Let's try that again...

[evillurks]

Now that he's growing accustomed to having her as a true agent again, Myra's recovery in her own world puts The Shadow slightly short-handed. He finds his own wheezing a severe liability whenever stealth is needed, forcing him to rely on other agents for quiet investigations. The alternate solution, and one he struggles to uphold, is to be supremely diligent in taking care of himself except when he truly needs to take to the streets firsthand. The restriction grates on his nerves, and coordinating agents to do some of the footwork takes up more time.
He is careful, following the unexpected incident in ancient Japan, and he is also busy. The drug market has gone fairly quiet, but there is a definite gradual increase in violent crime. Arresting the individuals involved seems to have no impact on this slow crescendo. The network is spread wide and thin, scratching the ground for clues. After a matter of days, The Shadow has done all he can do about the matter. Once again he must wait, sift the city through his agents, and hope some vital puzzle piece comes to light. On this break from work he recalls a social obligation. A morning outing has him arriving at the Rettigue apartment with sake and scotch. The place has been abandoned the past few days, but that means there's no paperwork to tidy. The grand spaces and spartan furnishings should make it a comfortable place for a blind man to visit.

When the sake is warm and the cups set out, he sends off an invitation, and then laughs quietly at his own unfamiliar attempt at hospitality.

Comments

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow tilts his head at the sound, feeling chastised for not realizing what a clear take Ichi has of his surroundings. "I don't appreciate it as much as I used to. Maybe I'm going soft... What do you think of the scotch?" He isn't certain if he should offer to refill the glass yet or not.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"S'very good." Ichi smiles as he pushes the tumbler forward a bit. He's trying to politely show he'd like a refill. "Heh, a man who takes down yakuza like that is not going soft."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The hint is quickly taken, as he tosses back the last of his own glass. The Shadow leans forward and refills both tumblers, Ichi's first. "Thank you. I spend more time shooting and less time in hand-to-hand combat than I used to. Come to that... I wouldn't mind learning something of what you do. That underhand technique isn't one I was ever taught much of." This is not to say he's never used a weapon backwards before, out of desperation, but Ichi's skill is something he admires.

"My height tends to put me at a disadvantage in a sword fight, but I can crouch low for short periods to offset it." Keeping very low has always been a useful tactic in his work, regardless of the weaponry involved. Many's the time he's thrust open a door or made his presence known some other fashion while crouched down, only to have a barrage of bullets whizz harmlessly overhead.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

He tucks his chin to his chest shyly as he picks up the tumbler and holds it in his lap carefully.

"It's unconventional, but Banno-sensei thought it would be more natural for me. Iaido is flexible like that, though. So he adapted it." Ichi is quiet, reverent as he speaks of his former teacher. He's almost somber as he tossed back a little of the scotch. "I don't know how well I'd be able to teach it, but if you really want to learn, I'm willing to try."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The emotional charge is noted, but The Shadow does not feel it is his place to pry. There is some sorrow associated with the memories of many of his own teachers, for various reasons.

"Perhaps I didn't adequately express my drive to learn everything..." There is amusement in his tone, as well as preliminary gratitude that Ichi might be a willing teacher. "I don't expect you to turn me into a master swordsman, but I'd appreciate whatever you can pass along. You never know what tricks will help in a pinch, and I get into a lot of those." He takes a swallow of scotch and studies the other man. "When your arm is up to it, of course."

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

Ichi gives a gentle smile, breaking the melancholy spell that had briefly cast itself over him.

"I may not know everything, but I can't turn down a man like you. My own drive to learn sword craft was insatiable. I would have hounded Sensei if he hadn't accepted me to his Dojo." He laughs. "You'll have to forgive me though, it wont' be as structured as it should be. I'm no samurai."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"I don't have the proper discipline to be a good student, anyway. I'm sure you'll be an excellent teacher for my purposes." The Shadow seems to have relaxed again, his tone easy and amused. He doesn't mind the idea of a teacher who seems to be easily cowed by his own forceful personality. He may be selling himself short on the matter of discipline, however. That he has focused his violent and anti-social tendencies into a heroic career is a testament to his force of will.

"I'm ambidextrous, if that helps any. Whatever you teach me in one hand I can learn just as easily with the other."

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"Swords don't care how you hold 'em." He laughs and finishes off his glass of scotch, setting it down on the table. "Whichever way is comfortable for you, we'll work with. It'll be a lot of wrist work, compared to the regular way." The Shadow's wrists, used to the .45s, should have little problems with the strength aspect of the technique.

Ichi leans forward slightly, starting to feel that calming buzz that came with the amount of alcohol he'd imbibed. He's certainly not used to the scotch, but he holds his liquor well. He holds out the sake cup with a small nod of his head.

"That scotch is good, but I'd like some more of that sake, please." He'd hate for it to cool too much.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"My wrists are fine. No katana packs the kick a modern firearm does." He smirks faintly, and refills the sake cup for Ichi. "To each his own poison. It's been a long time since I had drinks at all..." He's content with his scotch, for now, which leaves more sake for his companion.

"If there's ever anything you'd like me to teach you, just ask. That way we'll be even..." He'd hate to go incurring debts again, on either side.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

There's a low chuckle from Ichi as he holds his cup.

"Consider it payment for your help." It seems he's finally figured out a way to return the debt. "There, settled?"

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

It may be fortunate that the eyeroll is lost on Ichi. "If that makes you feel better, yes." He refills his own tumbler with scotch and settles back, but allows himself a few minutes of pause. His thinking is beginning to feel uncustomarily relaxed, and while the sensation is pleasant, it also triggers a sense of wariness in the back of his mind. "I wonder if I should try to learn with a no-dachi or something. A katana is a large weapon to carry on the streets. I'm already loaded down with two to four automatics and pocketfuls of assorted equipment." He is simply thinking aloud, for the moment.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"Small items are just as useful. I could focus on those instead. Many of the same techniques carry over." Ichi's used any strange assortment of items for self defense, ranging from simple tantos, to chopsticks and hairpins, if the situation is dire enough.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"I sometimes carry a knife, but it's more of a hunting knife. Useful for prying open windows and doors or cutting wires and rope as much as for fighting. I suppose I could bring the whole arsenal along wherever we choose to practice, and experiment with what I've got." He won't be teaching Ichi how to fire a gun, of course, since that's more of a sight-based weapon. "If you're in need of additional weaponry, I've got some to spare."

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"A knife is good for anything. Bring what you usually have, and we'll see if we can't make use of it." He rattles his cane sword briefly. "And we'll work with proper weapons too. Because Heaven knows you're not a force enough to be reckoned with already." Ichi muses for a moment, resting his cane upright against his shoulder. "If you have your own sword, that would be helpful. Otherwise, I can always get one." He gives a chuckle. "I'll convince some hot-shot to bet his."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

There is the hint of a chuckle in his voice. "That's not necessary, I do have a katana, it's just not very well used." He feels some mild embarrassment over this, since such a thing should be properly and respectfully maintained, but he has so many weapons and so much to do that those that are used less often tend to be neglected.

"You haven't seen what I'm up against in my own world, though. It's not always unskilled thugs." He gives a softly rattling sigh, but the faint buzz of the scotch prevents him from being too maudlin over things, for the moment.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"I'd be lucky to see anything in your world, Shadow-san." Ichi runs his hand along the cane in thought. The comment is not meant to be rude, he's simply stating that he thinks The Shadow's world is beyond his understanding. "You said you're up against guns. I've faced one or two at a time, but a whole gang armed with them, honestly is a terrifying thought for a man like me. I'll teach you whatever I can, but I don't know how it will help against enemies like that."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow lets the correction slide. "Guns are by necessity used by sight... there's a flash at the end of the barrel when a gun fires, more visible the darker the conditions are. I can pick targets that I can't see any other way, but my own shooting reveals my position. It's not an easy game. But I know my way around a shot-out. It's close quarters and stealth that calls for real skill, and any tricks you can teach me to deal with that will help. If I can take out guards up close and quietly, that can help me avoid mass shoot-outs." He sips the scotch, slowing down now. "My enemies are still just men, especially when they're alone in the dark."

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

Ichi finishes his cup of sake and holds it as he sets his hand on the table, carefully playing with it. His thick hands are dexterous. He thinks on the comments about guns.

"I'll do my best. And perhaps I can work with that sharp hearing of yours too." He reaches into his sleeve, there's a brief rattle and then he slaps his hand down on the table. "It's a trick I learned to help tune my ears. Everything I teach you will be based on what I hear, so I don't see how it would hurt to work with it." There's a wry smile and he mumbles. "Even." Lifting his hand, he shows two dice, and that his guess is correct that they add up to an even number. Cho-han, a gambling dice game of evens and odds, is an iconic pastime of the yakuza that's still popular in The Shadow's era.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

Despite equally impressive skills in a fight, they make an interesting physical contrast. The Shadow leans forward to watch, and absently drums his own long, tapered, bony fingers on the tabletop once. "Hm. I'm not ordinarily a gambling man, or at least not that kind..." He's been known to gamble with his own life, but that's another matter entirely.

Taking another long gulp of scotch, he sets the tumbler down and closes his eyes. "Again." The Shadow's head tilts slightly as he prepares to listen for the discrepancies in sound. It seems worth a try, although there are moments he worries over the dulling of senses that unavoidably comes with age. His keen eyesight is not quite what it was, and the sense of smell is harder to gauge. So many men lose their hearing later in life. Such anxieties gnaw at him in private moments. Today his senses will be put to the test.

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"It's my favorite pastime." Ichi rattles the dice in his hand again before slapping them back down on the table.

"Game!" He announces in the proper command that requests a guess to be made. He'll wait for The Shadow to decide before he announces that he's heard the dice fall as odd.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

"You can't expect me to have the hang of it yet, I've only heard them once! Oh... Even." It is simply a guess, as he is more focused on holding the sound in mind for comparison with the result. Neither does he bother to look, trusting Ichi's skill to give an accurate result. "Surely all dice don't sound the same?"

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

Ichi grins as he lifts his hand.

"Odd. And no, they don't sound the same, but you listen a few times, and you can start to tell which is which." He lowers his head as he picks the dice back up. He realizes the game wasn't fair, but he's glad to hear The Shadow is willing to take the technique seriously. Most tend to scoff. "Takes a couple wrong guesses to learn what a set sounds like, but I don't bet until I get them figured out. Here." He rattles the dice again, putting them on the table but takes his hand away. "Take a few rolls. I figure if I can explain the differences I hear, and compare it to what you hear, we can get some basics out of the way, so the training will be more effective."

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

The Shadow is no stranger to such training, which might be unconventional in the West. His night vision is good, but he has also practiced swordsmanship and martial arts blindfolded, and the concept is not new to him. He rolls the dice individually, listening with eyes closed and opening them to check, until he has an idea of the subtle differences in all six sides. Together is more difficult, because although he has no trouble with the rapid mental calculations to add them up, he finds the distinct sounds harder to pick out when they land together.

After several minutes of experimentation, a bony hand presses the dice back into Ichi's. A heavy ring slides and brushes against his fingertips. "I'm not betting money against you, I'd lose, and my currency wouldn't be any good in your world, but I'll give it another go."

[blind-masseur.livejournal.com]

"I don't gamble against friends, anyways." Ichi grins as he accepts the dice and gives them a shake. "We'll play a few games, find what we find, and we can go from there when you have the time." Ichi's not used to someone being as astute as The Shadow, so he's not going to draw the small experiment out any longer than a few rolls. He just wants to get an idea of how much The Shadow does hear, so he can figure out how much he can describe his own experiences, to help with the training. He rattles the dice, and slaps them on the table, an ear turned towards them.

[evillurks.livejournal.com]

Frowning in concentration, The Shadow is also bent low over the table, head tilted and eyes closed. He analyzes the sounds, finding yet another challenge in the difference of their falling across the table from him instead of beneath his own hand. His quiet tone rings with uncertainty. "Even?" He is ready to learn, and to find he has made a wrong guess would be no bruise to his ego.