wl_fanfiction | The Ash Inn Special

leonic-0922.livejournal.com posting in

This is another 'history piece' of the Ash Inn. This has been posted to wliialove during Stud Week. Also, I have a small announcement to make.

Title: The Ash Inn
Author: Me, Jade
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Staring: Chip, Niall, Steve Frost
Summary: This piece focuses on Chip. It traces him back to his last Samurai day, and his first day at the Ash Inn.

In over a month's time, I'm off to Hong Kong for the summer. I don't want to leave anything trailing on for me to finish when I get back from Hong Kong, so I'm restarting the Ash Inn. It'll have a proper plot, unlike this one, some sadness to ensure that the Ash Inn will come to an end, and a lot of kick-ass action. Oh, and the other history pieces (Tony and Greg) will be up sometime.

The Ash Inn Special – Chip

It was atop the ancient stone battlegrounds that the two great Samurais met face to face, for the first time in fifteen years. There was the last Samurai hero Ohcho, clad in the respective colours of red and gold scaly armour. Facing him was the great Samurai fiend Yakuza, clad in poisonous green and blood red armour. For a moment they stood in silence, a gently breeze blowing their direction, causing their armoured skirts to flap. Then Ohcho spoke.

“You have returned, little one.” Yakuza stirred at this.

“You can still call me little one?” he said, his words not muffled, despite having a black mask attached to his helmet, covering all his facial features but his eyes. “After what I have done?”

“Indeed, you have done great but terrible things. It is little known I was once your master. Are you really going to kill your master?”

“Once I have killed you, I will be the greatest Samurai ever. No one will be able to survive my double katana. I plan to retire after your death.”

“But why kill before you retire? Why not just retire?” Yazkua’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“I plan to start afresh a new life. You and Slifer are the only people who know my true identity. Everyone against me who knows my true identity must be killed. Once you are dead, I can retire in peace.”

“And what will happen to your – I quite wrongly use this word – apprentice, who I believe is Sherwood. He too knows your identity. Is he to die as well? Or are you to spare him?”

“I trust him, he will not betray me,” answered Yakuza shortly. “But for you, I cannot trust you enough.” With speed faster than the naked eye could follow, the two katanas strapped across Yakuza’s back flew out of their sheaths and into the air. They fell hilt first. Yakuza accurately caught the hilts.

“Very impressive. You haven’t changed at all,” said Ohcho. “You were always ahead of the class. I will never forget you as a student … Chip Esten.” It was those last two words which enraged Yakuza. He ran forwards with enough speed to outrun a cheetah, his blades poised. With all his might he lunged at Ohcho, one blade out in front. The katana went straight through Ohcho’s heart, killing him instantly. He pulled the blade out and Ohcho’s now lifeless body collapsed backwards.

Yakuza knew it would be a long time before anyone would find Ohcho. He turned round and darted away from the scene, knowing his battle for power was won. Now, he would live peacefully.

***

“The Ash Inn,” muttered Chip as he looked up at the sign hanging outside the front doors. He had heard the Ash Inn needed more staff members. Rostville was the perfect place for Chip; he was certain village had never heard of any Samurais, and that nobody he knew lived in Rostville, so it was the best place for him to stay. He glared up at the inn. It resembled a three-storey castle with four turrets. Without further ado, Chip pushed open the front doors and walked in.

There was only one person standing behind the bar. He welcomed Chip with a smile. Chip glanced around and saw two customers sitting quietly in the corner, their drinks in front of them. He walked up to the bar and carefully sat down. He put down his five bags, three of which were carrying his Samurai armour, and sat down. He saw the bartender’s eyes glance at Chip’s katanas, which were strapped across his back.

“I heard that the Ash Inn was looking for staff members,” said Chip. “I’m short of a job, and I saw your advert in a newspaper.”

“Are you a Samurai or ninja?” asked the bartender curiously.

“Ex-Samurai. I retired four months ago, with great honour to my name,” answered Chip. He had rehearsed the lie many times so that it came out natural. “I killed a powerful Samurai fiend.” The bartender looked impressed.

“I’m Niall Ashdown, owner of all Ash Inn branches,” said the bartender. He held out his hand and Chip shook it. “I suppose it would be useful to have a Samurai on our side. Have you served behind a bar before?” Chip was slightly taken aback; he hadn’t expected to work behind the bar, he had expected to be something like a guard.

“No, but it’s just a matter of pouring out drinks and fetching bottles from behind the bar, isn’t it?” asked Chip.

“In a sense, yes,” answered Niall. “The main thing on a busy night is speed and care. Well, I suppose you’ll be fine. Here are the keys you’ll need.” He took out a spare bunch of keys and threw them to Chip. Chip easily caught them. “The silver key works on the left door. The left door is off limits to customers, so remember to lock it after you’ve gone through. You’ve got the third turret. The bronze key will open the trapdoor. The gold key works with the front doors.

“Lunch break is normally at one, unless I ask you to stay on duty longer until someone has finished their lunch, then you go and have your lunch. We open at nine and close at eight thirty. I’ll call you when I need you to see how you get on.” For a moment Chip stared at his keys. He didn’t know what to say; his new job had gone beyond what he thought.

“I’ll go to my turret,” said Chip, feeling that was the only thing he could say. He picked up his bags and went to the left door. He unlocked it and went in before locking it again. He walked over to the third set of stairs, all of which were spiral stairs, and went up to unlock the trapdoor first before going back for his bags. He encountered the problem of opening the trapdoor, but then remembered he could still perform Samurai skills. He grabbed onto the rails either side and kicked up one foot first, which was quickly followed by his other foot. He spun in the air, his feet guiding him round, his arms tightly gripping the rails so he didn’t slip. His feet kicked open the trapdoor. He continued to turn in the air until his feet landed on the ground again.

“Looks like I’ve still got it,” grinned Chip as he walked up the stairs. He dumped his bags in first before climbing in himself. He shut the trapdoor first before admiring his new home. The circular airy turret gave a warm home feel. A ladder was propped against the wall. Chip put his bags down and climbed the ladder, curious to know what it led to. His grin got bigger as he saw he had two whole storeys to himself. He climbed down the ladder and fetched his bags. Now he was faced with a problem. How was he to get up the stairs again?

He grabbed all five bags and stood back from the ladder as far as possible. He took a deep breath and ran forwards. Just when he was several centimetres away from hitting the ladder he leapt off the ground and furiously kicked his feet in mid air as he flew up along the ladder and into the entrance of the second storey. He firmly landed several feet away from the entrance.

He carefully placed the bags holding his Samurai armour in a corner, and dumped his other two bags on his bed. He took off his katanas and placed them on top of his bags. Feeling there wasn’t much to do he went down the ladder. As he walked towards the trapdoor a loud thud took place underneath it, and Niall’s voice came from the other side.

“Chip, I need you behind the bar now.”

“OK Niall, stand back, I’m opening the trapdoor,” shouted Chip from the other side. He heard footsteps. Chip opened his trapdoor and dropped out of the room and onto the staircase. He slammed his trapdoor shut and went down the stairs. He saw Niall open the door. Chip jumped over the side and landed on both his feet in a crouching position, one outstretched palm touching the floor, the other on his right knee. He stood up and quickly stopped the door from closing. He slipped out, then let the door shut. He locked it before going behind the bar. Niall handed him a waist apron. Chip tied it around his waist. He noticed there was another person behind the bar.

“Chip, this is Steve Frost,” said Niall, indicating the person. There was something strangely unnerving about Steve. “Steve, this is Chip Esten, our newest recruit.” Neither Steve nor Chip exchanged signs; they merely nodded. Niall seemed to notice; he was looking worried. “I’m going to my turret. Chip, if there’s any trouble, just come straight to me.” He left through the left door. Chip glanced across the place. There was slightly more activity now; about fifteen of the places were filled.

“Is it normally this quiet at this time of day?” asked Chip. He glanced at the clock. It was four thirty.

“I don’t ruddy know,” said Steve in a slightly fierce tone which alarmed Chip. “I’ve only been here for a week.” As he passed Chip, he pinched Chip on his forearm.

“Ow!” cried Chip as Steve let go. He looked down and saw a red patch from where Steve had pinched him. He wanted to throw Steve a punch, but decided against it; Niall had not told Stephen he had once been a Samurai, and he had a feeling there was a reason for it. Also, without his katanas, he felt it was useless starting a fight with Steve; he needed his katanas for more power.

Chip’s trial lasted for four hours. The bar had grown busier as each hour passed. Chip had easily fulfilled the criteria of speed and care; his Samurai skills enabled him to go faster than Steve by miles, though he was careful not to go too fast or else Steve would suspect something. Overall, when they closed for the night, Niall was very pleased.

“Chip, I am very impressed,” said Niall. They were in Chip’s turret. “Looks like your Samurai skills really are useful. Chip, I have a problem. Recently money has gone missing from the vault. The vault is hidden in a shelf in the bar. The shelf has a door over the entrance, which makes it blend in with the bar. I know it isn’t a break-in because there’s no sound. The money goes missing overnight. I suspect Steve is stealing the money, because the money started disappearing a day after he had arrived. I’ve got no proof that it is him though. I need your help.

“Stephen has no idea you are an ex-Samurai. I need you to stay in the bar and corner him the moment you see him stealing money. Stephen owns a sabre, so I would advise you have your katanas with you.”

“But how can I do it?” asked Chip. “He’ll see … oh … you want me to stay in the shadows. Wait … you’re not expecting me to wear my armour as well, are you?”

“Only if you think you need it,” answered Niall. “I need to go, I’ve got to draft a letter. Good luck.” He opened the trapdoor and left Chip’s turret, slamming the trapdoor on his way.

***

Chip was forced to crouch in a very uncomfortable position underneath a table completely bathed in darkness. His helmet kept hitting the table, making a dull thumping sound. His katanas were strapped across his back, and his pouch of shurikens was attached to his belt. He had a shuriken hidden up his sleeve. For safety measure he had a yoroi toshi (a dagger) also attached to his belt.

He waited for a long time. His hiding place meant that he was unable to see the clock; most of the bar was in complete shadow, except for the rays of moonlight which beamed down through the windows, illuminating some tables. Chip’s neck was getting strained from shrugging, his legs were sore from crouching, and just when he felt he was about to get cramps all over his body, he glared at the left door and only just saw it moving ever so slowly and quietly.

So this is why Niall can’t hear anything, thought Chip. The door had opened so quiet Chip would have been unable to see anything if a single ray of moonlight hadn’t hit the door on its lower hinges.

The door finally opened to reveal Steve Frost’s big figure. Chip almost cursed out loud; so it was Steve. Chip noted that Steve was wearing a jacket. He was going to get revenge for Steve’s rather painful pinch. He carefully shifted slightly so he could get out more easily. It was risky if he suddenly stood up; even though Steve wasn’t able to see him, he would definitely hear him.

Just a little longer, thought Chip. He needed Steve to be carrying some money on himself first before attacking. He saw Steve open the hidden door. He couldn’t hear the sound of a code being cracked open, but he could see Steve was bending over, grabbing a pile of cash. Steve stood up straight and pocketed the money in the inside of his jacket. The moment he closed the door, Chip instantly got out of his hiding place.

“You won’t get away with this Steve,” said Chip. A split second after he had made his presence known, he reached for his katanas and drew them out so fast it would look as if they had just appeared by magic. The blades flashed in the moonlight. Chip heard Steve draw out his sabre, which was strapped across his back. Chip almost cursed again when he saw the size of Steve’s sabre; it was broader than his two katanas put together, and was about half the size of Steve.

“You!” roared Steve in fury. With unpredictable agility, Steve leapt straight over the bar. “When I’m done with you, you wouldn’t be as stupid to try and face me in future, Esten.”

“Niall’s going to hear you, and when he catches you red handed, you’ll be in trouble for stealing.” Steve laughed.

“The idiot can’t hear us – he’s too far away! The walls are thicker than they seem – they’re almost like a soundproof cellar.” Suddenly Steve ran forwards, his sabre high above his head. Chip threw himself sideways, like the heroes in action films throwing themselves onto the floor as an explosion took place behind them, just in time to avoid the falling sabre. Chip broke his fall by a roll. He quickly leapt to his feet.

The darkness of the bar area was a disadvantage; Chip only just raised his katanas in time to stop the sabre from cracking open his head. Using all his strength, Chip shoved the sabre upwards until it broke contact with his katanas. Before Steve could react Chip kicked off from the ground, his forearms stinging from the effort he had required to free his katanas. He furiously kicked his feet in the air, keeping himself stable in the air as he rapidly rose. Steve couldn’t move; he was dumbstruck by what he was seeing. He had never believed anybody could possibly fly.

Chip took the chance and when his feet were level with Steve’s neck, he furiously kicked Steve’s chin. The force of his kick completely knocked Steve over. A loud thud followed as Steve crashed into the ground. His grip on his sabre slackened and the sabre skittered across the floor, spinning wildly, making a long dragging sound. Chip swiftly landed and pointed the tips of his katanas at Steve’s throat.

The left door opened and Niall came in. Without asking any questions he stopped by the sabre and picked it up. He made his way over to Steve and reached inside his jacket and took out the money, along with Steve’s keys. Niall nodded to Chip, and Chip moved his katanas away from Steve.

“Get up, and get out,” said Niall coolly, pure anger in his voice. Steve hastened to obey. Niall moved ahead of him and unlocked the door. Steve quickly left the inn. Niall threw his sabre out, then quickly shut the door. He speedily locked the door, afraid Steve would try to come in while the door was unlocked. The moment the door was locked, he turned to Chip.

“Good work Chip,” said Niall. “Looks like your Samurai skills really have paid off. Hopefully the next person to arrive won’t steal from me. How Steve knew where the vault was, I have no idea.”

“Looks like it’s going to remain a mystery,” said Chip. Niall nodded.

“You must be knackered. You better sleep; we’ve got a full day ahead of us tomorrow.”