wonderful crop......so i could buy some later?" he said, slowly getting distance between him and the angry lady.