In Yokohama, where it's currently raining. There are many people in a rush to seek shelter, they are those who do not wish to face the downpour of the rain.
Drip, drop, splat.
Those were sounds that were loud enough to hear by such small droplets of water.
Rain could be nothing but a spring shower and then maybe it can turn into a raging flood. Taking everything in its way.
Rain could help, it can nurture, providing for plants and crops to flourish but also takes away all that.
It can destroy as well.
Destroying homes and crops as well. Taking everything in its path and leaving nothing but havoc.
Even so, it can return to a clear sky, a tranquil blue sky.
"Meow."
A cat was hiding under a bench, no one had bothered to help it.
"Poor thing, you are quite brave to wait until the rain to clear. With a coat like yours, other cats would be avoided getting wet."
The cat's bright, blue eyes looked up at the voice that spoke to it.
It was a woman who looked middle-aged, crouched down to meet eye-to-eye with the cat. She had short dark magenta hair that reached past her chin, bangs fell over her eyes in an uneven fringe and parted to a side, and the ends of her hair were in uneven lengths.
Her eyes were sharp, teal with flecks of lighter blue hues. Like matching the cat's own, they held something calmer than the dreadful rain.
A tranquil sky.
She has her face and black half-rimmed glasses. There were small wrinkles underneath her eyes yet they made her more pleasant. She wears a dark purple medium-lengthed hōmongi kimono and to keep it secured she wears a dark blue Fukuro obi around her waist, small details of droplets painted. The ends of her Kimono have a fringed Iris design, and on her feet, she wears white tabs socks, and black zori sandals.
How wasn't she not getting wet by the rain?
She covered the cat and herself with a Wagasa. The paper of the umbrella was black and inside the frame was made of strong bamboo and a similar pattern like the flowers on her Kimono are on the umbrella.
The woman held out her hand as if offering something. "You can come with me if you'd like, I wouldn't want to let you suffer alone in the rain."
"Meow.." The cat narrowed its eyes, looking into the woman's for anything false. It stepped out from under the bench sniffed her fingers and then nuzzled its head against her hand. It found the woman.. oddly trusting.
So the woman stood up straightened the skirt of her kimono and began walking.
"Do you have a name?"
"Meow." The cat walked beside the woman while being protected by the wages.
"I'll take that as a no but even if you don't have a name, I'm sure you will find the right one. One that suits you best." The woman had a faint smile on her face. "How rude of me, I didn't tell you my name. My name is Ibuse."
Ibuse and her feline companion walked on the wet pavement, each step was unrushed. Creating small ripples along the sidewalk.
It never made Ibuse feel amused by the sigh of people trying to hurry from the rain. Constant beeping and shootings from the cars and their passengers.
They all seem so.. blinded by themselves. Clouded by the thoughts poisoned their minds. It made them lose sight of what was really in front of them. Their own little lives pass in a flash, never have the time to enjoy them.
Here they were.
Stepping into what seems to be a post office. Ibuse stepped inside and shook the umbrella carefully to prevent any droplets of water inside. She then closed her Wagsa neatly, tucking it under her arm.
"Ah! Ibuse-san, it's so nice to see you again!" Greeted by the young woman who worked at the post office, Ibuse made her way over to the counter.
"It's nice see to you again as well," Ibuse said politely, nodding in response.
The cat stayed close to Ibuse and sat right next to her, it looked up at the employee with wide and curious eyes. "Meow."
"Oh! Who is this!?" The worker looked at the cat with awe and a smile. "It's so cute! Is it yours?"
Ibuse shook her head. "It's not, I found it under the rain underneath a bench. I couldn't leave it alone."
The employee's smile grew even more. "That's honestly so nice of you! Normally people would leave it alone but you decided not to. You are kind, Ibuse-San."
Ibuse looked stunned as she took the employee's words. Kind? Kind?
Those words resonated in her mind Like the timbres of bells rang in Ibuse's mind.
Thatterm was not familiar.
Ibuse cleared her throat, snapping back to reality from.. whatever that was.
'I believe you have mail for me." Ibuse said curtly, her expression returning to the neutral one she often displays.
"Mail..? Mail! Right! Right! I'll get it for you, Be right back!" The Clerk sprinted away and went into the mailing sorting room, leaving the older woman and cat alone.
Chattering from the TV above the customer service desk showcases news on the current events happening. Ibuse's eyes narrowed ever so, she removed her glasses from her nose and cleaned them using the sleeve of her kimono.
She heard the footsteps of the clerk returning, Ibuse's irises shifted to meet the worker's.
"Here you go!" The worker placed the received mail on the counter and handed it over to Ibuse, the mail she had gotten was envelopes. "Wow! It seems you are popular!"
Ibuse held the envelopes, squinting her eyes to read who addressed them to her. She turns them back and front. " Most of these are merely advertisement or either useless." Ibuse set aside the ones that she did not need and ended up with 3 envelopes.
One was black, the other one was white and the last one was dark green.
Their senders had initials she knew but now was not the time to read them.
"Thank you." Ibuse bowed her head in showing her gratitude, the worker did the same. She soon started to walk towards the exit, taking a brief turn into a hallway.
Something about the way the clerk said 'kind' to Ibuse made her feel grow an uneasy feeling in her gut, that term was surely unfamiliar.
"Meoww!" Hissed the cat, its back arching upwards and its pupils widening. The cat scurries off, leaving Ibuse.
Distant footsteps came approaching from behind soon turning into loud and heavy, a figure dressed in a black jacket that had a hood to cover their face paired along with jeans. They came rushing towards her, it was nothing more but a mere thief.
"You run for committing a crime with those loud..and prideful steps of yours. Running freely within the streets in hopes of your actions being unquestioned. Therefore you can do whatever you want, whenever you want."
"I may not know what you are truly thinking but know this will be the time when karma shall come to you at last."
Ibuse moved swiftly to the left, tucking in her Wagsa and switching the hold she had on it to her other hand.
The thief looked confused as they ran past Ibuse, they were supposed to go after her, not past her!
"What the.. she is so fast but how..? Huh!?"
It felt like time stopped for everything in the world, as the thief caught a glimpse of Ibuse's piercing gaze, their expression changed from a prideful and arrogant individual to one of quaking.
Those eyes.. they were just as conspicuous and serene as a clear sky yet someone could see the storm brewing deeply within them. It held depth in those irises that could send someone in awe or fear.
Just like now when the thief did not see what was coming for them.
Then came a heavy 'whack', alarming those who were near and just passing by in the hallway.
The thief was struck down and is now on the floor, lying flat on their stomach. Ibuse had used the hilt of her umbrella to hit the nape of their neck.
That did something at least.
Ibuse took a breath to regain some composure, straightening her kimono and re-tucking in her wagsa under her arm. Scurring along her way out to avoid the stares and whispers that she had caused.
Attention was something she'd kept at arm's length or further.
"So this is where you have gone off to."
"Meow!"
The duo looked up at the sky, the one that was once dreary grey and filled with much gloom.
The sun hung high, clouds pure white, and the azure a crystal shade.
"It's peaceful once more." Ibuse took a moment to admire the clearness before looking back down at the feline. "I will be off unless you are willing to follow?" She asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Meow." The cat nuzzled its head against Ibuse's foot, purring softly. Ibuse took that action as a yes, she started to walk off now with a new company.
They walked through the streets of Yokohama on a calm path that led them out of the luxury apartments and into a more secluded area where what is seen are smaller and traditional homes.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a small house.
Nestled within a quiet residential neighborhood, the home stands as a humble yet elegant structure, blending harmoniously with its surroundings. Its exterior features a combination of wood and plaster, adorned with a traditional tiled roof sloping gently downwards. A small garden. Meticulously tended to, graces the front yard with flowers in a variety of Iris, Chrysanthemum, and Hydrangea.
As soon as Ibuse opened the door, the cat rushed passed her. Already exploring the foreign home.
Ibuse closed the door behind her and removed her sandals at the genkan. Then placing her wagasa into a rack.
"Someone seems comfortable." Ibuse watched her cat, her eyes following its every move.
She stood there watching the feline for a few more seconds but then she felt her nose scrunch. Ibuse noticed the earthly smell from the cat's orange fur.
"Ah.. of course. You stink, now let's give you a bath."
Bath?
The cat stiffened in place, it was as if the cat's soul had left its own body when it heard that word. So immediately it ran off.
Ibuse was dumbfounded.
"Chasing a cat in my own home? Never thought I'd be doing such an act." Ibuse decided instead of chasing the cat, she would simply follow behind it.
The cat was running for dear life, turning corners left and right and somewhat knocking down items which Ibuse stopped to pick up.
"You will get hurt if you keep running, do you not know that?" Questioned Ibuse as she turned a corner.
"I understand cats do tend to have much energy but this one seems to be used to running away. Perhaps out of fear." Ibuse's brows furrowed at that thought.
Finally, the cat reached a dead end.
Its head turned around frantically in search of an exit, one more look to the left. And there it was! A door!
But wait, the cat reached for the door and bumped its head against it.
That wasn't a door.. that was a full-length mirror.
For some reason, the cat continued to bump its head against the glass in a way of thinking it would open for it.
"I am afraid that's not a door."
The cat's ears perked up at the sound of Ibuse's voice, looking around for her until it did not realize that Ibuse had already picked it up.
So fast!
"Now, let's bath you.
"MEOOW!" The cat squirmed in Ibuse's grip, trying any tactics possible like: Scratching, biting, and even clawing at her kimono and arms but nothing worked. The dark magenta-haired woman did not budge one bit.
...
"Get. In." Ibuse tried her hardest to not hurt the cat as she tried pushing it into the wooden Furo, its legs spread out like a star and its paws desperately held onto sides, just hovering above the water.
"The water won't hurt you, trust me-" Ibuse was cut off by the cat hissing at her and before it knew it, one of its legs slipped off the sides and fell into the water.
That was one way to do it.
"It was not so bad after all, wouldn't you agree?"
"Meow.."
With a white soft towel, Ibuse began to dry the cat carefully. Next, she grabbed a brush, and with gentle strokes, she brushed the cat's orange fur. It was as if the sudden fear the cat felt moments ago faded and replaced by content purrs.
"It seems you are not the only one who enjoys this," Ibuse said calmly, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Meow.." The cat tucked its paws under its body and wrapped its tails around itself and its eyes closed, small purrs came from the cat as it slept.
Ibuse blinked in slight surprise while she was busy cleaning the brush she used on the cat.
"It sheds so much fur.."
A sigh escaped Ibuse's lips as she looked out the window, the lofty moon now hung in the sky.
She looked at the cat once more, removing her glasses, she set them on a nightstand. Then walking over to blow out the light from the lantern, the room faded into darkness with the only source of sight being the moonlight.
Ibuse prepared her Futon right next to the cat in case it felt disturbed during the night, once she settled in her futon she faced the ceiling.
"Good night, rest well my friend." As soon as those words were said, Ibuse began to drift off into slumber herself.
15 years ago.
A vehicle is navigating through the terrain of Tokoyami Island, the northern lights painted hues of vibrant purple and green, an eerie beauty to the scarlet of the battlefield.
Murmurs from the vehicle could be heard silently as they made their way through.
"An assassin in the war zone?" asked a soldier.
"You shouldn't worry that much, she is part of the Goken." said another one.
"One of the five swordsmen in the government huh? I never would have guessed they would send out one of them but shouldn't they send them all?" A third one spoke.
"One is enough, if someone is as great as her then we don't need anymore." Answered the fourth one
"What I heard is that the Salamander only uses her scabbard to fight. No one ever saw her sword." The fifth whispered.
"if she is that strong then she's perfect. Another one of their machines." Was heard from the sixth soldier.
The vehicle came to a halt.
"We are here."
As soon as the doors of the back were open, the soldiers in the vehicle had exited out.
It left Ibuse being the last one to leave.
She was greeted by the sight of other troops talking with one another, some already preparing their weapons.
Ibuse saw the tents that were posted some soldiers were in them, being healed.
All of these people here.. were human. None of them had abilities here, unlike Ibuse which was strong while others were weak.
That's why they needed her, she was the perfect instrument.
At the faintest distance, she saw a warship. It came slowly to their camp, it was part of a specific division, those who were in charge of treatment.
Ibuse knew a person there but she didn't question whether or not she was allowed on.
She stood amidst the other troops, possibly the one who stood out most. Clad in black, a gakuran jacket underneath a plain short haori and hakama pants that were long, loose with shins on both her forearms and shins, covered by fabric. Ibuse's feet were covered with white tabi socks with grey-colored flats.
Her hand rested on the sword around her hip, and Ibuse's grip tightened ever so slightly on the hilt.
"Ibuse." Called out a general. "Someone wants to see you."
"Who?" Ibuse asked.
The general kept silent for a moment, he spoke up in a flat tone. "Mori."
The swordswoman's eyes were wide for a brief moment before relaxing. "He would like to see me?" Ibuse cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "Where can I find him?"
"You can find him on the ship that just stationed, here's a pass."
Ibuse bowed her head and took hold of the pass from the general. "Thank you, I'll take my leave." She said as politely as she could to mask the slight annoyance of the general's attitude.
And there she goes, Ibuse bolted off like lashing lightning, she could be quite the aloof and taciturn individual upon a glance.
Sooner or later, Ibuse had made it swiftly in the ship and ended up in a hallway, now it was time to look for the man in question.
"Ah, Ibuse-san! I'm so glad you could make it." A suave voice came from behind Ibuse.
Mori was a fairly tall man with a slender physique, his sleek black hair carefully slicked back, framing his face with bangs on either side. His eyes were a piercing magenta and he wore a navy blue military suit. This man is Mori Ōgai, the unit chief medic adjutant.
"Mori-san," Ibuse replied in a languid tone
"You seem bored to see me, I thought you'd be happy to meet up with a friend," Mori said feigning mock disappointment with a small frown.
Ibuse knew what hid behind that facade and it was no stranger to her. Behind charms that can fool others to be perceived as regular, lies a different tale within those eyes. A man who is calculating, cunning, and manipulative but his actions are not done for no reason unlike those who are similar. They are done with logic, strategy, and reason just like how everything worked or how it should work.
"It's quite a surprise you were chosen to be deployed to Tokoyami Island. Out of all the swordsmen they had, they chose you. Isn't that something to triumph over?" Mori remarked, a wry smile on his lips.
"I was perplexed as..well but I am honored for such a position," Ibuse spoke in a more quiet tone as she held her gaze on the ground.
"Well," Mori began. "They needed the best one and you met all the requirements!" He said in a joyful tone, his hands clasped together in front of himself. "As calm as droplets..yet nimble as lighting when it strikes. I admired such a feat from you, Ibuse-san. It almost makes me quite jealous." Mori chuckled ever so slightly before it died down along with the rest of his expression.
"Do you not think the reason why you are here is because you have such adeptness? Or is it because they consider you nothing but a tool? Something that follows orders without any question like a machine?" Mori questioned as he stared at Ibuse with empty, wide eyes.
Ibuse stared back, clenching the top of her haori. "I know what you mean by serving as nothing more but a machine. Although it may be true it gives you no right to question my actions." She spoke up with knitted brows. "It also does not make you question the only thing I am capable of."
There then hung a silence.
Mori stood tall once again, his lips formed a thin line as his eyes narrowed. "You still kept that stubbornness of yours? It has seemed like you have, you weren't the person who changed even the littlest thing." He said amusingly, his eyes scanning over Ibuse before his magenta eyes landed on her sword.
"And you still kept that sword with you as some sort of lifeline."
Ibuse looked at Mori with a deadpan. "People cannot change in days, weeks, or months, Mori-san. It could be possible, yes but they must grow within their years of learning. You may have changed but the only thing that hasn't is your odd fixation of young girls."
Mori let out a dramatic gasp. "Your words cut so deeply!" He wiped a fake tear from his eye before a thought came into his mind. "Speaking of which, I have someone I want to introduce."
They walked past the corridors of the ship in which soldiers were kept in treatment, resting and recovering.
It wasn't until they stopped at a room, Mori turns the knob and revealed the room to Ibuse.
"Special ability: Thou shalt not die!"
Out came several butterflies.
Ibuse couldn't help but look in awe, splendors of a faint green when the insects faded away.
"Who's ability could this be?.. it's beautiful even." Ibuse pondered, as she looked towards a butterfly she tried touching, but it also faded away.
"It doesn't hurt, I can see again! My eyes are working!" cried a soldier.
"My leg. I have my leg again!" exclaimed another one.
All the rest of the soldiers were either crying tears of joy, laughing, or even in shock still. The limbs that they had once lost are back to them as if nothing ever happened.
"You get hurt because you are weak! Get back to the damn front!" Said a voice, it was strong. but one of someone grown.
Who could do such a thing?
And in the middle of them all stood a young girl.
Dark hair cut into a bob that reaches past her chin and bangs. She wore an apron over her military clothes and the headband that the other medics had on. Her eyes bright and wide are magenta. Her eyes.. did not showcase any sign of fear, she was brave in fact, very.
That young girl's name is Akiko Yosano, a sponsored student medic. This young girl? Why out of all places was she here? In a war zone area?
Anyone her age wouldn't even handle the sight. Yet here she was, the soldiers showering with praise while she looked rather annoyed at their gushes.
The reason why Yosano was here was because of her ability as well, it was useful.
It was provided when a soldier was near death, using her ability, she could heal them and then they would be sent out to fight once more.
And again.
A cycle of death and fate.
"Amazing!"
"It's a miracle!"
"You are our god!"
"Our savior!"
"Let us use your likeness as our emblem!"
"Please let us worship you!"
The soldiers all gushed around Yosano, showering her with praise. She had a mixture of confusion and annoyance in her features.
"Go away! Piss off!" Yosano exclaimed loudly.
The troops stopped when Mori took out a gun and held it against on top of a soldier's head.
"Are you that enamored with my Yosano-kun?" Mori asked bluntly, an arm tucked behind his back.
"Ch-Chief Mori.. we would never.."
"Oh, shit.. he's going to kill us.."
"He's going to pickle our organs.." The soldiers all backed up with fear, one thing is for sure they would not like to see what happened when they got on Mori's bad side.
Yosano side glanced at Mori, raising an eyebrow. "'Your' Yosano-kun? Since when was I yours, Mori-sensei? I'll bite your ears off."
Mori didn't bother to glance back, he was cleaning the gun with a handkerchief. "I am your superior, am I not?" He copied her action by side glancing at Yosano as well. "I have the right to correct your attitude and language, too."
Yosano turned her head face away in disapproval as she placed her hands on her side. "I don't care about military policy but what I do care about is knowing who is that person." Yosano curiously pointed to Ibuse.
"Oh, how could I ever forget about my friend here?" Mori said in mock surprise. "This is Masuji Ibuse, part of the Goken, in other words, an assassin."
"An assassin?"
"What is she doing here then..?"
"She isn't going to kill us, right?"
"And that sword.. no one saw the actual thing."
"Can we even trust her? Who's side is she really on?"
Those mutters, whispers, all that made Ibuse's heart pick up. This placement is in the spotlight. Ibuse's heart pounded against her rib cage, just begging to be free, she felt her hands go clammy. No, no. She can't break this facade, not here, not now.
"Ibuse-san, can I ask a question?" Asked Yosano with furrowed brows. "Out of all the jobs you picked. you chose to be an assassin. You kill who you are told to kill, no matter what. Right?"
"I.." Ibuse tried speaking, but her words got caught right into her throat as clogged.
"Do you truly enjoy this..? To kill no matter if it's for justice or not? How easily you can take a human's life in general..?" Yosano pleaded, taking a step closer to Ibuse. The soldiers thought Yosano could be accusing Ibuse of her actions but instead, she wished to hear something from her, the opposite.
Ibuse looked at the young girl with wide eyes as she felt Yosano's words sting right through her. Eventually, Ibuse's grip on her sword had faltered and she looked down-casted.
"I wish I could say that I do. I value the true beauty of living." Her voice trembled. "It's far more valuable than any gemstone known to man." Ibuse finally made eye contact with Yonsao's own magenta eyes and her expression softened.
"I wish I could do the complete opposite instead to help others, just like you, Yosano-kun." She let out a dry laugh. "But unfortunately I do this job because killing is the only thing I can do."
There came speaking from the communicators stationed in the room, Mori went to turn it off with a push of a button and turned to Ibuse. "They need you at the front, best to get going."
Ibuse nodded but before she went off she looked at Yosano once again and gave her a warm smile to mask up the true guilt that was eating at her core.
"You have a good ability. Use it well."
Ibuse disappeared in a flash leaving but a small gust of wind.
THE FRONTLINE-
Ibuse appeared back with a deep sigh coming from her lips, she was just going to stand waiting idly when she suddenly heard a loud explosion.
"What the.."
"ALL TROOPS DEPLOY IMMEDIATELY! THE OPPOSING SIDE IS SENDING THEIR UNITS! ALL SOLDIERS ARE NEEDED-" The speaker was soon cut off as well.
"How are they here already..?" Ibuse felt as the ground shook once more, she snapped her head quickly to the left to see another missile was aiming right toward their base.
Sounds of gun piercing through the body and swords slashing with the blood of those they had taken, were ringing all in Ibuse's head.
Ibuse fluttered her eyes shut to hear them more clearly, they were back open she spotted a lone soldier hiding with his body crouched on the ground, hands kept above his head to protect himself.
The missile slowly descended from the sky, glowing a bright red.
"That missile is going to crash down upon him, he will die."
Grabbing the soldier by the collar, Ibuse pulled him up with surprising strength, her movements deft and efficient. "Follow me, and don't let go," she commanded, her voice firm and authoritative.
Ibuse led the soldier to a shelter, placing him there she proceeded to dash right back into the warzone. She rushes forward turbulently and unleashes numerous lighting slashes from all directions, seems she was teleporting in a haze of mist.
"I wonder, why do we have war?"
The enemy soldiers barely had time to react before she was upon them, their abilities had no effect if she kept on dodging.
"I found no value in it, I despise it."
Was there a point in sending more of these dolls to the battlefield if they were going to get killed?
War was nothing but a gamble of winning and forging control.
The lives are played like chips for governments to bet on.
"This is right? For our country? It never fails to amuse me ever so. Why participate in a war that isn't ours to fight? To cause more conflict?"
"It is as if children are fighting over a toy, the toy being land or control. Overall, the idea is a hoax.
Ibuse leaped straight into the air as she saw a burst of fire from an enemy ability user only, a brief second of shining sliver gleamed and rained down a multitude of slashes.
"What does justice mean to politicians? Do they work to end up corrupt? That is simply injustice, they don't even know basic terms."
"Who cares if which side won or not? The value of precious lives is not meant to be tossed around. It's humane."
Ibuse's sword blocked all bullets coming her way. This battle was starting to hold little meaning.
"I'm not going to fight anymore."
All soldiers that were ready to attack Ibuse were slowing down for her.
She stood calmly in the center of them all, firearm and blade inching near.
Ibuse struck with her sword again, a powerful and swift circular slash that sent those who were in her way into parts of the field, some further than others.
"Each drop comes fleeing as it hits the ground."
She dug her heel into the ground and bolted off, leaving a small crack in the area where she stood.
"They passed on like life, only for a moment."
Ibuse raised her blade no more, moving along in a zig-zag manner. Sparks ignited from her footsteps, she jumped on top of a soldier's head and landed on an elevated slope.
She oversaw the battleground, her expression was solemn as she looked down at them all.
"When obsidian clouds fog up the sky, it pours down a river of those who wept."
Slowly, Ibuse drew out her sword from the scabbard. The katana is sterling silver with a curved body and sharp, pointed tip. Her katana's tsuba is a rectangular frame with smaller hollowed rectangles at each corner, all of which are black. Ibuse's handle is blue, wrapped with black cords, and capped with a sliver kashira.
Ordinary yes, but its purpose was far greater.
"All shall be gone."
Her katana became engulfed with lighting sparks as monochrome grey took the scene, time had stopped.
Ability: Black rain.
"Just how tears fade with the rain."
Ibuse turned in katana to the ground in a semi-circle and flickering it above her head, outwards towards the sky, sending a a singular upward horizontal slash.
Thunder and lighting rumble the earth as the slash aimed at the sky soon cut a tear above Tokoyami Island.
Ibuse sheathed her blade back into its scabbard. Feeling the rain that now poured down from the sky, the world resumed.
"Like flowers caught into a storm. Life is full of farewells."