Title: Haven: Kitsune
Chapter: 1
Story Notes: Part of my "Haven" series. This is the story focusing around the race of the Kitsune. Fantasy based and takes place in the same world as the rest of the "Haven" stories. BUT they are all completely separate from one another. AU really but in the same world.
Chapter Notes: One of those random scenes that popped into my head one day. I have no clue where it came from, but it forced its way past my "I'm only working on two stories at one time" mindset :P I have a pretty good idea of the start, middle and end. So we'll see where this one goes :)
They were 'very' good at their job. That is why everyone from the rich to the church sought them out for assignments, as the one they were currently on. It was not a glamorous job, nothing like that of a knight in shining armor, saving princesses each dusk. No. They were the ones no one knew of, and those who did, turned a blind eye or spend nights worrying about their chances of waking up that next morning. That was the deal. Their little band would hear the requirements of the job, they would take the money offered, and they would deliver or die trying.
Failure was not an option in their line of work. The work of the shadows.
They were simply called "Kuroi" which roughly translated to "Black" in an ancient language. It was a term that they wore, it was a term they conducted their work in, and it was a term they all lived by. An absence of everything, just as each and every member was to the eyes out in the 'real' world.
Their latest job was a bit simpler then they were used to taking. The buyer wish for a pair of jewels to be retrieved from a lone manor many miles away from any major kingdom. The manor itself was smaller then most that could sustain itself, but despite that, a tall stone wall surrounded it on every side. Rising higher then two grown men standing on each others shoulders. Around that ran a deep moat that looked to have been dung out by human hands. The banks were too perfectly cut to quickly reach a great depth to be naturally formed. Farthest from the structure was an expanse of vegetation, carefully planned and planted. Growing more perfectly then that of a castle's royal garden with a full team of gardeners to maintain it.
The large garden did make maneuvering to the building a bit harder then normal. Many open spaces, allowing for each colorful angle to be viewed, was wonderful for one intending to sight see the greenery. However when wanting the opposite, they relied heavily on the cover the nightfall gave them. Long, exaggerated shadows easily within stepping distance from one another.
The surrounding wall was easier to surpass. A simple acrobatic leap with the added boost of a two person spring board. As soon as one was over the structure a rope made quick work for the rest to climb over and into the guarded inner grounds.
They were not seen. They never were.
The final obstacle was the pathway to the room of choice. A room located on the southern corner of the estate, at the very top of a tower. It was apparently used as a greenhouse for the master of the house. His obsession with plants spanned to many rare species that could not survive planted in normal forest soil. The room had several narrow, yet tall, windows that were open to the night air, keeping a flow of freshness circulating all day and night.
A gust of that very wind blew Heero's hair into his eyes. Temporarily blinding him from the carefully watched hand hold he had on the thick length of rope. He paused in his ascent, siding on the side of caution. They had plenty of time before the foot guard made his next pass under their perch. And even if he happened to wander by sooner, they purposely hooked they scaling gear into the stone that was farthest from the light of the full moons.
Weight was transferred so the offending hair could be brushed away and for a quick glance down before the leader of the Kuroi re-adjusted his grip on the rough rope and planted a foot to continue the journey upwards and to their destination. Behind him followed three others. Each his companion, each he called brother though no blood was shared between any of them. The most skilled band of thieves for hire was compromised for a mere four people. But, none outside the Kuroi knew this. They had no need to boast their name further, and they had no need for more bodies that could possibly bring error to a mission and tragedy to their group.
Carefully wrapping a black gloved hand around the ornate stone pedestal for a plant bed Heero pulled his body up the last few inches. Close enough to the opening of the window to peer into the darkened interior. Their intel offered that the lord of the manor was gone on a trip to visit the closest Kingdom of Watersmeet, journeying to the ocean's edge to trade with the ship masters there. He was not due back for two more days. One evening was all that was required to complete their mission.
The highest room of the tower was dimmed from the evening's lack of illumination. Small, wall hung, oil lamps gave a flickering glow near the door. Probably left behind by those responsible for watering the expanse of plant life that crawled along all corners of the circular room. Finding the room clear of human life Heero hauled himself over the window sill and onto solid ground once again. A black bladed sword was silently pull from the sheath that was tied diagonally across his back. He did not expect any surprises, but only a dead man did nothing to plan for them anyway. Carefully taken steps took him away from window to scan the room as his companions followed his example from their rope hung path.
Each wore a cloak of the darkest black, hoods pulled up and over to shield every bit of skin from the reflecting light. It was their statue, gait, and individual talents that made unique when looks could not be relied on to tell one from another. The second one through the window was also second in command. Tall and lean, Trowa was one who could get them over any impossible situation. Crossing inch wide walkways like a tight rope walker, making extraordinary leaps from the top most peak of a building to the next, or vaulting safely many feet straight up into the air and still managing to land on his feet with perfect silence. Once one of them was in position at the end of their journey, it was easy to secure a safe route for the rest.
Next was Duo, the shortest of them, but in his occupation, that could be seen in a good way. He was the only one of them to carry a small bag of needed items. Being their resident lock smith. He had a few tools of the trade that he always brought along on a job. Not to mention he had a fond past time of tinkering, which usually concluded in him having a few 'toys', as he put it, that made any trouble they might come across... less so...
Bringing up the rear, and the rope along with him, was Wufei. The man that patched each and every one of their cuts, broken bones, and who knew what else. A few of his items were also stored in Duo's bag, but if they needed to stay in one place long enough to fix a serious injury. Then there would be many other problems that would out ranked the the mishap. Given his medical studies most might underestimate his ability in a battle. Those would be the people who saw the sky from the flat of their back quicker then they could blink an eyelash. A knowledge of pressure points and a training in his kingdom's style of hand and foot fighting made him a formidable opponent.
Silently each of them searched through the room, looking for the object of their mission. Keeping an extra ear towards the doors and the wooden stairs leading to it. They knew it's construction would give them an audible signal of unexpected company before it became a problem. The master of the estate had an obsession for plants, that was true, but he also collected valuable objects that sparkled with a beauty and, much like his vines and stems, reflected a natural hue to an expensive precision. Emeralds, Jade, Alexandrite, and for their paid job this evening, a pair of perfectly spherical Aquamarine gems. The color of the ocean during high noon, is how the buyer has described the color they sought. Apparently they could be found always together and were unable to be separated, set in a case of the purest white ivory.
This buyer was 'very' particular about the care of these gemstones, and paid a hefty amount above the agreed upon price to insure that they be delivered completely unmarred. In the end, the money is what was most important and for the caliper of job, Heero felt over paid. But, that fact, would never be utter to the one offering the coin.
Only problem was, a lack of blue-green gems in the room. A dozen or more in all other shades, each worth their own fortune, were displayed amongst the living greenery. None meeting the description they had been offered.
Turning to look at the see the progress of his companions, Heero almost missed Trowa crouched in a darkly lit corner. "Hey Heero," The acrobat started quietly, without realizing the one address was already making his way over, curious.
"What is it?"
The tallest of them pointed to a lone key hole set in the flat wall, upon closer inspection, one could see that the crawling vines covering the corner were purposely tied away from a thin vertical seam spanning from floor to ceiling. "Looks to be a door, though it was built to be hard to recognize as such." The very design of the tarnished keyhole was to mimic the very vines that hid it. Though it was also not meant to be invisible. Therefore it must have a purpose that had the master of the manor going in and out.
Signally over Duo, the two black clad men moved aside, giving him the space needed get a look at the lock. His small bag of tools was quietly un-shouldered and set on the floor, rolls of tools being set out as needed. Wufei remained distanced. Keeping an mindful ear to the main door leading out of the garden room.
The lock was not simple, evidence being the fine lines of concentration that appeared on Duo's forehead has the moments ticked by. They had come up against many locked items in their travels and it could be counted on a single hand how rare of a sight they were. Duo slowly went through three different sets of picks before a dual octave click proceeded the hidden door shuffling back the barest of an inch, signally it was successfully unlocked.
Remaining in his crouched position Duo paused to listen through the wood. Counting to thirty in his head before swinging violet eyes up to catch the gaze of his two fellow companions. With the smallest of nods he signaled his intentions before slowly pulling the hidden door towards them. A flow of thick white smoke caught them off guard, pouring out the newly made opening and obscuring the lock picker's vision. Duo eyes were unconscionably forced to closure, fending off the painful sting that over took them.
Curling a bit more into the hard surface of the door, Duo used it as a shield to the unknown. Trusting the others to deal with any unexpected surprises that might come from an unexplored room while he collected himself. A supportive arm under his own turned out to be Wufei's, joining his side and giving him the steady pull upwards to achieve a standing position. Fighting off the cough tickling the back his throat. "Do not breath it in." The healer warned, words muffled by wool covering his own nose and mouth. "It smells like Opium."
Blinking away the tears that clung to his eye lashes, Duo was pulled by his arm into the hidden room while questioning with a raw throat, "Why would anyone burn Opium in such a large quantity?" The offensive smoke increased in thickness with each step they took. Until almost running right into Trowa's hazed back when he abruptly stopped all forward movement with a sharp intake of breath.
This room was a stark difference to the one adjoining it. Not a single bit of plant life occupied the space. It was nothing but an expanse of gray stone veiled in a sheet of smoke. Illuminated in the beams of white moonlight coming from the fully glass ceiling that rose high above them. The glass extended down to the floor at the farthest point in the room, a large expanse of clear windows to the outside. Allowing one, from any position in the room, a view to the world beyond.
The source of the Opium was several golden incense burners placed every few feet around the entire outer wall of the circular room. White wisps of the drug infused smoke rose in lazy tendrils before settling in a heavy fog to fill the entire room.
The contrast was strangely sterile for a Manor lord with the love of living greens and shiny bobbles. It was not that simple oddity, however, that caused the Kuroi's footfalls to cease unexpectedly.
It was, instead, the sight of a lone figure kneeling on the ground where the translucent shafts of light clashed into the transparent haze. Pure white robes of silk spread in a full circle on the stone flooring, completely drowning the body within. A large hood completely hid the head that was lowered over knees and almost to the ground.
Whether their arrival had been noticed or not was unknown. The figure remained completely motionless. The air being coated with Opium was probably an attributing factor to that. The thick chains of silver snaking beneath the person's sleeves and another disappearing into the lowered hood could be another.
The four thieves held firm in halted footsteps. Judging the unforeseen situation carefully before making their next move. A shifting glance around proved the unlocked room was, indeed, empty, save for the captive. They would not be finding that which they had come for here.
Keeping his sleeve tightly pressed to his face, Heero's gaze did not waver from the silk clad figure set in front of the wall of windows. His mind had flashed through several possible scenarios and the resolution to each as soon as he realized they were no longer alone. He was the leader after all, and his duties were to give the orders.
"Search the other room again, we must have missed something." He paused briefly. "Take turns in here after. No one should remain in this smoke for too long." The others left quietly and without question, leaving Heero behind. Watching, waiting just a bit longer to see if any movement came from the figure chained to the ground by a wealth of metal links.
There was none. The shining material of the silk remained in fluid, unmoving, waves. It seem the Lord had another collection even their own intel was unaware of. Heero turned to leave, keeping his sword arm to the windowed side of the room. It mattered not, they had a job to finish. Anything else they happened upon was of no importance during their duties, and that which they were paid to complete.
Things were never that simple, however. After the second, thorough, search of the garden room turned up the same empty handedness as the first. The Kuroi found a shred of doubt in their minds. Was it possible that the information they had been given was incorrect. What benefit would their employer have by providing them intel that was wrong. They had already been paid half up front for the mission. At this point they could simply choose to bow out of the mystery before them. Taking a large pay along with them for half the troubles. Not, that the thought had crossed any one of their minds however.
The person staggered search of the empty room turned up exactly what was expected as well. The room was top to bottom nothing but stone, glass, opium burners, and a motionless prisoner. There was no place to hide any jewels that they would not have already spotted when first entering.
"Duo!"
Looking up to Wufei's hissed exclamation, the Kuroi leader found their resident rogue bent at the middle in front of the captive. Trying to get a better view at the face hidden by the overly large white hood and the shadow cast beneath it. Duo's was not always known for his situational intelligence, though, some might call it fearlessness instead. Heero knew it to merely be a curiosity that often got the better of him. Throwing away rational thinking to the gaining of the knowledge he did not have before.
Silky material rustled softly against the hard rock surface. The first, yet, very small hint of that the person was still in the land of the living. Intrigued, Duo scooted a bit closer. It did not take much thought to realize that a bound and drugged person would have their motor skills greatly hampered. Being so close he observed two things. One that the chains were, in fact, pure silver. And two, that they were severally lacking in movable room.
Collectively, all bodies in the room held a breath, though not for fear of inhaling the slowly dissipating smoke. The prisoner bound to the floor did not move a second time, but as they watch their companion, Duo suddenly started away from the moon bathed spot. Bringing his full body upright in single movement. His hood fell backwards off his head. Revealing a tied back mass of brown hair. Wide eyes found that which were his brothers before breathing out, "Ummm, Heero..."
The question to follow was left unvoiced as all attention focused on the hood of purest white that slowly rose from its drooped position. Severely lidded eyes blinked in drawn out intervals. Attempting to bring about a sliver of awareness through the drug infused stupor. Their shadowed presence was no longer that of secrecy when unfocused eyes of the purest aquamarine widened in their direction. The unmistakable hue of those eyes, while a shock factor, was replaced in the scale of importance when the young man's lips pulled back into a animalistic baring of teeth. Extended, razor sharp, canine teeth.