"Cool! Vending machine!"
He rolled his eyes at the young Chinese girl's avid enthusiasm at said vending machine, as he watched; she pulled out her purse, and within seconds was holding two coffees and a bottle of water, expertly balanced in her hands.
"Here, have this," she proffered one of the coffee cups, and he thanked her, taking a small sip of the creamy liquid, feeling it relax him, as the soothing warmth emitting from the cup curled around his hands. "I love these vending machines. Cameras, coffee, you can get everything in them,"
"They are quite… multipurpose," he agreed absently, rubbing his hands together. Although it was early spring, visible by the sakura blossoms in near-full bloom, the weather itself was still quite chilly. Leifang on the other hand didn't seem to be minding the cold, an elegant Chinese dress with an embroidered oriental jacket over the top, plaits bouncing as she took in the view, walking along the pathway.
"Wow! It's made of real gold? That's amazing!" the young girl squinted, leaning forward to get a better view. "It's hard to believe that. I mean… I thought someone would go over there and steal it or something,"
He smiled despite himself, gazing over at the who-knows-how-many ton pavilion that nobody would be able to lift. "That's why the path doesn't go much closer to it. So people can't go over there and vandalise it. Although, I doubt anyone would. Religiously, that wouldn't be a very good thing to do,"
As she walked over to the bridge, once again examining the carp that were swimming around happily in the crystalline waters, his thoughts drifted back to the previous evening. That terrible evening. And it was then he knew. That she truly was gone.
"What did you do with her?" he hissed, jerking the ropes angrily.
The man squirmed in an attempt to get out of the ropes that bound him, but lacked the finesse. Shame that I've had so much practise tying ropes that even one as skilled as he in front of me is unable to free himself, he mused bitterly, before fixating emotionless emerald eyes on his captive.
"I will never tell you," the man spat, straining against the tight bonds. "Never,"
He was beginning to lose his patience. "What did your people do with her?" he asked, enunciating each word carefully, accentuating with malice. "Tell me. Is she dead? Or is she alive? Tell me that and I will release you without harm,"
He had been so stubborn. But he had to know. For her… and for himself. To settle his conscience. Even if the only way to settle his conscience was to stain his hands with more blood, then so be it. Anything for her.
"For the last time, I will not tell you," the man whispered. "Just wait until this gets back. You will be dead, and when you are, I will be the first person there to greet you and spit on your grave. You hear me?"
Okay. He stared for a moment, unblinkingly at his captive. A young man, dusty brown hair. Inquisitive hazel eyes. Just another death to add to my conscience.
"You are misunderstanding me," His voice was soft. "It never will get back. You're the only one Hayate sent to toy with me. Foolish, that. Such a waste of a life,"
A look of terror crossed the young man's face at the sudden realisation. "Don't! Please!"
"I warned you," he whispered. "Yet you chose to not heed my warning. I will find out the truth without your assistance," Reaching out, the sudden silence was truncated by the sound of metal scraping against metal as he pulled out his prized sword. "Have no doubt that your death will be avenged. Someday. May the gods have mercy on your soul,"
A piercing scream cut through the air. However, it was only heard by the trees walling the mass of wilderness and the despondent death-bringer.