[center][color=#F2F2F2][h3][u][b]Tsuki-sha, Kyūsai[/b] - [i]The Ashen Harlequin[/i][/u][/h3][/color][/center]

Not once glancing back at the two as the woman complained, Kyūsai spoke, tone level and calm. There was a smile on his voice, [color=#F2F2F2][b]"I will be heading to the informant in search of our target. Feel free to go consume sustenance. Be sure to inquire about the Tatasuko."[/b][/color] He continued walking ahead of them, the presence of civilization becoming more apparent as they did so. People trickled in and out of the town on the same path they were following, and some others as well. Buildings came into view as they passed over a hill. The whole while Kyūsai hadn't said a word. When they reached the very edge of the village, his arm having fully formed once more, he turned and looked to them. 

[color=#F2F2F2][b]"Three hours, the inn nearest the opening of the town, that is where we shall meet. Watch yourselves, I'm not the only one being hunted."[/b][/color] He gave them a cheerful smile, waved, and then walked away.

However, though he said no further words, through his mind wandered the thought, [i]'I wonder how they'll fare against The Thief.'[/i][hr]
[center][color=#000000][h3][U][B]Zume Tatasuko[/B] – [I]Suiteiru Meian[/I][/U][/h3][/color]
[img]http://i60.tinypic.com/5mydr5.jpg[/img][/center]

False hazel orbs closed off from the worlds by his eye's heavy lids, the shade was sitting in a clearing in the lotus position. To anyone whose senses for energy were particularly sharp, the flow of natural energy of the area was flowing to him at a gradual speed. He was most at peace this way and aside from spending time with Kurohana and every so often attending to the business of the clan this was how he spent the majority of his time.

Taking in a deep breath he savored the smell of morning dew and nature. He felt the droplets of liquid as if they were upon his own flesh, rather than beading on the surrounding greenery. However, as he sat in silence a sudden feeling came through him of an intensity he had not felt in quite awhile. Nonetheless, he sat there, still for a while longer before his eyelids parted and he rose to his feet.

The cycles had shifted.

Sighing and shaking his head, he turned to head back towards Onteimura, the Rift Village that was the only outer settlement the Tatasuko clan. Similarly, it was the only known place where members of the illusive Iouchiryo clan lived out in the open, free to be contacted by anyone who spent the effort needed to reach them.

Coming upon the sprawling settlement, Zume felt many people attending to their morning tasks or beginning the work of the day. To him it was like watching the goings on of a single organism that humanity preferred to call civilization. If only others were as aware of it as he were, the world would perhaps be a more peaceful place.

Approaching the edge of the village that nearly touched the caverns that were the Hahaoya no Joumyaku, Zume took a left. In only a minute more he came upon a well built house of stone and wood, its craftsmanship expert and its walls secretly infused with all manner of chakra. It was far more than it appeared.

Pushing the door open, he went up to the second floor of his house and called out--as if he did not know where she was already--[color=#000000][b]"Kurohana?"[/b][/color] He awaited her response before heading to where she was, [color=#000000][b]"It's happened again."[/b][/color] With his having spoken of the cycles before, and her own awareness, he'd not be surprised if she had felt it herself.

Still, while her blood was particularly pure, it could not match with his own connection to the world. It was simply the way of things. It was a blessing and a curse both, one that he had mastered.

Hopefully it would benefit the world...rather than hurt it.

Hopefully.

[hr][center][h2][b]Flashback
[i][sub]Two Days Ago[/sub][/i][/b][/h2][hr]
[color=#9E1E1E][h3][u][b]Taraatsu, Akine[/b] - [i]The Soul Thief[/i][/u][/h3][/color]
[img]http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs22/f/2008/025/e/9/e95ac583bfb326bb.jpg[/img][/center]
Striding into the building as if he owned the place, Akine's blade was in hand, its tip scrapping against the wall and producing a wondrously chilling sound. [color=#9E1E1E][b]"Oh I do love visiting a good friend,"[/b][/color] he chimed aloud, his tone chipper and sing-song. As he began humming he came upon the door he was looking for and, unceremoniously, he stabbed his sword into it and emitted chakra. immediately the door was aflame, and then it was ash the next moment. He walked through the now empty door frame with a wide grin on his face, and those ever strange eyes purple eyes.

His doujutsu was ever present, and the eerie...ghostly glow it gave off certainly made no effort to put those who saw it at ease.

The man in the room turned in his chair and glanced at the door, raising an eyebrow as he spoke, [b]"Well that was completely unnecessary,"[/b] he stated matter of factly. Akine only grinned, his eyes shining despite the room being lit. [color=#9E1E1E][b]"Hardly, you always need a little...spark in your life. It keeps people [i]burning,[/i]"[/b][/color] he didn't clarify what he meant by that. It could have been a reference to people's will to live, or their passion...but it also could have meant some less pleasant things. It was almost certainly the latter of the two.

Waltzing in he spun on his heel and plopped down into the couch. He took out a kunai and began carving lines into the wall. [b]"I [i]just[/i] had those painted, can you not?"[/b] Akine's grin widened, and he began carving chunks of the paint off of the wall intentionally. [color=#9E1E1E][b]"Now now, you know I can't do that, Ryosei,"[/b][/color] he said in the same amused tone, his voice dripping with...something. It was hard to tell, but it wasn't a good thing. [color=#9E1E1E][b]"I've got a little request for you. Tell me the name of your [i]favorite[/i] person. I'm sure they're a BLAST!"[/b][/color]

Ryosei sighed before a thoughtful look crossed his face, even as he began to tap his index finger. [b]"I don't know, it's hard to choose, but I can think of at least [i]one[/i] person,"[/b] the informant mused aloud. While he waited, the Thief's foot began tapping against the floor, and the fingers on his free hand began to twitch and then fidget. His expression however, didn't change. [color=#9E1E1E][b]"Oh please, the suspense is going to get someone [i]killed![/i]"[/b][/color] There was a tension in his voice that hadn't been there before, but it was accompanied by excitement...and perhaps an implicit threat.

If you could even call that implicit.

[b]"Well, isn't someone going to get killed anyways?"[/b] He inquired rhetorically. Akine only grinned, a small [color=#9E1E1E][b]"Ha,"[/b][/color] exiting his lips before he fell silent again. [i]'Man I haven't killed in a whole thirty minutes. It's making my skin itch,'[/i] he thought in that silence.

After a moment, Ryosei relented, letting his hand fall from his chin before he spoke, a small smile on his lips. [b]"One Arina Kawagana, I'm sure you've heard of her."[/b]

Akine's eyes seemed to glow even brighter and as Ryosei was looking into them, there would be the briefest of flashes of various rather...gory imagery. However, the flashes were so fast that they might as well have been subliminal. [b]"Oh...and rumor has it, she's immortal. As in, she can't die,"[/b] he added, seeming not to notice. Akine's smile would have widened if it was humanly possible. After the briefest of seconds he pushed himself up from the couch, walked over to Ryosei's desk and picked a small pouch from his belt. The cloth was stained with splotches of blood. Some dry...some not. As he set it down, there was the clinking of coin. [color=#F2F2F2][b]"This has been delightful old friend. I'd like to inform you of something else since you've so graciously offered me a new plaything. My kill count is now at two hundred and sixty-three."[/b][/color]

[b]"Only that many?"[/b] Ryosei responded.
[color=#9E1E1E][b]"Oh you know me [i]so[/i] well."[/b][/color]
[b]"That I do, friend, that I do."[/b]
[color=#9E1E1E][b]"The actual number is much higher. I've had to start writing it down. However, the number I gave you is the amount of innocent people. Recently I killed three rather notable diplomats. One was the Mizukage, one was a Daimyo, and the other was some rather wealthy merchant. Keiso Terime or something I believe. I confuse names these days. You know how it is."[/b][/color]
[b]"Oh I remember him, he's related to the Tetsukuzu clan. An outcast I believe. Pilfered plenty of money from the state. You've become something of a vigilante in his case."[/b]
Akine scoffed and turned away, [color=#9E1E1E][b]"Don't flatter me,"[/b][/color] it was an order, not a request. His usual amusement was not in the words.

[color=#9E1E1E][b]"Anyways, you can take that as you will. I'm sure someone will find it useful. Tata~"[/b][/color]

[b]"Give Arina my best regards,"[/b] Ryosei called after the man.

Raising his hand in a backwards wave, Akine left the room through the empty door frame.

Taking his leave of the building, Akine's eyes darted about frantically until they finally rested on the form of two siblings and their small dog, one of the two carrying a basket even as the dog licked at their ankles and followed. He felt a shudder go through him and so he took a slight detour, heading into the woods out of sight. Before he did he even heard a woman call out, [i]"Don't wander far Ayame, and look after your brother!"[/i]

[i]"I will mommy. Seirin is safe with me,"[/i] the little girl called back.

Akine grinned.

He'd only let one of them walk away alive.

The next few days would be [i]fun[/i].

For him.