Chapter 01

Eyes flitted over the bulk on the young man’s back, regarding it with haste as he ambled down the road. Gray eyes looked straight ahead, his dark-brown, auburn bangs swaying over them as his loose ponytail did the same at his nape. Even though his hair was tied up, the man’s hair style was still on the wild side.

            The young man was garbed in a black coat and pants, an ash shirt within. For a man of his reputation, he was presentable… somewhat disarming, even. Somewhat.

            Tsuko Kagekoro stalked through the bustling streets of Mekarte, ignoring the shouts of marketers and the chit-chat of townsfolk; the only sounds he heard were the scuffling ones from his black boots, and the ca-clink ca-clink sounds of Tsuki no Kurayami, his sword, sheathed across his back. The sword was silver, an intricate design at the hilt and such. At its base, moon stone and onyx molded together, representing the phases of the moon…

            [That moron…because of his idiocy, I was kept back from reaching my destination in time.] A palm-gloved hand was turned into a fist as Tsuko recalled electric-blue eyes and sakabatous.

            [Tch! Said he’ll kick my ass, huh? I’ll make him duck his head between his legs, and he can kiss his…] with a satisfied smirk, he nodded, a promise made. More thoughts of overcoming the annoying “oni” littered his mind until footsteps were heard.

            “Hey you…” A gruff voice started, “You got a mighty-fine sword.”

            Another voice spoke up.

            “Yeah… A couple of my friends and I were wondering if we could take a look.” Tsuko froze as he felt more ki, five people joining the two behind him. After a quick assessment, Tsuko slowly turned on his foot, his stance loose, as he faced the ‘rowdy band’.

            “Ah, you admire the workmanship, eh? Well then, I do not see any harm showing...” A hand went over his right shoulder, fingers brushing against the hilt of his silver sword. An audible click rose into the air, marking the start of a fight.

            “Allow me to introduce Tsuki no Kurayami. Moon of Darkness…”

A young woman with blonde, shoulder-length hair and clear blue eyes ran through people as she cried out, “Nazomi, where are you going?!” Hanako Kamitari bit back a curse as her friend, Nazomi Shizukara, briefly disappeared behind another group of people.

            “A fight! There was a fight!” Nazomi said over her shoulder, her short, sepia hair flying about. Hanako pulled up to her side, matching the shorter girl’s speed with ease.

            The two were away from their temple, Shinden no Akari, taking a break as they wandered through the marketplace. A couple of youths rushed by them, then, excitement apparent on their faces. Upon hearing the word “fighting” and “sword”, Nazomi broke off into a run, curiosity and intrigue coursing through her. For a moment, Hanako could only stare after Nazomi’s black-brown hair when she disappeared, her form bobbing through others. She rushed after her, knowing that Nazomi was up to no good.

            “Yeah, so?” Hanako held a breath, knowing what her friend will say in response.

            “So?! I want to see! You know the ‘guardians’ of the temple! They do not let us see such a sight!”

            Hanako rolled her eyes. “And that’s bad?”

            “Of course! They do not show us the good stuff! Aren’t you curious?”

            Hanako muttered under her breath. Long ago, she tried to figure out Nazomi’s ‘appreciation’ of battles and fight, but she gave up in the end. Hanako was satisfied to label Nazomi “eccentric” and “weird”.

            “Ah, we’re here!” Nazomi breathed out. The two found their selves in the middle of town, the center crowded a noisier than usual. Women were chattering to each other behind hands while men shared comments of fighting skills.

            “Ugh… I can’t see!” Nazomi did all but wail, standing on tiptoe.

            “Can’t help it when you’re so short.” The statement was issued in fact, not as a jest.

            “Harhar…”

            “It was amazing,” an old man stated behind them.

            Nazomi half-turned as Hanako looked at him from the corner of her eyes. The old man was conversing with another, a man bearing ahead full of white-streaked, black hair; the one speaking harbored gray, shaggy looks, a walking stick in hand.

            “How so, Kenkh?”

            “A young man dressed in black moved like a shadow, Goro… I could no follow him with my eyes.”

            A man nearby, perhaps in his late thirties, commented with, “That’s because your eyes are failing you, old fogy.”

            ‘Kenkh’ shook his head as ‘Goro’ chuckled; Nazomi’s interest in the matter peaked.

            “Young man, we may look feeble, but we have been through battles long before you birthday…” Kenkh held the head of his walking staff and pulled at it a bit, revealing the staff to be a scabbard for a rapier…

            “Do not let appearances fool you…”

            “Now, now, Kenkh, calm down… Please tell us more of this ‘shadow man’,” Goro suggested a hand on Kenkh’s elbow. Kenkh shrugged it off s he continued.

            “Yes, well, it went like this…”

“Ha!” Tsuko stepped into range as he spun, hitting the flat part of his sword at the back of some guy’s knees before butting Tsuki no Kurayami’s hilt on his hand. Once that fellow was out, Tsuko executed a horizontal swing, in a sweeping arc, knocking out four men who tried to get at his back.

            “I’m not going to let my blade rust from your pathetic blood; this fight is worthless itself.” Tsuko paused as Tsuki no Kurayami jabbed out before him; the sixth man doubled over, allowing Tsuko to give a downward kick upon the man’s nape. A dull thud was heard, and Tsuko grinned. With a flick of the wrist, Tsuko no Kurayami’s point stopped an inch away from the chest of the “last man standing”.

            “You’re the only one left…”

“Of course, many people took notice, so that man left forgetting the last member of the Reido Yakuza as he disappeared.” Kenkh finished.

            “Quite fascinating,” Goro noted, and they nodded in agreement. “Wait, you said ‘many people’… Does that mean--?”

            “—When I say ‘many people’, Goro, I also include Ichibo’s men…”

            “Whoa, got that Hanako?” Nazomi whispered. A nod was her answer before they silenced their selves.

            “It is odd, though…”

            “Huh?” Goro raised an eyebrow.

            “It seems that Ichibo and that men were working together, judging by the way his men lacked diligence in finding the lad.” With that said, the two elders broke off from the crowd. Soon, the throngs of people dispersed, revealing the ‘battlefield’. Nazomi’s eyebrows rose as she saw minimal amount of blood; some of Lord Ichibo’s men were dragging each body to a cart. Their destination? The village jail house.

            “Psst… Nazomi, we ought to leave soon. You know how those men are.”

            “Hmph, do I…” The two briefly remembered old times, times of avoiding crude men with wandering, drunk eyes.

            Nazomi shivered. “I’ll be quick.”

            “You better…” Nonetheless, Hanako followed her as she inched forward, drinking in the sight.

            “Whoever that man was… he’s good to be able to apprehend on of the ruthless yakuza clans in Mekarte… I mean, Ichibo was having difficulties in bringing them to justice… What do you think Hana—eh?”

            “What?”

            Movement off to Nazomi’s right caught her attention, and she took in a sharp breath. Within an alleyway, amongst murky shadows, stood another silhouette that rivaled the others with its darker hue. For a moment, Nazomi saw nothing until she found herself staring back at gray eyes.