Part 2: Legends of the Age

Prologue

The darkness of the air and sky was gladly welcomed by my minutes that seemed like hours of waiting. I balanced myself carefully behind a pillar that was in front of the target's house, waiting uneasily for a natural signal to appear. The moon abruptly darkened as it a passing cloud covered it from sight. The wind blew harshly, and I began my stage-by-stage assassination. Angling myself, I leapt up on the wall and jumped down silently, then broke down into a run. Two guards with loaded guns were stationed outside the entrance.

"There he is!" one of them cried, positioning his gun to aim at me. "The infamous Sokusai! Hurry, h—"

I drew my sword out of its sheath and in one quick stroke, severed his head. I darted in front of the other one and slashed one more time. The bodies fell on top of each other with a thud, and I was inside. The sound of my bow and quiver clanged together across my shoulder quietly, muffled. I leapt quietly about, my footsteps barely heard. More people came out, this time with swords. I merged inside their group, slashing my sword in different directions, blood trickling onto my face and clothes. They fell silently without uttering as much as a cry, the wooden floor soaked with puddles of blood. I kept forwards, passing the unlit rooms and running to the end of the hall, where a lone room with a small light shined. Arriving at the door, I swiftly kicked open the door, to meet more armed men of all sorts of weapons. I sheathed my sword and lowered it, preparing for Battoujutsu. The candle's light barely illuminated my face, flickering slightly and casting the shadows of the people onto the walls. With one quick step, I plunged through the horde of soldiers, their blood speckling the wooden walls of the room. A man sat at the end of the room, trembling in a chair.

"W-who are you?" he stammered.

"You know who I am," I said, my voice barely a whisper but enough to tell my gender.

"Y-you're a-a w-woman?" he stuttered, falling out of his chair. "Listen, I'll give you anything, Sokusai, anything! Ju-just spare my l-life!"

"Don't try to bribe me," I said dangerously. "You don't think you can change my decision, do you? You were a part of the disbandment of the Sekihoutai Army, main role or not. And you will pay…"

I brought my sword upon his head, slicing his head clean through. Wiping the blood of my sword, I sheathed it and quickly stepped out of the room, just in time to meet reinforcements. I finished the group as quickly as they had come, their bodies falling where they had been. Avoiding the countless bodies scattered across the hall, I emerged from the house stained with blood and walked outside, in time to meet a lone soldier. His red hair was tied in a high ponytail, his eyes a bright and dangerous gold color. His hand was on the two swords fastened to his belt.

"Will you fight?" he snarled, emotionless.

"Not this time," I said softly in the same tone. I leapt over him gracefully, the red ribbon tied in my hair swaying. "Next time for sure…"

I plunged into the forest, darkness enveloping me. "…Battousai."