The location was a decent sized town on a open country side. The town was clearly one of the only ones in the area, all others were a day or two's ride away in either direction. The town was fairly well off and had nearly everything one could want. Perhaps that was why it was the only town in the area for miles. It was already night fall and the moon provided just enough light to see; Though it did provide an eerie glow to everything in it's wake. At this time a night the only action could usually be found at the town's tavern. It was where quite a few of the towns folk went to unwind before heading home for a nights sleep. The tavern was almost always busy and full of life, unfortunately it was never properly staffed so there were quite a few riots; Nearly one a night which usually came from one man complaining that the barmaid took his beer to another man.

There were plenty of places for people to sit, mostly chairs and round tables. Though in the very back of the tavern, in the darker more secluded area there were a couple special tables with considerably larger chairs. Of course this area was made for the wealthier of customers, the people who didn't want to sit with the riff-raff.

There was only one man back that far in the tavern, sitting by himself with a glass of red wine. He had long straight black hair that fell just to the small of his back; He also had one strip of white hair in the front. It started from his roots and fell to the right of his pale face. His skin was milky and it was clear that he didn't spend much time in the sun. He had dark eyes, dark blue to specific. He wore an emotionless expression as he sat leaned back in his chair, holding his wine glass; Spinning it just so much that the wine spun in the glass. He wore a white shirt with a ruffled collar and sleeves, with a black vest over top, neatly buttoned just up under the last ruffle of his collar. He also had black slacks that elongated his legs, they fell just around the top of his black shoes. He had a matching coat that he usually wore over top his vest, it had been removed and neatly placed on the back of his chair. He leaned back in the chair and lifted his leg, crossing it over the other while still idly spinning his wine. His eyes scanned the room every so often from the dark corner of the tavern. Merely watching the others and occasionally glancing over at the barmaids as they passed by with drinks.

[Picture of my Character]

She was the beauty of the village at eighteen years and the height of 5'6" with medium brown hair and hazel eyes. Walking through the tavern titled The Cherry Wine Inn, she served the men and women of her town along with the occasional traveler. Every day, she would feel the eyes the boys her age and the older men look at her with wanting. She was sick of it; sick of it.

The newest arrival to the town was a strange man in the far back who seemed to her to dislike socialism in the sense of communication and 'friendliness'. Walking back, she asked him "Would you like to have another glass, sir?"

Dressed in a black corset, of sorts, with a red skirt, she held her tray infront of her, covering her midrift and glanced around, feeling slightly uncomfortable surrounded by the riff-raff who looked at her a little too intensely.

The man of course like several of the other men had watched this one girl in particular. Though he averted his eyes when he saw that she was walking up to him. He casually rolled his eyes over to rest on her, giving her a closer look since she'd come closer to him. A very faint smile crept onto his lips and then faded quickly. His eyes trailed over to the wine in his glass as he was still spinning it. The glass was nearly empty but he wasn't so sure that he needed to have any more wine tonight. He set the glass down gently on the table and looked back over to the girl. "No thank you, Miss." He stated in a very polite soothing tone.

He happened to let his eyes pass her for a moment as he looked back over the rest of the people who couldn't seem to take their eyes off of her. It was clearly making her uncomfortable, he half believed that was what a couple of the other men were aiming for. He brought his eyes back to the girl and offered her a soft smile. "Miss. Rather then a drink, why don't you have a seat here with me for a little while?" Of course in the process of saying so he had reached into the small pocket of his vest and removed enough gold to cover stealing her time for a little while. He set it down on the table next to his wine glass as an offering to buy a little time. Of course he was sure that the bar keep wouldn't mind, considering the past couple night's he'd made sure to leave a little extra money on the table as a gift for their hospitality.

She shifted her weight back and forth on her heels. "Very well then, sir." She replied nonchalantly. Turning to leave and help the other customers, she paused at his invitation to sit with her. "Well, I really shouldn't. I mean . . . we are pretty bus-" her sentance cut of when the coins clinked together on the table top. "Uh . . . I really cant. Sorry, but . . . maybe another time?" She really didn't want to turn him down, but she had a job to do! Even if he was kinda cute, especially with his blue eyes.

He sighed lightly when she said she couldn't sit with him. He nodded softly. "Alright Miss, I understand." He paused and smiled lightly. "Since I can not possibly talk you into sitting here with me, then I shall just have to keep you busy." He stated eyeing his wine glass. "...I'll have another glass of wine, if you don't mind." He said shifting his eyes from the glass back over to the beauty before him.

She smiled and nodded."That was the Silver Tree Red Wine, correct?" When the stranger looked at her, she blushed and giggled for a few seconds before quieting down. The drunk men looked at the man with envy and hate, but at her with lust. "What is your name stranger?"

He smiled back at her and nodded softly. "Yes, that is what I was drinking." He said just before picking up his wine glass and taking the last sip from it. "My sincerest apologies, my name is Jiro." He stated as he looked back up at her. "And might I ask for your name in return?"

[ack! Sorry that I haven't been posting . . . parents are haggeling me about my grades and school so . . . yah. I'll complete the post later.]

She ducked her head down in a shy manner and replied, "My name is Krystel . . . Krys or Krystie for short." And she bit her lip.

"I'll take that," she said, reaching for the cup, "Then I'll bring you your refill."

Jiro smiled softly as he looked up at the girl after handing her his wine glass. "It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Miss Krystel." He leaned back in the chair slightly once his hands were free, his elbows resting gently one on each of the arm rests and then he laced his fingers together loosely while resting them in front of him. Of course he'd find trouble in trying to pry his eyes off of her while she went to get his refill, her beauty was quite enticing.

Krystel walked behind the bar and refilled the glass before walking back. The entire time the eyes of men followed her. "Her you go," and she set the glass on the table. "Anything else I can get you? Pastries? A full plate of something to eat?" And a few men looked jealous considering how much time she was spending with him, compared to the usual customer.

Jiro's dark blue eyes followed after her, though as she came back over he'd averted his eyes. Trying not to appear as most of the other men did. He glanced back up to her when she set the glass down on the table and then gave another soft smile. "Thank you, Miss Krystel." He said quietly as he reached for the glass with his right hand and then took a sip of the wine before setting the glass down again. "Perhaps." He paused having then glanced around to catch the eyes of a few of the other men. He smirked slightly and then looked back to the girl before him. "...How about something you'd recommend. It can be anything, I'm not at all picky."

"Please. Just Krystal. The miss makes me feel . . . old, I guess." A smile playing on the corners of her mouth. Before she walked away, she found herself eyeing his hair and shook her head beratting herself for the idiocy.

"Enjoy your wine." She said over her shoulder as she walked away.

For the next hour, she served the riff-raff of the town and suffered the inappropriate 'teasing' that was both verbal and physical. Darn it, how she hated it. She even slapped a few of the men when they got a little too much alcohol to the head. When the hour was over, she handed over the tray to the next waitress on shift and began to head home.

Jiro nodded lightly. "Alright, Krystel it is." He said softly as he lifted up his glass once again. He watched as she started to walk away from him and again, gave a slight nod. Though he was curious as to why she'd ignored his request for something to eat, something she would recommend to him. He shrugged and went on drinking his wine, he wasn't really all that hungry anyway.

It took him awhile to actually finish his glass of wine, as usual. He liked to savor it's flavor, down to ever last drop. He'd finally finished just about the time that Krystel was getting off of her shift. He'd spent the majority of her shift drinking his wine and watching her work; Not to mention giving a few icy glares to a few choice drunken men. He stood up and reached for his coat, slipping it on quickly and then buttoning the two buttons in the front just after setting a few gold pieces down on the table, as he usually did. He gave a slight nod to the bar keep who immediately sent another girl over to clean the table and gather the coins.

He followed after Krystel, trying not to fall too far behind. When he finally caught up to her he brushed his long black hair back over his shoulder and smiled softly. "Miss... er..." He paused and shook his head lightly. "Krystel, it's late. Is it alright if I walk you home?"

[ACK! I totally forgot that part . . . lets assume she did bring him something . . . >.< *facepalms*]

Krystel was unaware that Jiro had 'followed' her outside and assumed that he would stay. When she heard his voice she started. "Oh! Um . . . sure, why not?" Krystel looked nervous and she wasn't used to being escorted home. What was worse was that this was a complete stranger. Granted they had exchanged names and she did think that he was rather cute and all, but she really shouldn't have let him.

Why did I say that? Father is goin' to ask way too many questions . . . she thought as she continued walking. "Look, I don't mean to intrude or be rude or anything, but why exactly are you so interested in me?" She innocently asked as she crossed her arms to keep some of the night cold away from her. "I mean, there are other girls who would love to have your company. Not that I don't mind it, of course!" She hastely said, hoping that he wouldn't find her rude with the former statement. She didn't mean it like that, she just wasn't used to having a sober man interested in her. Plus, she was intrigued by him and was scared by that.

Jiro glanced down at her when she asked her question and smiled softly. "That is a silly question." He said simply at first. "I'm interested because I thought your beauty was quite stunning." He paused and let his eyes fall back to the ground before him as he walked beside her. "I thought I might like to get to know you a little better; Which is one reason why I asked if I could walk you home." He glanced back to her and gave another soft smile. "The other reason, I'm not so sure I trust some of those drunkards from the bar not to follow after you." He then slipped his hands into his pants pockets. "Are you uncomfortable with me walking you home?" He asked quietly. If she was then he by all means was willing to leave her be and continue the trip home on her own.

"Yah. I guess it is a silly question." She agreed a soft, vibrating laughter escaping from her lips for a few moments. His next statement caught her off guard and made her blush. "Oh! . . . Uh . . . Well, I don't quite know what to say to that."

Krystel continued on after a moment of thought. "Most men tell me that and they expect something from me . . . what exactly do you want?" When he mentioned that he wanted to get to know her, she stopped and looked at him with her head tilted to the side like an inquisitive puppy. "Oh. Well, you'll have to get through my family, mainly my father, for that." She informed him. "That is if you intend to be tortured about why a stranger like you is so interested in his only daughter."

"Thankyou for your consern, but I have been dealing with those same men since I began to turn into a woman." Krystel was embarrassed at this handsome mans interest, and yet sort of insulted that he thought her incapable of handling herself like she had for the past several years. Though, her interest in Jiro overroad her insulted and embarrassed feelings and only made her need to get home and away from him even more powerful. He is far too dangerously attractive! her mind shouted at her.

Krystel was deep into the shouting match between logic and wants and started when Jiro asked if she was uncomfortable. "NO! No, it's not that. As I said earlier, if my father sees you with me, he'll ask questions and I'll never hear the end of it. My father is way too protective and won't let a visiting stranger just waltz in and try to take his daughter." She said, biting her lip. Krystel really did like him and all, but, she realized that she shouldn't and didn't know what to do about it. Up ahead, the lights of her house came into view and the door began to open with her father behind it to greet her home, and to make sure that she was safe and in one piece. As usual.

[[So sorry for taking so long; I hit a brick wall and wasn't exactly sure how to reply to this. *gonk*]]

Jiro smiled softly, holding back a slight chuckle. "But Krystel... I'm not trying to take his daughter just yet... Merely trying to get to know her." He glanced over at her for a moment before letting his eyes fall back on the road in front of them. He really had no intentions of running off with the girl, especially since he knew so little about her. Though her looks were temptation enough to have made the thought cross his mind. "Your father has nothing to worry about. I didn't come to town just to find a girl to leave with." He said softly. He looked back over at her with a soft smile. "You really do make it sound like that was my whole intention. Do a lot of men try to steal you away?" He of course was merely joking around, poking fun at the way she made everything sound. He turned his attention back to the way they were walking, noticing the house coming into view. "I can safely assume that is where you live?" He asked quietly having noticed the door open and then the man behind it. "If you'd be more comfortable, I can leave you from here. I'm sure nothing will happen to you between your father and myself." He said lightly. He was certain that she could probably take care of herself but he couldn't help but be a gentlemen and walk her home; It was in his nature.

[lol. It's alright]

Krystel blushed and looked at the ground, embarrassed. "Oh. Well, that is how my father will see it, if you know what I mean. I guess that one could say that he is protective to the point of it becoming an annoyance."

"And yes, a few men have tried . . . men I've grown up with and even strangers looking for something from me, generally the riff-raff . . . " She shivered and became eerily quiet.

The corner of Krystels mouth twitched. "Yes, this is where I live." When he oftered to either leave or stay she hesitated. "Well, I don't quite know how you would take to my father and his personality and all. Maybe, it might be safer until I get to know you a bit more. No offense. I just don't want to get into any 'discussions' about anything . . . "

She paused in the road, far enough away in the dark so that her father wouldn't see her. "Um . . . Thankyou for being so kind and not trying anything on me like most do . . ." And she hugged him.

[Awww. *tear-dripper* ^-^]

Jiro was caught off guard by the sudden hug that he received from Krystel and merely returned the hug a few moments later; Gently wrapping his arms around her and giving her a light squeeze. He released her rather quickly and took a slight step back from her. "You should hurry on home." He said lightly. "You're father is expecting you around a certain time, I'm sure." He said as he glanced back towards her house. "Oh, and I'm going to be in town for awhile. I'm at the Inn near the tavern. I'm sure I'll see you again sometime, perhaps one day when your not working." He said with a small smile as he stepped a little closer to her again and reached for her hand, kissing it lightly. "Good night, Krystel."

[Ack! Sorry, I've been kinda dead on posting the last few months. Forgive meh, please.]

Krystel smiled when his arms wrapped around her. "Hmmm. Yah, I guess so." she whispered to his comment about her father.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow at the tavern then, eh?" She inquired.