Yasuo's anger flared as his reporter told him that everyone was killed by the master, Rae. He grabbed the nearest thing to himself, which was a small side table, and flung it across the room in his fury. It crashed into the wall, shattering, sending splinters of wood in all directions.
"Can no one do a job right?!" He bellowed to himself. The young Priest that had brought him the information jumped in fright and then scuttled out of the room for safety. Yasuo didn't even notice them leaving, he didn't care. His anger was at a boiling point. He wanted Rae dead, now! But it seemed no one could even do that. This is what happened when he entrusted important tasks to those below him. Well, never again.
The Judge paced the empty, wide open space of the the temple's sanctuary, back and forth, his footsteps echoing off the stone floor and bouncing off the walls. He needed a plan. A new one. One that wouldn't fail him like Shujin and even Ahmi had. Rae had been pushed into a murderous frenzy and he needed someone who was just as cold blooded as she was. Someone who wouldn't stand there and try talking like an idiot, delaying what needed to be done.
"I hear you're having a problem with a former member of your Priests." The new voice that entered the room woke up something inside Yasuo. It gave him an idea. A dark, horrible idea. One he liked very, very much. The Judge turned around to face the speaker, an evil grin plastered to his face.
"Isaru, you just who I need!" Yasuo exclaimed.
"And... I would get what out of helping you exactly?" The Assassin shot back smugly as he leaned against one of the walls, keeping himself within the shadows.
Yasuo hated this man's stubbornness, and lack of respect. The Judge employed him directly but that was all that kept Isamu there. He only carried out orders with reward in mind-only to fulfill his greed. Yasuo reined in his anger and spoke calmly, giving no hint of his inner turmoil away, "I'm sure you remember Rae? The two of you have met a few times. Well, she's causing me more trouble than I anticipated. I need her dead, money is no object."
"Yeah, I know who she is. I want ten thousand yen up front."
Yasuo took a step back. "Ten thousand?!"
"Up front. You want this job done right? I want the money."
The Judge's face flared red from anger, though in the uncertain light, he was sure the Assassin couldn't tell. Then he walked over to a chest, hidden behind the alter at the far wall of the sanctuary, and measured out the yen.
Yasuo walked the payment over to Isamu, who hadn't moved from his spot, "Take the money. But if this job isn't done right, or if you double cross me, I'll kill you."
Isamu shrugged as if the threat meant little to him, and took the small fortune from the Judge's hand. Oh how Yasuo wanted to strangle this guy. Isamu knew that he worked for him, but he never became a Priest, never pledge any loyalty. Never receiving the mark of the Order. He was the biggest liability, the biggest unknown, but Yasuo needed him. And the only way he stayed around was when he was paid what he asked for.
Painstakingly, Isamu took a long moment to count the money himself, slowly. He knew Yasuo wouldn't cheat him but he always enjoyed watching the older man squirm. Satisfied, he then tucked the pouch of yen into some place under his cloak. Payment acquired, he bowed shallowly, a mock of respect, and then turned and left.
Yaso gritted his teeth as he watched the Assassin go. He wish he didn't have to rely on this bastard to get things done.
Amused grin on his face, Isamu walked out of the temple and peered in the direction that he had been told Rae had gone. The Hidden Leaf was very populated, and it was unlikely that she had left. Duping the Order into thinking she had moved on, it was clever. He knew that was the kind of stupid thing Rae would do. Maybe he could even spare some time to create a few casualties. Rae would be no problem for him. Killing her would be easy, it wasn't like he had to bring her back alive. Not that he would even if Yasuo asked him too. He knew of Rae's power and he wasn't inept enough to try and bring back someone like her alive.
But first, he wanted to play with his victim. He would let her feel comfortable, as if she could settle in to her new life and the danger had passed, then he would shatter that dream. He'd tear it from her hands, make her realize that there would never be any escaping from her past.
Oh he would enjoy this.