Gearing Up

AS THE PARTY steps into the Star Shop, Kiyo and Kino stop just inside the door taking in the store's inventory of gear. Brigandines made out of leather of varying sizes and styles, leather and steel breastplates, suede long vest tunics, even full suits of armor all along the walls of the shop and so much more. On the shelves there are gauntlets, bracers, pauldrons, spaulders, and helmets made from leather or steel. There's stacks of folded shirts, pants, socks, and other things. They all have name tags, price tags, and a brief description of the item.

Standing all the way in the back is a beautiful elf girl with long blond hair with a touch of green tied up in a simple ponytail. Her eyes are a dark hazel. She's wearing a baby blue blouse with a deep v cut showing off her well endowed assets, her long skirt is black with a yellow ring belt, and her shoes are black loafers.

" Welcome to The Star Shop. How can I help you today?"

"Hey Yui."

"Leo, welcome back. Who are your friends?"

"This is Kiyo and Kino. They are not just my friends, but my party members as well. I joined them after they saved me from the True Believers."

"You're in a party now, congrats. So are you all D ranked then?"

"We're SS ranked actually." Answered Kiyo.

"Wow, that's amazing. So what are your classes?"

"Warrior Class."

"Assassin Class."

"Feel free to have a look around. If you need any help let me know."

As Kiyo begins to look around he spots something in the corner he can't believe is here.

"This is traditional samurai armor, and it's even pieced together correctly."

"It's what?" Yui walks over to him.

"Kino and I come from another world. This was something worn sometime in the late twelfth century."

"Kiyo, could you tell me more about this armor?" Yui asks as she pulls out a small notepad and quill.

"This here is a dou. It's the maIn body of the armor. It's made from leather and iron plates of different sizes, the cuirass fitted over the chest."

"Brace yourself Leo, Kiyo's gonna nerd out on us." Kino whispers to Leo.

"This is the kusazuri. It makes up the lower part of the dou, it protects the hips, legs and groin area. It's crafted from leather or iron, it hangs from the front and back of the dou.

This is the sode. These massive plates attached to the upper part of the dou and protected the samurai's shoulders."

Kiyo stops for a bit to let Yui catch up with her note taking. Yui looks up from her notepad indicating she is ready for Kiyo to continue.

"This here is the kote." Kiyo begins again. "They're armored sleeves that extend to the shoulder. They were made from a combination of silk brocade, metal plates and inner quilting. They also had gauntlets that protected the back of the hands.

This is a kabuto. It's made from iron or leather plates riveted together, the kabuto provides protection for the head and face. It also has a neck guard, but I don't see it with the kabuto. It should be on the bottom."

"Sorry Kiyo, I don't ever recall seeing anything on the bottom of it. And it's been in this shop for a really long time. Could never sell it because the store owner and I didn't know how to price it. So it just sits there as a display piece." Yui explains.

"Alright moving on, this is the haidate. It's the lower portion of the armor. It's crafted from cloth with small iron or leather plates, they provide excellent leg protection.

This is the suneate. They were used as shin guards made out of iron splints and tied around the calf.

This is the kogake. They were armored foot coverings fashioned in the distinctive japanese 'split-toe' tabi style that you see here. They were paired with waraji-gake-tabi socks that were made from cotton linen.

Lastly, this is the mengu. It's a type of mask that was worn to strike fear into the heart of one's enemies. These were made from either leather or metal, it was designed in such a way that it could be tied securely to the heavy kabuto. Typical mengu designs had mustaches, sharp teeth, and demonic eyes." Kiyo lets out a sigh and smiles.

"Are you done geeking out?" Kino asks.

"Hey now, do I say anything about you geeking out over traveling?" Kiyo fires back.

"Touche."

"Kiyo, Are samurais still around?"

"No Yui, they are not. The era of the samurai has ended. But the influence of those great warriors still manifests itself deeply in our culture."

"Did you learn all this in school?"

"I actually learned a lot about the samurai from my grandfather. He had a set of samurai armor front and center in our family's kendo dojo."

"Kendo… dojo?" Yui cocks her head to the side with a puzzled expression on her face.

"Kendo is what you would in this world call swordsmen ship, and a dojo is a room or hall for learning different practices of combat."

"Oh wow that's so cool."

"Hey Yui, I'd like to buy these please."

"Sure thing Kino, let's see what you have. A black velvet bolero jacket, a white cloth, and black leggings. What about your foot wear?"

"Nope I'll keep these."

"Alright, then it's on me."

"Seriously Yui!?"

"Yes Kino, you guys saved Leo who's a very dear friend to me."

"Thank you Yui."

Meanwhile Leo is just standing there unaware of what Yui has told Kino.

"What about you Kiyo, do you want the samurai armor?" Yui asks turning back to him.

"No, give me a bit to look around some more."

"Sure thing."

"Is there a place to change Yui?"

"Right this way Kino, follow me."

"Hang on Kino, what are you doing with the white cloth?"

"You'll just have to wait and see Leo."

Twenty minutes later.

Kino walks out, the white cloth is wrapped around her in a cross wrap front tie back style, the black velvet bolero jacket fits her perfectly, the leggings and her footwear make it hard for Leo not to stare. He doesn't even hide the fact that he's doing so. He's impressed with her well toned body from her arms, and shoulders, down to her eight pack abs. His gaze travels down now to her legs, even with the leggings on he could make out how tone her thighs and calves are.

"Hey asshole!"

Those two words send a shiver down Leo's spine. The temperature suddenly drops even though it's quite warm in the shop. He can feel the blood lust emanating from behind him. He knows who it is without turning around.

"So if you're done gawking at her, I'm going to go help Kiyo out."

"Sorry Yui."

"Hmm… Yui went from a happy and perky girl to a demon ready to rip your head for looking at another girl. There's only one reason why she would get that pissed off at you and it's because she likes you Leo."

"What!? No way we're just friends"

"Trust me Leo, she wants to be more than friends."

Leo turns to look at Yui, letting what Kino said sink in.

"So Kiyo have you decided on anything?"

"Yes, this red leather long jerkins jacket, red canvas pants, and black boots."

"Like I told Kino this is on me. So you can go change in the back."

"Great thanks Yui."

A few minutes later Kiyo is changed and ready to go.

"Umm where did the clothes you guys were wearing go?" Asks Yui.

"Right here, Inventory… See this black hole thing appears, and we can store things there." Kino demonstrates for Yui.

"You guys don't have this do you?" Asks Kiyo.

"Nope, we use item bags to store things. The size of the bag determines how much it can hold."

"Hmm I guess this is unique only to Kino and myself."

Kiyo stands there in silence thinking over this new bit of information.

"So where are you guys going now?" Asks Yui.

"I'm having my mace and shield repaired so it'll be three days before I can take on any quests." Replies Leo.

"Hey Kiyo, let's go check out our schools." Kino suggests.

"How are you two SS ranked if you haven't been to the schools?" Asks Yui.

"We came to this world top ranked and overpowered."

"You lost me."

Kino starts explaining everything to Yui.

"Well in that case Kino's right, you guys should go check out your respective schools."

"Alright, let's head back to the adventurer's guild then." Kiyo says heading for the door.

"Bye guys see you next time." Yui waves goodbye to the group.

Adventurer's Guild

"Welcome back guys, how can I help you?" Rin greets the party with a smile.

"We would like to head to our schools." Replies Kino.

"Ok follow me please."

"You guys go on ahead. I'm gonna look around for new members to join us." Leo announces.

"It would be smart to have someone from the other classes join us."

"You got it Kiyo. I'll see you guys later." Leo heads out.

Behind the Adventurer's Guild

"This is the Rainbow Gate, just stand in the center one at a time. It will identify your class, and transport you to your school, any questions?" Rin asks after a simple explanation of how the Rainbow Gate works.

"What's with everything being rainbow this and rainbow that?"

"I don't know Kino. I didn't pick the names."

"So how can we return here once we're done?"

"Well Kiyo just close your eyes and say I wish I wish to return to Rin with all my heart."

"Yeah no I'll just walk back." Kiyo replies.

"I'll run back." Kino happily replies.

"You two are no fun. Look, just tell whoever is on duty at the time that you came from the adventurer's guild over in Snapdragon Village. The Rainbow Gate can be reconfigured to other colors that coincide with the guild's color. Our guild color is light blue." Rin explains.

"I'm still running back."

"What, why would you do that Kino?"

"She just wants to explore this world, Rin. It's what she loves"

"You know it."

"Just stay out of trouble. Ok Kino."

"Hey now I don't look for trouble, trouble looks for me." Kino shoots back.

Kiyo just rolls his eyes and smirks at his sister.

"Are you guys ready?" Rin asks the twins.

Yes, reply the twins.

"Kiyo, you're up first just step into the center. Now the Warrior School is located in Apple Blossom Town. I say town, but it's actually a thirty minute walk to reach the town."

"See you guys later."

The Rainbow Gate starts glowing red, it's slow at first then starts pulsating faster and faster then in a burst of red light Kiyo is gone.

"Alright let's do this." Kino moves to step into the gate.

"Hang on a sec I have something to tell you."

"What's that Rin?"

"My class is assassin like yours. So when you get to the school, tell the headmaster that Rin sent you and ask for a map of the empire. That way you can explore all you like without getting too lost. Aster Village is close by, but the school itself is in the woods."

"Sweet thanks Rin."

The Rainbow Gate begins its process again, only this time the light is blue. Then after a burst of blue light Kino is gone.