Alright, I whipped this one out pretty fast. Instead of studying for finals like I should be, I wrote this for you. Aren't you happy?
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Chapter 4: The First Job
Deciding to find out more about Kurama was all well and good, but at this rate, I wouldn't be able to get anything done.
Upon my return from that forest, the brothers summoned me to their mansion. Yomi stood at the bottom of a staircase with his hands behind his back, waiting. On the banister next to him, Karasu sat with his arms wrapped around his younger brother.
Damn, they were at it again. Kuronue had a possessive hand placed over Karasu's as he sat there in his lap. Karasu was hanging off the bat like he was a pillow, and Kuronue seemed quite content with that role. What was wrong with these guys?
I stood there in the doorway taking all of this in. Not for the first time, I was tempted just to kill them right then and there. I really don't like those brotherly displays of affection, but it wasn't my place to judge the ones paying me… well, not outwardly in any case.
I stood there glaring at Yomi, waiting for him to speak. They'd just downright ignored me for two weeks, and at this point, I would rather be killing something.
So the blind guy finally speaks up. He tells me that in order to complete my first assignment, it would take several days to get across their land and onto the target's. Apparently, all I needed to do was kill the owner of the property to the east, along with any other inhabitant that happened to see me.
Well that wouldn't be too hard.
I glanced at the other two brothers and nearly grimaced when I saw the bat leering at me again. Was he hormonal or something? Jeez. His brother's wandering hands distracted him soon enough though.
I sat there when Yomi fell silent again, waiting for some sort of dismissal or continuation or something. I cleared my throat after a few awkward moments and wheeled towards the door.
"Oh, and Hiei." Yomi called. Repressing the urge to snarl at him, I paused. "Do bring be back a souvenir."
I left. A souvenir? What an ass.
For the next three days, I walked non-stop towards the east. I could have been there much faster, but it's not as if there was much of a hurry. Nobody was trying to stop me, and no urgent business awaited me.
Although, now that I was thinking about it, I did want to talk to Kurama about what I had witnessed. After all, why did he think I needed his protection? I didn't like the fact that someone else felt the need to assist me…really, I didn't.
These hills were really boring. Though the area the brothers lived in was all forest, most of the surrounding hills were just that. There was dry brush, a few small trees, and lots of mud.
It's strange that all the wealthy demons owned territory up here, when there was absolutely no value in a bunch of big, grassy rocks. Oh well, I suppose that wasn't my problem either.
When I finally found the building I was searching for, I was surprised. It seemed this job would be even easier than I thought. Really, this whole thing seemed way to easy.
I stormed in, sword in hand, and skewered anyone who saw me. Likely, the master of the house would be on the top floor, so I made my way up there. Demon after demon fell by my sword, and something felt sort of off about it.
Not one of them had seriously fought with me. Shouldn't bodyguards be more trained that this? Unless they weren't bodyguards. I hadn't even considered the possibility that a possible assassination target would be unguarded.
Damn it! What had I told Yomi about giving me baby work? These guys were merely servants of the lord here, not even worth my time.
I came to a stop in front of what I can only assume was the lord's room. Barging in, I saw… a woman? That was unexpected, but it was still my job.
Seeing me, she stood up. "So you're working for them now?" she asked, obviously referring to my employers.
Now this was interesting. Apparently, it wasn't that unexpected that she was their target. I advanced on her slowly, wondering if she'd tell me anything useful.
"What did he ever do to you?" she asked. I froze, staring at her in surprise. 'He'… was she referring to Kurama?
Her eyes narrowed upon seeing my response. "Oh, I see then. You're just their pawn." And with that, she threw herself on my sword.
I stared at her blankly for a second. I mean… what the hell? Not only were there no bodyguards, but the target had also killed herself for me. Damn, this place was strange.
Just as I turned to leave, I remembered Yomi's request. That's right… he wanted a souvenir. Maybe the head? On second thought, that would probably please him. I wasn't going to carry around a bloody head just to satisfy the likes of him.
I lifted my blade and swung it down, slicing off her pink locks of hair. That couldn't be a very common color, so they'd know it was hers.
When I got back, only Karasu was there to greet me. "Why hello assassin." He greeted me softly.
I glared at him and tossed the woman's hair towards him. He caught it gracefully in one hand and smirked at me, as if he was aware of something that I wasn't.
He started coming towards me, and I felt my heart speed up just a little bit. This crow was quite formidable. The sudden sound of footsteps at the top of the stairs stopped him. Kuronue appeared, topless, rubbing one eye sleepily.
"Karasu?" he asked, looking down at the two of us.
The crow ignored his little brother and addressed me again. "Anyway, my brother said that when you get back, I should tell you that he wants these three targets killed as well… with a souvenir for each one."
He handed me a slip of paper with names and locations written on it, and then walked back up the stairs towards the bat.
I left without a word, off for several more weeks of hunting. Normally, I wouldn't mind. But this also meant that it would be several more weeks before I talked to Kurama.
I hate this place.
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And we still don't know how Hiei feels. Poor guy, those brothers are keeping him busy. Did you enjoy the brothers in this chapter? Review and tell me!