Chapter 4

After contending with the floors, Nazomi strode out of the compartment. With her attention on squeezing the water out of the ends of her clothes, Nazomi nearly failed to see the newbie until voices reached her.

            “Master Irokogi holds out here, sir…” Hanako’s soft voice said.

            “I see…” The man paused. “I am Kyosuke Masonome, Kyo for short.” Nazomi, who was currently behind a tree, watched on as Hanako bowed.

            “I am Hanako Kamitari, a pleasure to meet you.”

            Kyo inclined his head towards her a nod. “Pleasure’s all mine.”

            Nazomi snorted. [Smooth…very smooth…]

            “Hello.”

            For a split second, Nazomi’s eyes twitched as Kyo held up a hand in a salute. Realizing that she had been caught, Nazomi stepped out of her hiding place and bowed low.

            “Greetings, stranger…”

            “Come now, you call me by my name. You should know it since you’ve been watching us for some time now.” Both Nazomi and Hanako felt their jaws go slack before they composed their selves; Kyo’s grin was unnerving.

            “You can sense ki?” Nazomi asked.

“Drop the pleasantries, I want to get this over with,” Tsuko finished. Lord Ichibo chuckled, a hand clapping over his knee.

            “Ha! You’re blunt, I like that!” A grin worked up onto his face as he regarded Tsuko. The Ansatsusha no Gin…the Silver Assassin. No one knows who he really is, nor have they any information of his motives. The only fact known about the man was that he kills quickly, disposing his ‘assignments’ in, at least, two hours after the word is given.

            It does not matter how thick the situation gets, the job gets done. Other than that, rumors circulated about his killings; the man can be spontaneous, pulling off stunts, never repeating a move.

            Just the man to do his bidding…if the price is right.

            “Yes, well…First things’ first, take a seat. I cannot let a guest stay uncomfortable.”

            Tsuko gazed back at Ichibo. “With that considered, believe that you failed to be a good host.”

            On the outside, Ichibo held a careless, albeit aloof smile while he harbored a cold snarl inside. This man before him was blunt, all right, but his smart-ass attitude can fray his nerves. “Very well…here.” Digging into his breast plate, Ichibo retrieved san envelope and handed it to Tsuko. Tsuko lifted the flap and pulled out a parchment.

            “Irokogi—Shinden no Akari… A monk?”

            Ichibo nodded.

            “Yes. See, I plan to expand my power, and I wish to obtain more lands. The island Mekarte itself is a source of income, but the sea trade is not enough.”

            Ichibo slammed a fist onto the throne’s arm rest.

            “I wish to rule more, my power rivaling those who rule the western lands and islands…and a way to start is to eradicate that temple! That temple…sits on a large territory, perhaps surpassing my palace by some acres or so. Ansatsusha, I ask you to burn the place down, and kill off those who reside within.” [In that way…I have no defiance from many people since the monk is admired by a majority. Once he is eliminated, the people’s loyalty shall fully turn to me.]

            A cruel smile surfaced onto Ichibo’s features as he allowed Tsuko to register those ‘facts’. “Do you understand what you have to do?” Ichibo haughtily looked at the man before him.

            Seconds ticked by until Tsuko fisted a hand before him, his storm-colored eyes flashing at Ichibo as he gave the terse answer.

            “Understood.”

Curiosity…

            The very feeling could drown the occupants for it was thick within the dining area of the temple. Kyosuke could sense it as if they manifested into serpents, coiling their selves around him. It could not be helped, what with two particular girls glancing at him over their soup bowls. Hanako was intrigued with the man, what with his presence falling over her. She was not sure if it came from physical attraction… Or was it love?

            Hanako shook her head—it can’t be that. She thought she was out of that game ever since her previous iinazuke (fiancé) betrayed her.

            As for Nazomi, she was impressed with Kyo, thought a bit miffed at his lack of conversation earlier…

“You can sense ki?”

Kyo gave her a blank stare as he went silent. Nazomi, after waiting for a couple of seconds, received a shrug, Kyo in the notion of walking away.

            “Oi, where do you think you’re going?!”

            “Irokogi…” With that said, Kyo shuffled away, leaving Hanako in silent speculation and Nazomi in irritation.

            “Hmph!”

[Hmph! Kyo no baka… Forget that he’s an interesting ‘fighter,’ he’s a jerk. But then…] A brief glance ensued. [He is better than others, I suppose.] Nazomi pondered, brown eyes narrowing in consideration. Ever since the arrival of Kyo, she could not stamp out her nausea—a feeling she gets whenever something was off.

            Yes, something was off, all right, but what? [What indeed…]

            “Errgh, the suspense is killing me!” she muttered.

            “What?” Hanako questioned, hearing Nazomi talk to herself.

            “Eh? Oh, hee…nothing…”

            Hanako raised an eyebrow. “Okay?”

            “—Done”

            Both girls had their head shoot up, just in time to see the man that plagued their minds excuse himself from the vicinity; his plate and bowls were cleaned. A nod was issued, however, at Irokogi before he was gone.

            “…”

            “Ahem, Nazomi…Hanako. I believe it is time for you two to retire as well,” the master suggested, getting up. “You worked hard and served our guest properly. Good job.”

            “Hai, arigato…” The two bowed low, palms flat against the matted floor. Afterwards, no response came back, and the opening sounds of the shoji (followed by its closing) marked the ‘end of the discussion’.

            “That…was weird.” Nazomi’s head crawled back up, Hanako following suit.

            “Yeah… One of the few times he spoke to us in such a way. If I did not know any better, I would say he was sick or something.”

            It was true, for Master Irokogi barely ‘interacted’ much. In reality, he was too busy meditating within his room, or tending to the townsfolk. Most of the time, Nazomi and Hanako, along with the rest of the temple’s faculty, would receive instructions from one of their own; Irokogi running their chores by them indirectly.

            For Irokogi to speak to them like he did just then, one would raise questions towards him. Heck, the temple assistants nearly had a hernia when Irokogi decided to join them for dinner that night.

            “Oh yeah, something is definitely up…” Nazomi commented as she helped clean the dining hall.

Within the confinements of his room, Master Irokogi kneeled in front of a chest, the objects within reflecting the moonlight from a window nearby.

            He was ready…