Ch 4: Illusions to agree with

Naoki laid sprawled out on the soft queen bed that was wrapped in oak pillars with a sheer pale green canopy that fluttered like leaves on a tree, eyes closed she felt the breeze from the open full windows, the air smelled of rain and dusk. She could taste the rolling sunset as it bleed its last light before the night sky swallowed its final rays. ' At least I have a chance to prove myself to be worthy' her mind spiraled as dark memories of rust and fear rolled through her, she furrowed her brow 'I won't let my past define me' she growled as an unbidden memory poured over her.

hands were dirty and bleeding, joints looked out of place and sore. Salt she tasted the salt of her tears as they cascaded down dirt streaked cheeks a gulping sound too loud for her ears thundered through the delicate shells, she thought vaguely that the pathetic mewling gulps and whimpers were coming from her. clumps of mauve bangs stuck to the her forehead and cheeks as she lay on the cold dirt floor cradling her broken fingers, she smelled the stink of blood and filth. She was in that cell again, she couldn't catch the metal ring properly and resulted in multiple injuries to both hands. she was young her small body gulping in breaths smothering the cries of pain with a growl of determination, she would be free, the cold metal around her throat bit into her flesh and fueled her fire, she would be free dammit!

Naoki pressed the heel of her hand against her eyes, refusing the tears that wanted to spill, panic breathes bobbed in her chest as she fought the pull of the memory. It was always like this a memory would be conjured and it would threaten to drown her in its misery, she ground her hand harder against her eyes forcing the damn tears back. Her eyes should be dried wells with the river that she cried in her youth, she layed like that as she regained her composure; sighing she sat up looking at the ornate room seeing the delicate sprawl of gold and tan stretching across the walls with wooden panels fitted across the bottom half. It was a beautiful room complete with a small dresser stained a dark oak to match the grand bed 'these are to be my quarters? I have never known such finery' She smiled feeling like a child gifted with her first teddy bear, the giddiness that bubbled in her chest made her giggle as she stood and gave a twirl memorizing the delicate strokes of the paint in the portraits of flowers and monarchs that graced a few places on the walls, with a final twirl she resumed her post at the edge of her newfound bed, the dewy fabric of the comforter reminded her of lilybells soft mane, it was a light green color with strips of tan and along with large pillows that matched the pallet.

"I hardly deserve this beauty" she whispered as she flopped back down into the beds warm embrace, letting the pull of sleep encompass her giving no mind to changing her clothes. 'a bath in the morning before I meet with that...Man' she sneered the thought, remembering how curt he was with escorting her and the guards to her new room and how his hard molten eyes already placed judgement upon her head, with a huff she buried her face into the comforter letting herself be swept away by the sandman.

Obi's eye twitched once, twice before he growled watching as the little assassin bounded to him with wet hair and hopping on one foot as she tried shoving the other in her unoccupied boot, he scrubbed his hand through his hair as she hobbled to him bouncing on the only booted foot. He regarded her coolly, he refused to impishly pester or tease this women, she has a lot to prove to earn his trust, before such play. "You're late." He saw her flinch " we are to patrol the grounds this morning."

He eyed the hue of the sun just breaking through the gloom of night, soon the castle would wake and the sounds of daily life would echo lively and jovial, He heard her grumble as she fixed her mussed hair and smoothed the crumple of her skirt out." The night shift will be changing and there is a small margin of time between the shifts, and it is our job to fill that opening with our own patrol." She looked up at him with those eyes, they looked all too innocent and to hard with a final sigh he turned motioning with his hand to follow.

"If we want to keep on the time schedule, we need to go now." He heard her huff as she fell in step with him, he watched the bob of her dusky purple head 'what is her game?' he mused, the memory of the talk him and Zen held before he retired to his own quarters burned to the fore of his mind.

Zen braced his arms in a wide berth against his desk with Kiki and Mitsuhide at his back both looking thoughtful "Tell me everything you know about the type of assassin you believe she is and explain that particular fighting style." Zen demanded before looking down in shame "Please Obi."

Obi nodded his head as he looked upon the prone form of his master, the rigid set of his shoulders had Obi clenching his fists against his side."It is known as the Dance of blood, though the assassins performing such techniques are commonly referred to as demons, I have crossed blades with one in particular, on several occasions." He felt all their eyes focused on him and felt the weight of his every word."These assassins are deadlier while facing a group, their attacks can muddle the melee but one on one they are easily over powered."

Zen nodded and looked back at Mitsuhide who was tapping his chin in thought."But Miss Naoki, was matching Zen blow for blow and gave no margin for an opening." Mitsuhide voiced as his mind replayed the brief battle "She was quite skilled and handled that weapon with ease." Kiki intoned as she walked to the opposite side of the desk and rested her hip against it.

"The stamina to use that weapon would've worn her down before Zen." Obi responded " Her metal ring is dull and heavy and over time would weigh down her movements, she seems well versed in the technique thought her guiles seem to be lacking."

Zen quirked a brow "In what way Obi?"

"She gave in to my accusation almost instantly and instead of smooth talking she beseeched you." Obi furrowed his brow in a frustrated huff, he wasn't his composed teasing self he felt off, on guard. Someone with the skills of 'that' person he met long ago near his master near his-.. near Shirayuki, it made him feel dangerous.

" that is something I've been mulling over too" Zen sat down steepling his fingers "Why would she compromise herself?"

Obi shook his head letting his relaxed smirk grace his face before a hardened look fell over his vistage "I may not know now but I will find out."

The little assassins grousing brought him back to the present as she plucked at the coils of her braid mumbling something about traveling and twigs. She was the most usual of assassins and he has met many of that ilk to be the judge of that. Allowing her to be a part of Zens guard even if it was for a week clenched Obi's teeth, he was confident that he could best her even with that ring wound up in her hair, it's the others he worried for. Zen held his own but would he tire before this women, same with Mitsuhide and Miss Kiki? He wasn't sure and having a wildcard in their mists had him itching to wrap his fingers around the hilts of his daggers.

"-ortifications?"

Obi blinked as her voice interrupted his thoughts and he looked down at her blankly "I'm sorry what did you say?"

Naoki did something he didn't anticipate, she gave a wholehearted laugh. He blinked several times confused at her outburst. "Geez am I that boring? hmm hee hee anyway .." She smirked obviously teasing the still shocked male. " I was asking what are the main fortifications of this castle? sheer number of guards or are they competent to handle their own?"

Obi shook his head and looked forward as he mulled over her questions, tilting his head back. "That is something we should not be revealing to a possible assassin hmm?" his words carrying a tinge of humor

Naoki pouted cutely, as she huffed " true but when I do and I will prove my albate innocence! I would like to know that I have back up to provide the Princess and the Prince with the utmost protection."

He smiled at that a hard slash against his face. "we shall see if you can earn that."

She growled feeling her ire surfacing, he had such a smug look in his eyes, the moment she proves herself she will flaunt it in his face at every chance she can! A thought popped in her mind and she eyed Obi with such a mischievous intent that his eyes took on a curious light."Want to make a bet?"

She most definitely peeked his interest on the subject "Oh? and what is this bet and better yet what are the stakes?"

She snickered a grin that could only be described as evil spread."the premise is a simple I bet I can match and exceed your speed." A similar evil grin spread across Obi's face "The stakes are this, whoever loses must buy the other as much alcohol as their coin purse can handle and divulge a single secret!"

He chuckled "Really that's the best you could do? No one is running the battlements in their small clothes? where is the fun" Her pout returned with an eye twitch

"Oh and you could do better?" she would rather keep her small clothes hidden thank you very much! He snapped his fingers in a Eureka moment, giving her a devilish look "I'll take you up on the race, but upped the ante ! Loser will buy alcohol for the other the rest of the week and each day reveal a secret."

She squeaked "5 secrets?"

Obi nodded "be ready to have the biggest tab at the bar that it will take years to pay off"

She narrowed her eyes 'he is going down!" she gave a startled gasp as he patted her head like a dutiful child before he launched into a full out run "Whoever reaches the court yard wins!"

Her eyes widen in horror 'that son of-' she pushed off pumping her legs like her life depended on the strength and speed that was beat into the very bones of her being 'I won't let him win!'