Chapter 4

Shinigami’s Teacher

Shinigami pushed away the curtain of silk that hung in one of the doorways. As she did so she smiled. That was Ryu for you. How he loved the feel and look of silk. So much so he used it in place of his paper doors.

She continued down the hallway. Her bare feet not making a sound. Her eyes danced into one of the rooms off to the hall. She calmly stepped into it and looked around. A soft laugh would leave her lips as she recalled all of the scoldings she has received in that one room.

"Back for yet another telling-to my Dear?" asked the deep voice of Ryu. He nodded as she looked Shinigami over from behind. He noted that she was a bit taller, but still shorter then most. She was also in different colors besides her blood red she wore on her missions. He also noted how her back stiffened at the sound of his voice.

And indeed it had. Shinigami had also dropped her hand down to the dagger in her sash. She had let her guard down and he had snuck up upon her. She relaxed and turned around smiling up at him.

"Indeed I have Sensei. I hope that I am not intruding on anything."

"Not at all. I am always more then happy to see my best student."

Shinigami gave Ryu a bow. As she came back up she nodded.

"I’m glad to know that. So do I find you in good health Sensei? And how are the others fairing in class?"

Ryu let out a soft sigh. Those blue eyes of her’s always got to him. She had been his only female student, and hell could freeze over before her found another to match her skills.

"I’m in perfect health," answered Ryu as he took a seat. "Wish I could say the same for a few of the students. I don’t think I’ll ever let them touch a real weapon again." The last part was said rather jokingly.

Shinigami laughed good and hard at his words. "If I recall correctly Sensei, you said the same about me, didn’t you?"

Ryu blushed a touch as he scratched the back of his head. "Yes I do indeed remember that Shinigami. Tea?"

It was uncanny how she unnerved him so damn easily. What was it that did it to him.

Her boldness?

No. She was like that from day one, and he had added to it through his training of her.

Her skills as an assassin?

No. He knew every one of her attacks. He had taught her after all!

Her eyes?

Yes, that was it. They were just so damned uncommon.

So calm.

So peaceful.

So...pure.

So deadly.

They were truly the eyes of a killer. That’s what unnerved him so. Her eyes never seemed to harden, nor did her soul. Unlike the others.

"Yes, please Teacher."

Ryu’s eyes snapped up to meet her’s. He motioned to a servant who began to serve them fresh, hot tea.

"Ryu what seems to be troubling you so?" Shinigami’s eyes voiced her concern as she looked over her tea cup at him.

Ryu looked up a bit shocked. Rarely did one of his students use his given name, but he knew better. She wasn’t like the others.

"How do you do it? How the hell do you stay so damn innocent while the rest of us live with troubled hearts and souls? How do you stay...you?"

He whispered the last word. His eyes dropped down and he looked off to the side. His shaking hand still holding his tea.

Shinigami let out a soft sigh as she sat her glass down.

"Who ever said that I am not troubled. I only see my job as an assassin as a necessity. It doesn’t bother me to kill when I am told whom, and given my asking price.

"The thing that truly bothers me is my mother’s death. Since that day I have lived for only one thing. To kill my father. Tell me Ryu did I ever tell you what my mother’s last words where to me?"

Ryu shook his head.

"You have never disclosed that to me, Aiko."

"She told me this. ‘Aiko my sweet child, promise me this. That you’ll never become like your father. Stay sweet and kind as I have taught you. Do what is right. I love you.

"Those where her last words to me. So when I take on a job I make sure that the person deserves to be killed."

"And that is how you keep yourself so untroubled by the ones you have killed?"

"What else am I to do, Ryu?"

"I hate it when you do that."

"Do what Sensei?"

"Answer my question with another."

Shinigami let out a soft laugh breaking the somber mood that had set itself upon them.

"Yes I guess that I do have a habit of doing that. Well you where the one who taught me to do it after all."

"Indeed I did that, but I never intended for you to do so with me."

"Well as I said, it’ a habit for me. It drives my step-mother insane."

Now it was Ryu’s turn to laugh.

"You love driving that woman insane, don’t you?"

A soft, but cruel smile spread across Shinigami’s lips.

"As long as that concubine, and her wicked little son try to take my title and lands I will keep doing as I am."

"Then by all means continue doing so. They have no rights, and I find it rather amusing that they keep tring."

"You and everyone else, Sensei. As for me, well they just keep getting on my nerves."

"Well don’t haul off and kill them...without me."

"And only if the bounties worth it."

They both laughed together at that. Back when Shinigami was still Ryu’s student he had taken her on a few jobs with him. In the end they shared the bounty, and also agreed that they would work together again, but only if the bounty was well worth it.

"Speaking of that Sensei, I have a job that might catch your interest."

Ryu’s eyebrows rose as he smiled.

"Really now? Well then, do tell."

Shinigami nodded as she sipped her tea.

"Well it’s a warlord and I believe he is worthy of The Dragon’s attention. The price is rather high, and open to whoever wishes to have it."

"Hmm, sounds like something I might enjoy. How many guards?"

"Fifty at the lest. Not an easy job. Three have already died in their attempts."

Ryu nodded as he watched his student before him.

"And what of you? Have you no desire to take this bounty for yourself?"

Shinigami shurged as she smiled.

"I am well off, and the snows will be falling before long, and you know that I hold no passion for traveling in the snow."

Ryu snickered as he shook his head.

"Ahh yes I know that very well. So what are the details?"

"I got half-frozen that one year,’ she would say as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked off to the side.

Ryu couldn’t help it this time. A sharp bark of laughter left him.

"If you had just followed my advice and worn pants you would have been just fine. Now then to business."

Shinigami let her eyes roll heavenward.

"Very well then. The warlord’s name is Yukio Ren. His estate is in the eastern provendince of Kyoto. The bounty is half a million yin."

Ryu nodded as he drank his tea.

"It sounds like a good job for me, but tell me Aiko. Will you join me?"

Her head shook from side to side causing a few strands of her hair to fall into her face.

"No Sensei. This is the one time I must turn you down. Please forgive me for that."

He nodded his head as he smiled.

"You’ll learn to love the snow soon enough. I take it that your father will be due home soon."

"Yes he is, and chances are that he won’t be very pleased with me."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"I was offered double on a job he had taken," Shinigami answered as she set down her empty tea cup.

"Well I take it that you couldn’t turn it down."

"Of course not. I made a good million yin off of it Sensei."

"Hmm well then I can’t blame you for taking it Aiko."

She nodded as she stood up, a cold smile upon her face.

"And the chance to enrage my father just made it all the better."

Ryu sighed as she took to his feet as well.

"Just please be careful Aiko. I don’t want to see you hurt, or worse."

She would move over and hug him.

"Don’t worry Ryu. I can handle myself. Forgive me, but I must take my leave now. I have to see to the market."

He would pull her close to him in the hug.

"You can say that all you want Aiko, but I will still worry over you. Now you best go so you’ll have plenty of light."

She nodded as she pulled away from him.

"Hai Sensei,’ would leave her lips as she nodded. Turning around she would head for the door. A soft melody trailing behind her as she hummed.

Ryu sighed as he watched her retreating back. Settling back down into his seat he would finish off the tea, and then go to prepare for the job he was going to go and do.