Oji smiled at the pair, they would be perfect to find this assassin, and if they die he will have an excellent lead, for the price of 4 Ryu a day it was worth it. " Now you must excuse me" he said, " I must pack for the feast."
" May I ask why you are leaving at such a time?" asked Koji.
" I must keep up appearances, I do not want to lose face in front of Keiyo" said Oji, " his brother, the fat dullard Genzo Keiyo wants the stewardship of this town. I must do all I can to remain in his good graces."
" Then we bid you a good night" said Rei, bowing extra low again.
Oji left instructions to inform Asuka of any developments they find. He left Koji and Rei in the hands of his sister Asuka and bid them a goodnight. " You two look awful" said Asuka, " have you been traveling long?"
" We ran into bandits on our way here" said Rei.
" Nasty brutish thugs, no respect for good clothing" said Asuka looking at the tattered remains of Rei's kimono, " we must find you some new clothing, first let me take you to our guest accommodations."
Asuka led them through the castle to a pair of very nice rooms, " These also led to the side stairs down the cliff side" she said, " it will be easier for you two to go and come that way, less soldiers and less of a chance of anyone seeing you. I shall send dinner up for you two."
" Thank you" said Rei, " and don't worry about my kimono, I can patch it myself."
" Not when you are a guest in my house, or rather my brother's" said Asuka, " I shall find some of my old kimonos for you, it is a shame for a woman to have only one."
Rei wanted to argue more but Asuka left before she could. Rei looked about her new room, it was bigger than the main room of her house in Jota. She smiled, if she hadn't taken that chance to heal Koji she would never have seen this.
Asuka returned with several kimono's over her arm. " Let's get that old rag off you" she said, " I want you to try this one first."
Rei casually slipped her torn and blood stained kimono off. " You have an amazing form" said Asuka, " how do you manage to keep it so trim?"
" Luck" said Rei, slipping the first kimono on, " sometimes it is a curse from the deepest depths of hell."
" I bet" said Asuka, " I'm not nearly as beautiful as you and I always find myself fighting off the unwanted advances of inept young men."
" Shame women can't marry each other" said Rei, looking at her bruised body in the mirror.
" But it doesn't stop us from being together" whispered Asuka holding the new kimono against Rei's body.
Rei's new kimono fluttered to the ground, followed shortly by Asuka's.

Koji was busy devouring the meal the servants had brought to him. He hadn't eaten like this in six months, but never forgot how good it was. He should thank Rei for this meal, it was her that convinced Oji to hire them but he didn't want to get her thinking she was his partner. Koji finished his meal and laid in the comfortable bed. He missed this as well, for the last six months he had been sleeping on the ground where ever he could. Koji got up and stretched his injured body. He looked out the window at the city below him, he had a task, and just having the task made all the pain in his body go away.

Rei laid next to Asuka, letting her fingers trace across Rei's silky white flesh. " Thanks" purred Rei, " I didn't know there were that many of us out there."
" Thought you were alone, huh" said Asuka, " I know the feeling, it wasn't until I began to express myself that I learned that many women at least aren't against it."
" Do you have a partner?" asked Rei, looking away, playing with the heam of one of the kimonos laying next to them.
" No" said Asuka, " do you?"
" I did" said Rei, " but she is now married."
" Who was she?"
" She was my best friend from school. It started off just as curiosity, but I knew I was solely attracted to women."
" Hm, we are too perfect for men" said Asuka, kissing Rei's neck.
Asuka stayed with Rei until she fell fast asleep before reluctantly getting up. She slipped her kimono on and left. She smiled as she walked through the castle, soon she wouldn't be sleeping alone.

Rei slept soundly and deeply, the warm bed, the crackling fire, the meal, and Asuka. In the morning she awoke to another wonderful meal. Rei enjoyed the food and slipped on the black and red kimono which Asuka had left, being on top of the pile it was the easiest to grab. She strapped on her daggers and went to find Koji.
He wasn't in his room so Rei walked across the hall and looked into the baths. He was relaxing in the water shameless flirting with the servant girl who had filled the bath. " You bathe" joked Rei as the servant scurried out, " you are full of surprises."
Koji gave her an amused look, " You slept late" he said.
" It was that bed" said Rei, " too comfortable. So what are we doing today?"
" I was talking to the servant" said Koji, " she says there is an old woman in the fish market who knows a lot, we should start there. You know, there is room for two."
Rei shook her head, he was never going to quit. " I'll be outside" she said.
Koji shrugged and finished his bath. It was amazing how a woman like her could constantly rebuff his advances he had met very few, married or unmarried that put up resistance like this. Of course that made her more appealing to him.

The pair ventured down the side steps away from the castle. They were barely steps, just little shelves cut from the rock even the slightest misstep would send them straight down to the valley floor several hundred feet below. Koji skipped down the stairs without a care in the world as Rei hugged the wall, she was convinced the next step would send her tumbling down the side of the cliff. She hated heights and this was the worst.
Finally after what felt like forever the pair reached the bottom of the cliff. Rei took a long breath and looked back up at the steps realizing she would have to climb those all over again before the day was done. Koji started into town and Rei hurried to follow.

Yonamura was a bustling city but the fear brought by the murders had damped the atmosphere. The merchants still setup in the great market in the center of town but now where surrounded by five or six bodyguards. The citizens of the town went about their daily shopping but few stopped to chat with their neighbors for long. The soldiers patrolled the streets holding their large spears and looked at everyone with a suspicious eye. This certainly was a town on the edge.

Koji and Rei found the fish market, the old woman wasn't hard to spot. She was weathered, stooped, and wrinkled with great age but still managed to sell the daily catch shipped up from Jota with flair. " Greetings old woman" said Koji.
She looked over at him, " You aren't interested in fish are you boy" she said.
" No" he replied, " I am in need of information."
" My secrets don't come cheap by the looks of you affording my price may force you to miss a few meals."
" I believe this will cover it" said Rei, dropping one of her two Ryu next to a fish.
The old woman instantly snatched the coin up, a Ryu was almost a week worth of selling fish. " You two are here for the reward huh" she said, " for your generosity I will tell you a secret no one else knows. The Rupan Temple up the mountain, there a Yakuza boss hides. His arm carries a bullet fired by the invisible killer. He is the only survivor, but he won't come forward for obvious reasons, namely his reward is nearly as great as this silent killer."
" Will he see us?" asked Koji.
" Doubtful, but your companion is his kind of girl" she said, " I hope you aren't the jealous type."
Rei blushed red and looked away, " Rupan Temple up the mountain, okay we'll go pay him a visit" said Koji.
" He won't appear until after dark, the monks and him have an agreement" she said, " wait until dark before heading up there. If you are looking to kill time, there is a large tavern just outside of the market on the main road, you'll find plenty of gossip there."
" Thank you" said Koji.
The pair left the fish woman who was admiring her new found wealth and headed through the market to a large three story tavern that serviced the merchants of the market. Rei took one look at the place and said, " I would much rather gather some herbs. Let's meet back here at dusk to head up to the temple."
" Sure" said Koji, " I'll see you then."
Rei walked off and soon disappeared into the crowd.

The tavern was a loud active place, the sake and wine flowed free, merchants filled the place drinking up large amounts of their earnings. This silent killer was almost exclusively all they talked about. " Another merchant was killed" said one, " I don't dare head to Jota any more."
" I know, I don't even dare leave the inn at night" said another, " why can't our high and mighty lord find this criminal and hang him?"
" He isn't human, I hear he is a demon."
" Demon? Ha, you got to stop drinking. It is making you see things."
Koji found a table on the second floor and sat down. " What can I get you?" the serving girl asked.
" Wine" said Koji, it was too early for sake, " and two glasses."
" Excepting someone?" she asked.
" Just you" he replied.
She blushed, " I may have to take you up on that offer."
Koji watched her hurry down the stairs, she was cute. She came back a few moments later with the wine and two glasses. She sat across from him and poured the first glasses. " So tell me, have you heard anything about these strange murders?" asked Koji.
" I have, working in a place like this it is all you hear" she said, " I knew the girl that was killed."
" The geisha?" asked Koji.
" She works for one of the richest men in town" she said, " or worked I guess. She was going to get me a position there. We had spent the day at the public baths and had stayed late. We had just separated to go home when I heard a great rumble of thunder although there wasn't a cloud in the night sky. It was awful, that horrible black rock in her forehead."
The girl emptied her glass and then another before continuing, " At least she didn't suffer. I don't dare leave the tavern after dark any more. I sleep in the back, I just can't go outside. It is awful, you know no one had ever seen this beast. It is like he is invisible, how are the lord's men going to stop something that is invisible?"
" Can you remember anything else on the night your friend died?" asked Koji, letting her have another large cup of wine.
She pondered for several moments, she had a cute face when thinking. " I remember an old letch hitting on us at the baths" she said, " but when we were together that happened a lot. He had a golden necklace with some kind of pendant but I can't really remember it."
" Thank you" said Koji, " are you free this afternoon?"
" For you? Certainly" she said, a big smile crossing her lips, " what is your name?"
" Koji" he replied, " you?"
" Aki" she said, gently rubbing Koji's hands, " hands of a warrior, so strong and so skilled."

Across the tavern Takamoto Kaigen watched the girl he'd pursued for weeks drooling over some cheap ronin with a fancy sword. He was going to teach her a lesson about who really rules Itten, it isn't those vain warriors with their tales of blood, glory, and conquest but the merchants who supplied them the foods and weapons so they could slaughter one another. He motioned for two of his bodyguards and began to explain his plan.

Rei walked out of town and started for the trees that lay just beyond. It was wonderful being out in nature. She slipped her sandals off and slowly made her way up the hill towards the trees. She loved the feel of the soft grass under her bare feet. She reached the woods and gently slipped her sandals back on. She went to work hunting for herbs, roots, berries and fungi to make into medicine. She quickly found several good plants, their leaves ripe and full. She gently removed one of the daggers on her back and gently cut a few leaves from each plant. Her mother had told her on more than one occasion never to dig the plant up and only take a few leaves so the plant would grow back. Rei gathered some great fungus from the bark of a tree and put it in a jar, this was turning into an excellent day for her.
Rei continued to wander through the forest as the sun reached it zenith and began to start to sink towards evening. She had found excellent ingredients all day and would be able to make strong medicines tonight. Rei had decided to climb one more hill before turning back. It was a little steeper than the others and Rei had to climb by grabbing tree branches and pulling herself up. She slipped twice and almost fell but managed to keep her balance and make it to the top of the hill.
There were graves at the top of the hill, ancient graves. They were carved out of old black volcanic rock that was now crumbling with decay, they were so old Rei couldn't see a single word of writing on any of them. But the graves weren't what interested her, there were plants everywhere. Rei saw Graveweed, Moon Fern, Hangman's Rope, and even Mandrake, this was a herbalist's treasure trove . Rei rushed to the graves and began to gather the plants.
Rei gently removed the Hangman's rope from around the graves and coiled the vine up before storing it away. She took out her last empty glass jar and gently scooped the Graveweed inside, it was poisonous stuff if not handled properly. The moon ferns she broke her mother's rule and gathered by the arm full.
Now came the hardest part, the Mandrake. Rei had never been allowed to pick them back home, her mother always did, but now she was on her own. Rei gently took her satchel off and sat before it. She opened her satchel and removed a jar with salt in it. It wasn't any salt it blessed salt used to protect from evil spirits, spells, and curses. Rei was running out but she had enough to surround the Mandrake. This was essential to retrieving a Mandrake, if you just pulled it up the curse on the plant would drive you insane.
Rei carefully sprinkled the salt in a circle around the plant. It had to be far enough from plant to make sure to capture all the roots. Rei took a deep breath, she suddenly felt unsure about this, if she had screwed up she would go insane. Rei gently gripped the bottom of the steam and gave it a pull. A long mournful cry seemed to echo between the gravestones as the roots came free. Rei smiled, she didn't feel any more crazy than she did when she woke up this morning. She gently wrapped up the Mandrake in a piece of clothe and was about leave when she heard a gruff voice. " Who are you?"
Rei spun around and saw a farmer with a pitchfork. " I'm a herbalist" she said, " I was gathering herbs" she said.
The old farmer gripped the pitchfork tighter, " This is private land, you best clear off, no good comes from these stones" he said.
Rei didn't want to argue, an old man strong enough to get up to the top of this hill would be a tough adversary. Rei bowed meekly and quickly retreated from the top of the hill.

Koji groaned as Aki gently rocked back and forth on top of him. This girl had energy, this was their fourth time. Koji gripped her thin hips as her hands traced the muscles on his chest. " Koji, Koji! Koji!!" moaned Aki before sliding down on Koji's chest.
Koji cradled the girl in his arms, " You are amazing" she said smiling broadly, " can you stay the night?"
" I can't" he said, " I have an assignment."
" How mysterious, will you come and see me later?" she asked.
" Wild horses couldn't keep me away" said Koji.
They shared a long deep kiss, the maids in Lord Hasagawa's castle, the serving maids in the town, that merchants' daughters, even Lord Hasagawa's daugher, none of them were this wonderful. Koji smiled at her, " I have to go" he said.
He stood up, banging his head on the incredibly low ceiling of Aki's temporary bedroom, it was a small closet under a back staircase, at least it was wide enough for Koji to lay down. Aki dressed him and slipped his sword into his kimono sash. " I'll wait for your return" she said giving him one last goodbye kiss.
Koji left the small room and walked out the back of the tavern.

Rei saw Koji walk out with a big smile on his face and a spring in his step. " How was your afternoon?" asked Koji.
" Not nearly as exciting as yours" said Rei, " I did find some good herbs for the next time you decided to pick a fight."
" Great" said Koji, " the temple awaits."
The pair started through the great market as the sun began to sink towards the mountains. The lively, bustling atmosphere of the market this morning had long since disappeared, the only people who remained where the merchants who were hurriedly closing up their stall so they would be safely indoors before night fell.
By the time they walked through town to the small road that led up to the Rupan Temple night had completely besieged the town. Now the only people on the streets were the heavily armed soldiers standing close to the street lamps. They looked nervous, it wasn't hard to share their unease, the entire town had become a ghost town. The pair hurried up the small road to the temple, the oppressive silence was starting to affect them.

Rupan was the dominate religion in Itten although some still worshipped the ancient gods but mostly they worshipped the dark god Zesha, the mirror image of Rupan. The temple was a large complex of buildings sitting atop of large ridge that over looked the town. Below the town was nothing but a sea of tinkling lights. The peacefulness of the temple calmed both Koji and Rei from the creeping fear of the city. " Let's see if he is home" said Koji.
The pair walked through the large archway and into the temple grounds. A few monks were about the grounds, wrapped in their traditional red robes. But Koji's sharp eyes saw through their disguises, they couldn't hide the tattoos that were peaking from the tops of their robes. They were Yakuza bodyguards disguised as monks. They walked straight down the path not making any sudden moves or making eye contact with the phony monks. They walked through the well tended gardens and up the steps of the main temple. As they neared the large doors a real monk scurried out. " Hello travelers" he said, looking distressed, " I am terribly sorry for no welcome when you entered the gates. How may I help you."
" We need to speak to your guest" said Rei.
The monks in the gardens began to move towards them, Koji rested his hand on his sword. " I'm afraid we don't allow outsiders to see those seeking refuge within our walls" he said, " especially those bearing arms."
" We only wish to speak with him" said Rei, " our intentions are purely honorable."
" Rules are rules" he said, trying to shoo them away as fast as possible, " besides he isn't..."
There came a scream of unimaginable pain from within the temple. The pain carried in the scream made both Koji and Rei winch, the agony of the man must be horrible. " Please excuse me" he said, almost racing into the temple.
" Wait!" shouted Rei, " I am a herbalist, if there is a man in distress let me help."
The monk nervously looked at someone inside the temple. Another scream made the monk tremble in fear, " Yes, yes please come quickly. He is dying" he said.