12 The Wolves

The next day, Saki woke up and thought back to what happened the day before. "I'm doomed…" he groaned. "Of all things, I had to encounter the wolves…" he sighed. "It seems that I'm in somewhere within the Bakumatsu Era. But… when exactly…?" he was still lost. Thinking about it won't do him any good. He needs to investigate more, and he can't do that with his current attire.

So, the first thing he did is to take out some of his spare clothes. He groaned as he started to remove the stitches on his clothes and used the fabric as materials. He started to sew a set of traditional clothes. He tried to make it as realistic as he could with his limited materials.

Hours passed and Saki finally finished sewing the clothes back. His eyes narrowed at the clothes he just sewed and sighed. "I guess this will do…" he grumbled under his breath before he took off his shirt. He put the clothes on and hoped for the best, that he does not appear eye-catching.

When Saki had estimated that it is noon time, he went to the town, which he had deduced, the olden Kyoto. He walked, and made sure that he did not stand out. He retraced his steps from last night and found himself on a street, which appears to be the red-light district. The streets were different compared to how he passed through the night before. He wanted to turn around and get out but at the same time, Saki himself is a male.

A young male, who never seen this before and only heard it from history. He's 'curious' if there is a difference between what they learned in history and what really transpired now. So, despite his conscience telling him to turn around, his curiosity won him over.

Saki walked around and it was an 'experience' for him. The women who worked kept on trying to grab his attention, only to move to another man when Saki didn't get baited. If Saki was being honest, he was starting to feel uncomfortable. For him, it was weird to see someone who wears traditional clothing to be flaunting themselves and flirting trying to get customer to their establishment. In the end, Saki decided to just turn around and leave because he knew nothing good will come even if he hangs out on the street for the whole day.

He was just about to turn around when a loud crashing noise coming from the building in front of him. Then, a large burly man was thrown out of the building by several men who appears to be the guards for the establishment.

"You little bitch! You think you're so great?!" the large burly man yelled out, enraged. He has sword strapped on his waist and Saki gathered that this man may either be a samurai, or a ronin. He did hear that the number of ronin is huge during these times, or he might be wrong.

"Please leave, we will not cater to the needs of someone like you," came a smooth, silky voice. As soon as Saki heard it, he felt a soothing effect almost immediately. It rarely happens to him, so he stays to witness what will happen next.

"Oh yeah? You think just because you are beautiful, you can nitpick on your customer?" the burly man hissed, his face red from both anger and embarrassment. "Listen here, everyone! This woman here, no matter how much money I offered to her, she always refused to accept me as a customer!" he roared out loud for everyone present to hear.

"This is not about money," the woman answered, but due to the amount of people before him, he still couldn't see the scene clearly. His line of sight was still obstructed so Saki, moved past the crowd to see better. "You, are asking me to sleep with you but I cannot do that. Our establishment is not like that. Please, leave…" she continued to speak in that sweet tone that seems to be music to Saki's ear.

When Saki finally reached the front of the crowd, he finally thought he would be able to see, only for him to be disappointed when his view is still obstructed, only that it was by the large burly man. In all honesty, Saki finds it surprising that no one have yet to jump in and saved her. Instead, as he looked around, he only sees them watching the event unfold with a pity in their eyes. Even from those who wields swords.

'And these guys call themselves men?' Saki thought to himself. The heated argument continues until the burly man couldn't stand it any longer. He could see that the man is raising his hand to hit the woman in front of him and before Saki could register it himself, he had already jumped in front of the 'lady in distress', holding to that hand, stopping the burly man from finishing his deed.

"Huh?! And who the hell are you? Her lover?" he asked with a snicker as he pulled his hand away roughly. That statement came to shock Saki that he was lost for words. He blinked a few times as he stared at the man. He couldn't fathom how someone could come to such conclusion.

"It seemed to me that she does not want your company and no, contrary to your statement, I am not her lover. Merely a passerby who couldn't stand the thought of someone hitting another who is defenseless," Saki replied. Though Saki had appeared calm on the outside, he's already gauging his opponent, and his mind is reeling with ideas on how to deal with this without being flashy. After all, he still needs to gather information and he does not want to be the talk of the people.

The man, upon hearing Saki's answer, became even more enraged. "You're messing with the wrong person. I have no qualm in cutting down an unarmed person…" he said as he grits his teeth. As soon as he finished saying that, the man took out his sword from its sheath. But Saki had long anticipated such move so he was already prepared with a counter. He moved in quickly, and quickly pressed on the pressure point on the male's hand, effectively making the sword fell to the ground.

"What a coincidence… I also have no qualms in teaching someone like you some manners," Saki said with a smirk on his face. With that, he maneuvered himself with a few light movement. His first move was delivering an upward palm attack to the man's jaw and as the man staggered back, he launched a swift roundhouse kick to the male's head. It seems that the man isn't as tough as he looks as he was rendered unconscious with just those two moves.

"What is going on here?!" came a loud, imposing voice. People quickly gives way for a group of people to go through while some quickly turned tails. Seeing the group, Saki quickly cursed his luck.

"To actually meet the wolves again…" he muttered out in a low voice. He is tempted to run away, but that would've been even more suspicious. So, no matter how loud the danger siren sounded in his mind, he stays rooted to the ground with his heads down. Hoping they wouldn't pay him any attention. He just hoped that these are not the same group that he encountered the night before.

"As long as it's not him…" Saki whispered to himself before he stole a glance at the incoming group. The moment he saw the male just few steps behind the one leading, Saki cursed his luck.