Years after Jyuzou destroyed his own village and started the Kuroya clan, his life had not changed. He lived happily with his lover, Tatsukichi, in their mansion. The other higher members in the clan lived close by to Jyuzou's mansion. Shinogi was second in command with the help of his lover, Shou. They both lived a house near Jyuzou, where they protected him. Futaba and Hitoha lived together as well, as siblings. They lived on the outskirts of Jyuzou's established home. Ranzou, on the other hand, lived by himself in the heart of the city. The city was called Hakokage.

A typical woman-chaser Ranzou was, but he also enjoyed getting jobs of assassinating them. He sat in his house, smoking a pipe while looking out the window. He sat on the floor underneath the window, where the moonlight grazed his pale face. A knock on the door echoed through the small house.

"Come in," Ranzou looked over across the room.

"I am here to deliver a message," A woman's voice echoed. Her scent filled his nostrils as he stood up. He took another puff of his pipe before it went out. He was drawn to the beautiful woman bowing in his doorway. So innocent, yet so at his mercy. He felt merciful tonight. You know the saying, 'don't kill the messenger?' Well, Ranzou did that when the message was not to his liking.

"What have you come to tell me," Ranzou knelt down and placed his hand under the woman's chin, "You do not have to hid your face. I love looking beauty in it's eyes."

The woman stood up, "I am Kagura. I work for the Almighty, Tenrai. I have come to ask for your clan's assistance for my lord."

"Tenrai? I have never heard of him, my dear," Ranzou chuckled as he waved his hand.

"He is trying to build an army to resurrect..." Kagura's voice began to get soft.

"Resurrect whom?"

"Lord Mei-Oh..." She whispered.

"It is a lost cause, in my opinion. But why ask my assistance? Why not Jyuzou? Or Shinogi? Surely, they are better warriors than I," He laughed.

"I was asked to contact you, I know nothing of these others you speak of."

"Then your master is not a very good master. Tell you what," Ranzou smirked, "You stay the night and I'll give you my definite answer tomorrow."

"I have to contact other people..."

"Please?" He raised his eyebrow. Kagura could not help but feel attracted to his self-assurance. She had a job to do and men came second in her life to her job. She was a voodoo master and an assassin all rolled into one, and no one could handle her.

"Your answer is no, I'm presuming."

"If I said no, would I see you again?"

"Maybe. It depends."

"Then I will decline your master's request. But, please, come back sometime. I would like to see you when there is not business involved."

"I'll think about it... Good night."

Ranzou closed the door as she sprinted into the night. She was carried away by the summer's breeze as he watched her run to the next person on her list. 'I should have made her stay... She'll be back. They always come back,' He thought to himself as he opened the door again, he took out his pipe again and light it as he walked to Shinogi's house. As Ranzou walked slowly to his house, when he turned the corner he saw the woman standing outside his house. Shinogi's hair was down and he wore a loose robe, he shook his head and began to close the door on the woman. Again, she was turned down and she ran through Jyuzou's city. Ranzou walked up to Shinogi's door and knocked lightly.

"I told you I was not interested..." Shinogi started, "Oh, it's you, Ranzou. I thought you were that girl. Come in." Ranzou walked in and knelt down at the table with Shinogi. "We must be quiet though, Shou is sleeping. As was I before that girl came..."

Ranzou shook his hand, "I wouldn't worry about her. Her master's clan will not take off."

"Should we contact Jyuzou about it?" Shinogi said as he stirred the warm tea in front of him.

"He probably already knows."

"What do you think he will do with her?"

"Let's find out," Ranzou said as he stood up, "She's probably already on her way to ask him to join."

Shinogi sighed as he got up, holding his open robe together, "Let me change first." He walked into the other room where Shou was sleeping and changed into his other outfit.

The two men walked out the door and to Jyuzou's mansion which was just around the corner from Shinogi's. They walked together in the middle of the night to the mansion's gates. The two guards opened the gates for them as they walked into their master's courtyard. Just as Ranzou predicted, the woman was bowing at Jyuzou's feet while his lover clutched her dress at the mansion's entrance.

"You want me to abandon my own clan and join your master's? It's a loss cause! You go to my followers asking them to convert, when you know their lives would be at stake. I am glad they are as loyal as they are to me or I would have their heads along with your's. But do not think I am not merciful, for I am. I will not kill you," Jyuzou looked up and saw Ranzou and Shinogi standing at the gates, "I will not kill you. I will have one of my followers do what he pleases to you. Ranzou, would you do me this favor?"

"My pleasure," Ranzou smirked as Jyuzou grabbed the girl's shirt collar.

"Do not disobey him, or my mercy will run out. You're lucky, most people like yourself would perish if they were caught trying to convince my followers to go to your clan."

"You're lucky I respect you as a warrior. If I didn't, you would be dead..." Kagura looked up at Jyuzou as he held onto her clothes. He threw the girl to the feet of Ranzou.

He smirked a bit, "So, we meet again. What shall I do with her?"

"She's under your jurisdiction. Do whatever to her," Jyuzou turned around as he walked back to his lover. Ranzou grabbed the girl's wrist and lead her to his house again. Shinogi just shook his head and returned to Shou and his warm bed.

Ranzou, still clasping onto Kagura's wrist, opened his house's door and entered with her. He closed and locked the door behind him.

"If you harm me, Tenrai's clan will avenge me!" Kagura shook her head as Ranzou threw her to the ground.

"I don't plan on hurting you," He smirked, "even though I'd like to." She backed up and was against the wall of his house. "No need to be scared, make yourself at home. You'll only spend a night here, then you will be let go. It's your choice if you come back or not," He let a sly grin.

"I'm not one of your whores!" Kagura began to grow angry. She picked one of her spells from her pocket and held it up to her face, "You'll pay!"

Ranzou chuckled as the spell came flying towards him. Pulling out his dagger from his waist, he caught the spell with it before it hit him. "Some voodoo master. You need to work on your spells. Now, let's go to bed."

"I'll sleep here..." Kagura turned her head in disgust. Ranzou knelt down in front of her and placed his hand under her chin.

"Beautiful girls shouldn't sleep on the floor," He raised his eyebrow as he turned her head towards him. He leaned in and kissed her as she squirmed to get away. "Come now, it's been a long night."

Kagura slapped Ranzou, digging her long nails into his face, "Let me go!" He was in shock at first, but grinned.

"You have spunk, little girl," Ranzou said as he grabbed the pouch from Kagura's side, "Spells won't help you now..." Kagura's face was stunned as her spells were taken away, but she did not lose hope. She knew she was not going to stay here; once he sleeps she will escape and tell Tenrai of this horrible clan.

"Here," Ranzou threw a thin blanket at Kagura, "It gets hot at night here, so I don't think you will need it. Here's a pillow also, the floor is a bit uncomfortable after a while."

"I'll be fine, I'm sure," Kagura scoffed.

"You know where my bedroom is if it gets unmanageable. Oh, and if you are thinking about escaping tonight... I wouldn't try it. Jyuzou has guards all around this city at night. They would gang up and kill you in a second."

"I'll keep that in mind..." She said as she lied down.

"Sweet dreams," He chuckled as he pulled back the sheet that acted as he bedroom door.

Kagura was disgusted by this man, how could she have found him attractive at first? She rolled over in frustration. The hard floor dug into her sides and made the night uncomfortable as possible. She hadn't slept for 4 days before this night, and she was begging to just go to sleep. If she went into his room, would that make her a failure to her beliefs? Or would she be guaranteeing her safe departure?

She had the whole night to think, but she already made her decision. Whether it would be wise or not, well, only time would tell on that. She got up from her resting place and stood in the doorway.

"So you finally came around?" Ranzou smirked as the moon light struck his face from the bedroom window.

"You could say that," She said as she climbed into bed with him. Her back faced him as she breathed softly.

Ranzou's room was filled with her scent as she lied next to him. The long, black hair that flowed behind her was beautiful and soft. Ranzou had a heart, but it rarely showed. His heart was hidden behind his two swords. He stretched a bit in bed and ran his hand down her arm.

She turned around suddenly, "Don't touch me."

"You're the one who brought yourself into my bed. I do have an attraction to beautiful women, you know."

"Save it for your whores," Kagura growled.

Ranzou shut his eyes as he began to sleep. Kagura, on the other hand was too busy waiting for morning. She contemplated on which was better, the floor or this man's bed.