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The first light of dawn hasn’t even touched the earth yet, and mist shrouds the woods. Through the shadow of the looming trees and the grasses beneath, a mystical sight behold as a young woman in an elegant kimono hover above the ground like a ghost. The pale yet colorful scheme of cherry blossom in her garment befitting her beautiful youthful image. Though in contrast to her grace, she has come here for none but death and judgement for the wicked.
String-Eye is the name of the accused. One that said to be linked with the lightning witch that which attacked her last time; Gwendolyn Thorisdottir. The organization that bound them is said to be the Thoris, which has been a thorn in the flesh for a while now. She heard of unsavory rumors surrounding them— slave market and kidnapping for profit of the executive. String-Eye himself said to be part of a different organization, one that deal with the drugs. She might not be the law enforcer of this foreign land, and what crime they committed are none of her business, but she can’t let the weak and the innocent suffer, especially when they involve her life in the line. Once she witnessed their cruelty, then she’ll put an end to them.
She would hope to infiltrate the establishment before the day arrived, and here it is. Such a marvelous residence at the edge of the forest, and one that remind her much of her home. Somewhat more modern than her own home, but it carry the same oriental spirit.
She avoid touching anything as she float silently, not wanting to alert any form of security that they might had. There’s no paranormal influence here, but she still can feel an unseen, uneasy presence watching her from the distance. A supernatural being, perhaps? She can’t really tell, but she knew for sure that this is not just her own imagination. There’s something guarding the settlement, but she can’t see it from here, so she doubt that it’s an astral creature.
Soon, she venture deeper into the house. The front area is open without anyone around, leading to an open space. A vast and bright area, seems to be a living room stationed by the side of the kitchen. She huffed silently, envying such luxury that almost makes her want to hop in to the couch. However, she’s frozen in silence, a sudden fight-and-flight response triggered as soon as she spotted a pair of red eyes stare right on her, seemingly expecting her arrival.
Standing silently in the kitchen, the owner of the house is already awake. Though disheveled, he pose a threatening aura nevertheless. He remind her of a yakuza and most likely having a similar life, considering the rumor of his crime. A quiet but looming image of a killer that continue to watch her in such eerie nothingness before a sigh escaped from his lips, easing the tense. Without any words, he pushed off the counter he was leaning against, moving toward the kitchen sink while grabbing a glass at the same time. The sound of running water broke through the serene atmosphere, and then, without words, he turned to her, offering the glass of water that he put on the kitchen table. A gesture of hospitality to the stranger.
Tomo is left speechless as her figure gently flows down, foot touching the wooden floor at last. She watch him adjusting his outfit, pulling a cigar and a lighter, releasing a puff of smoke with a sigh as he walk toward the living room and grab the remote. Such a nonchalant, careless, casual manner that she could either took as a disrespecting treatment as he didn’t even see her as a threat, or perhaps, he truly unaware of her intention? For a moment, she questioned whether the man is truly evil, or did she misunderstood him?
Regardless, she decide to respond with the same courtesy. “Thank you,” she said as she nod her head and walk over to the kitchen to get the glass. It was only few seconds, but it makes her so anxious as she remain cautious, yet she didn’t want to be rude either. She decide to simply pick the glass, leaning against the counter as he watched the man from behind.
“My apology for coming unannounced, but I want to ask something…” She begin the interrogation, subtly activating her supernatural power as her body seems to start floating again. Nothing more but a sign to show him that he meant business here.
“Have you ever heard of Gwendolyn Thorisdottir from Thoris?” She asked, staring at the man. She gave no response, but she can feel that he’s listening… No, he’s watching.
“Well, I encountered her recently… Or should I said, I fought her.” She add weight to her words, and she can tell that it just nudge something in him. There’s no response, but the gesture of the man show her enough. He might said nothing, but she knew she hit something.
"Fortunately, I survived… Or should I say, unfortunately?" She said as she hover to the side, still carrying the glasses of water as she glance sideway to the man. “So, which one is true for you, String-Eye?” Her tone intensify into sharp accusation, though the man remained silent.
“I appreciate your kindness to welcome me here, so I give you the chance to explain yourself before I drag you out to the people that know better of your crime.” She stopped moving and just stare at the man, taking a piece of a paper talisman that she held between her fingers. She’s ready to use her power at any given time, though she prefer to solve this without violence.
There’s only silence between them for at least a minute. The sound of the birds chirping echoing from the distance along with the stream of water from the garden. Then, the peace was broken by a sharp sound of sword unsheathing. An ethereal, ghastly samurai manifest behind the man, floating with an ominous whisper as its glowing sword is kept close to the neck of the man. A killing intent is thick in the air, only held back by the will of the fair lady.
“Answer me, and I’ll spare your life.” She threatened, and he stay motionless, glancing to her with an ever intensifying glare. A gaze of a hungry predator watching its prey.
Again, only silence is heard from him, until he suddenly raise his arm, and a subtle yet loud scream of motor engine is heard from his bracelet, followed by metallic whir of wires within! Strings shoot out, cleaving through the room like an invisible blade of death whipping across the tables and the chairs, even leaving scar that mark the flawless surface of the walls!
“Whoa!?” Tomo ducked away right before her head could go off, but strand of her hairs was cut and now flew by the wind! He’s not even trying to talk this through and goes straight to the killing blow! Whoever this man, he’s experienced in the art of assassination!
“Sakuramaru!” She shouted, and her guardian spirit swing the huge sword in an inhuman speed! Yet the man evade so easily, spinning by the air and shoot more of the strings, reeling away as he jettison out from the windows, shattering the glasses as he kicks away!
“Hayai!!” She ended up uttered in Japanese as she rushed out from the room. Her Phantasm vanished in order for her to save up more energy for the confrontation, instead she flew through the house by herself, following the trail that should into the building beyond the pond. She could not see nor hear him anymore, but his presence is still around.
Then, the sudden metallic whir heard again, and she instinctively roll aside! The strings cut through the wooden pillars and walls, even shredding the trees that happens to be on the way. A loud huff heard as the young woman adjust herself, only to be interrupted by the loud crashing of broken furniture and the large chunk of woods falling into the pond.
“Well… Seems we’re quite similar…” Tomo hover back, observing the familiar silhouette of the man creeping from the dark side of the corridor. This is not String-Eye, or at least not his body. What present there is a projection of his image, cloaked in black smoke. Seems that she’s not the only one who could project herself. She’s in disadvantage.
Or does she…?
Without further ago, the deadly strings screeches again! Tomo yelped as she backed away, jumping off to the side and fly out into the garden! The strings chase over her, whipping the ground with clattering cracks of rocks and dirt, sending off grasses and leaves down! She need to find his real body, or at least, she need to beat the clone first!
Minutes passed ever since the young lady flee into the woods, and by then, the entire house of the man is already tied by the strings. Ten minutes has passed, and she continue to move through the canopy. Yet her mind flew beyond, memorizing his gesture. He could somehow see through the obstacles, yet he stopped at a certain distance. There must be a limitation to his vision. Right now, he seems to have lost of her sight, and this is her chance to plan ahead…
Thirty minutes has passed, and the shadowy projection of String-Eye stay on guard. He suddenly flinched, noticing how the young lady has entered the house. Such a foolish decision…
He bend his vision, seeing what she’s seeing, and as expected, she’s searching for his real body. The ghastly warrior remain unseen, but it should be around her.
String-Eye deactivate his periscopic vision and enter the kitchen again, taking out two of the knives and sneak through the wires to silently assassinate her. However, a crashing noise heard from above as the roof suddenly collapsed! The eyes of the man dilate as he couldn’t see the astral one going through the walls and the ceilings, neither expecting it to aim for the foundations!
He’s pushed to a pinch, and he shoot his strings without even seeing, grappling into the nearby tree and kicks away! The house collapsed down into rubles and ruins, loosening some of the wires as the links are broken. His scheme is foiled, and the ghastly fiend is gone again.
The man grit his teeth as his cold, cool façade is eroding by each seconds passing. He who always could see through the movement of his target without fail, ended up getting stalked by a ghost. He didn’t even see that the spirit is not there, but how could he knew when he could not see the creature? A strange sense of dread fills him, and it was alien to his mind. The factor of uncertainty. A psychological warfare to erode his confidence. The apathetic guise of the man is swallowed by one thing that is humanly sense of survival. This is nonsense. This body is without a soul, and his true self is beyond his reach. There’s no need to be afraid-
Thud—!!
His thought stopped as a blade stab his leg from below, throwing off his guard. In a mere second, the floor beneath erupt and the samurai reveal himself! Sakuramaru lunges in to the chest of the man, and the red eyes of the man glued open as the blade impale him!
The silhouette of the projection sway, yet it refuse to die. String-Eye ignored the wound and bend his vision for only a blink, then shoot out his strings across the house! The deadly wire screeched loudly, shredding anything in its way and cleave the house smoothly like a cake! After a second of delay, the buildings begin to crumble along with the trees around the garden, giving a rise to dusty clouds that obscure the path, and the fading shadow beneath the veil.
The projection of the man vanished along with the samurai, leaving their masters to lay by the rubbles. Only the sound of coughing fit heard, and then, footsteps from the other side.
The tables has turned. The owner of the house sacrifice his own property to bring down the guest, giving her the payback of her own action. The strings cut down the foundation of the building right where the girl passed, trapping her under the ruin. Either she crawl out and be executed by the wires, or she stay there, buried alive in a slow, silent, lonely end…
String-Eye steps out from his hiding, observing the ruins from the rooftop of the other side. His dry lips muttered words in an unknown tongue, though she doubt that he could hear it now. Was it a praise or a mockery to the foolishness of she that tried to trick his eyes? No one could tell as the red gaze of the man continue to stare, until he seen something glowing…
He cover his eyes with his hands, seems to be in pain. The pitch-black darkness of her grave suddenly lit by shining light, burning so brightly as she howled with a thundering return! The samurai emerge from the ruins, basked upon the glorious silvery flames that rise from below. Platinum hair is dancing and piercing blue eyes stare into the red eyes of the man!
“Kore de owarida!!” She shouted with a blazing burst and her Phantasm leap for the kill! Without a time to hide, the shadowy projection of the man manifest right in front of him, taking the hit from the katana while his bracelet revved to the fullest spin, seizing control of the remaining structure in his wake, just like spider webs surrounding the battlefield!
The swordsman is tied by the strings, and the illusion of the man vanished, thus loosening the bounds, as a sign that the real one is already escaped somewhere.
“Muda da!!” Tomo kick the ground and jump to the sky with a trail of flame, rising like a phoenix and dive down to the woods! She open both of her hands, firing off the silvery judgement from above as she try to take down the man before her power fade away!
The intense chase of the fiery lady and the master of strings leaves trail of burning woods and collapsing trees, causing both of them to fell down the hill with such a violent, rough crash against the dirty grasses beneath. The roaring of flame continue to echoes, yet the power of the kitsune leaves the body of the onmyouji. Her hair return back to black, and the glowing blue moon vanished from her eyes, unlike the fierce, bloodthirsty red from the eyes of the man.
String-Eye whispered words that yet again, she couldn’t understand. The wounded, bruised body of the man rise up again, knives at hands. His eyes glare at the dying woman, walking toward her despite his broken legs. This is the end of the cat and mouse chase.
Stab—!!
The sharp blade plunges deep and blood poured. A gasping breath escaped with a cough.
“Heh… Didn’t see that coming, didn’t you?” She smiled, as she slowly get up, using both of her hands to supported her weight. She’s panting for her dear life, but so too him.
String-Eye glare at the young lady, with both hands trying to reach for the blade that pierce his chest. The samurai manifest within the flames, and lunges in when the man is looking somewhere else. He got the sight of his prey, yet not realizing that a predator has been waiting.
“The judgement of your crime will not by me, but by those who knew the extent of your crime. Take a good look of the sky one last time with that red eyes of yours.”
The fair lady approach the man with a piece of clothes. A blindfold. He’s not going to see the light of day for a long time, assuming that he would even live through this.
Thus, the fire fade, and the two vanished without a trace.