The mansion was dark, lights being turned off as the last of the servants went to their rooms to sleep the night off. Hoshikata had chosen this hour well, knowing after watching for three days and nights that the guards patrolling the grounds did not change for another six hours. Six hours already into their shift, walking back and forth and checking things, they were getting tired and less likely to investigate every little problem they notice. Above him, clouds obscured the moon, a halo of light in the sky casting little light upon the earth below.
He steps free of his sentry spot, the roof of a building nearby, and races to the wall around the place. This was the home of the man who had employed him before, the one who promised connections to other people. Instead of supplying this, he decided to send a group of assassins after Hoshikata. Apparently the price of admitting to using a shinobi to do his dirty work was too high to pay, and so Hoshikata would take his life as payment instead.
He makes his way up the wall, pausing at the top and spying someone below. Their back was to him, and a lit cigarette was in their mouth. I took him only a moment to determine it was a guard who wasn't doing their job, and then he was down. Robes flapped in the air as he dropped on the man and brought his tanto out, giving him a permanent smile. No sound further was made as he ran to the outer walls of the abode itself and leapt into the bushes, concealing himself well in the foliage.
As another man comes by, he jumps out and drags them in, a hand over their mouth to muffle their shouts. Once more the tanto ends their words before they can form, and the body is left in the greenery as he slides a window open and enters the home proper. He'd been in here before, and knew it well now. High ceilings with large lintels and chandeliers. Like a cat the man leaps up and swings onto one of those chandeliers, and begins to leap from light to light to get around.
His target was below now, walking to his room. The creak of the chandelier moving was ignored as no one in their right mind would think a ninja was hiding above them on a light fixture. Hoshikata drops down like a spider, slamming the man to the ground and gripping his throat in a death squeeze. He rises, lifting him and bringing their faces together. ”A shame you didn't want to pay me.” The tanto stabs out, taking him in the heart.
As his victim's heart beats blood into the blade, Hoshikata begins to feel a rejuvenation come over him. The weapon was feeding on the man's very soul, drinking his spirit in and transferring the power to its wielder. Only when he was sure he had everything would he drop the fool to the floor and look around. The place was mostly stone, but there was enough wood for a fire, and those lamps on the ground level were filled with oil.
As he left, the house would be a roaring mass of flames behind him, hiding his work for the night.
He steps free of his sentry spot, the roof of a building nearby, and races to the wall around the place. This was the home of the man who had employed him before, the one who promised connections to other people. Instead of supplying this, he decided to send a group of assassins after Hoshikata. Apparently the price of admitting to using a shinobi to do his dirty work was too high to pay, and so Hoshikata would take his life as payment instead.
He makes his way up the wall, pausing at the top and spying someone below. Their back was to him, and a lit cigarette was in their mouth. I took him only a moment to determine it was a guard who wasn't doing their job, and then he was down. Robes flapped in the air as he dropped on the man and brought his tanto out, giving him a permanent smile. No sound further was made as he ran to the outer walls of the abode itself and leapt into the bushes, concealing himself well in the foliage.
As another man comes by, he jumps out and drags them in, a hand over their mouth to muffle their shouts. Once more the tanto ends their words before they can form, and the body is left in the greenery as he slides a window open and enters the home proper. He'd been in here before, and knew it well now. High ceilings with large lintels and chandeliers. Like a cat the man leaps up and swings onto one of those chandeliers, and begins to leap from light to light to get around.
His target was below now, walking to his room. The creak of the chandelier moving was ignored as no one in their right mind would think a ninja was hiding above them on a light fixture. Hoshikata drops down like a spider, slamming the man to the ground and gripping his throat in a death squeeze. He rises, lifting him and bringing their faces together. ”A shame you didn't want to pay me.” The tanto stabs out, taking him in the heart.
As his victim's heart beats blood into the blade, Hoshikata begins to feel a rejuvenation come over him. The weapon was feeding on the man's very soul, drinking his spirit in and transferring the power to its wielder. Only when he was sure he had everything would he drop the fool to the floor and look around. The place was mostly stone, but there was enough wood for a fire, and those lamps on the ground level were filled with oil.
As he left, the house would be a roaring mass of flames behind him, hiding his work for the night.