Chapter 3 - Shadow Puppet Master

"Hallowing sound of the Heaven despise me, the only place I can go is Hell . "

Somewhere in Chosu —-

" What a beautiful painting Master Kitano! , " a small man with multiple weapon in her back , broom like hair applause for the artist that was a behind him .

" What dress ! What an eyes ! How can you create such painting , Kitano . God must have given such a beautiful ability that make people to fall in love with your work . I am very happy that you brought this for me . "

" Lord Kabuki , It my honour that you like my piece. Lord Kabuki, your greatest shall take over the Chosu . No , not only Chosu but take over world . "

He was keeping throw gold coin at him .

" And Even if you ask me , I Kitano Takeshi shall gave my life in honour of my Lord , No , to my only God . "

" Ha ha ha , " he laugh .

" Kitano , you make me so happy . Thank for this masterpiece . And you have to come in toworrow celebration . "

" Celebration , my lord ? "

" Hah , I didn't tell you , tomorrow is the birthday of Lord Kagutsuchi Kagoshima . So that's way , we are holding big celebration . "

" Lord - Lor - Lord Kagutschi Kagoshima , young prodigy who master every sword at young age , the leader of the Kajin - ryu , our Master .

" Our Master , huh ? "

" This opportunity can not be miss .I have to make best painting of my life time . Then , my lord - my lord . "

" Best painting of life time , huh ? I can not allow youto do that Kitano . "

" Pardon ,

" Sure . Kagoshima is our leader but how can you disrespect your only God by call him the greatest . "

" No - No - I have no intention —

" How can you repay for your unforgivable act ? , Kitano , "

" Plea- Please For- give , my God , Please show your kindness . "

" Your are my percious devotee , Kitano . I

will forgive you . "

" You are greatest my lord , You - You are great my —

" That way , I will take your life . "

" Huh , " His face fell out . His eye became teary , his heart ready to explode now .

" To repay for your mistake , I shall take your life . "

" But - But

" Kitano , You say that you will give me your life , right ? "

" But - But

" Disrespcting your god is crime , so I shall purify you by taking your life . "

" Huh "

" Don't worry about it . Because of me , you are alive , because of me , you will die , because of me you will be purify , because of me you will go to heaven if there is one . "

He point one finger ,break his nail and swallow in his mouth -

" Thanks you for the food or nail , I should say . " He laughed

Blood drop from that one nail on the floor , floor start to surround by black haze and soon -

He smile " Now come , Emu "

Fast as wind , Kitano was disappear from his position . But Kabuki whole body was soak with blood . And that blood was of - Kitano that was in fang of the dog like beast with three horn , red eyes that pierce through his chest and torn everything .

" Don't play with your food . See What have you done to me ? This was my favourite Kimono and it was quiet expensive too . "

" Now , you are looking mess , aren't you Lord Kabuki ? " said the man with slidely dark blue , sitting on the chair eating fried chicken on the table .

" Oh my , my Vice - Captain of the Tsu Domain , Toshizu Arai Little Demon of Tsu is here . How can I help you , Toshi - chan ? . "

" I am just here to kill time , you know ."

" Don't just come at another person place to kill time , you know " He was pissed .

" And just my captain got excited to kill that girl from Asakawa . "

" What that idiot is thinking ? That fiend want to kill that little girl . He must have out his mind . "

" No . He think that captain really want to finish job properly . "

" If You want ask me , I also want to kill that girl , taking out her nail , cutting her finger , cutting her nose , taking her eyes out but make sure she will survive . Huh , What a beautiful ! way to die , right Toshi-chan . "

" I don't know. I am not sadist .And don't call me that Captain Kabuki . "

" But even so , I feel sad for that girl . She have to die most painful death from Fiend . Or Fiend have to face the demon."

" Don't worry I have send someone to kill her . If she is lucky , she will have as much painless death as possible . "

Same Night ——-

at Ishikawa and Yumi House —-

" Please kill Blood- Eater of Kyoto , Yumi "

Those word made Asaki , restless . She can not understand wheather to hate her enemy or why they were killed . She couldn't understand what is right ? What is wrong . To get revenge for her father , who raise her to be his successor . To the scream of her mother , she can't forget . Everything start to flood her mediocre ideal and knowledge of this world start to come into nothing . She cannot sleep . But only can hear breezy cold wind from the shuttering wind and tune —

Tune , it melody was mesmerizing and beautiful . From tune , it was shamisen . But Asaki never heard such magistical tune ever.

" Ishi " said Yumi

" Yeah , I can see a danger . "

" Can you handle this , Ishi ? "

He didn't answer it .

" Just don't make too much noise . I am gonna sleep . Okay . "

" Yeah "

" And Ishi , Don't die . "

He nodded .

He open the door . There was nothing but mist . Through the wodden bridge , the girl full in white yukata who playing shamisen in beautiful manner . Her eyes were cover by some kind white cloth .She was playing untill she came infront the Ishikawa .

" My name is Kiki . I am assassin .I have come here to kill Lady Asaki Asakawa . Please be a gentleman and show me where she is . "

" Sorry , I am not a gentleman at all . "

He gave vertical sword slice around her eyes but she dodge it in midway .

" Oh , How dissappointing , I sorry but I have to kill you . "

She break all the three string of shamisen. And take out the sword from the upper body of the shamisen .

" Oh my , you sure are one scary lady . "

He swing his sword around her chin but I dodge it properly . And again he swing his sword but again she dodge it .

" Oh how boring , I really I could have little fun but you are ——- weak .

And you know weak people , don't even deserve to die by the hand of the strong . So gonna use my Shikikiri ."

" Shikikiri ? "

" Yes Shikikiri , the spiritual technique that allow to use spiritual power in the form of the physical power . "

" Spiritual power ? "

" Yes , too explain it quickly let take an example . Spirit have no physical existence but they all do exist . So Shikkiri is an art that help human to connect with spirit in form of sword or animal or doll or even shamisen . "

" . Indeed if there is power , there will be weaknesss too . In this technique, you have to lost one thing in your life to gain the power . That can be your knowledge , person , body part or even emotion you had . For me ,I gave my eyes to earn this power . After all , everything has a price to pay . "

" So why are you trying kill this girl ? "

" How can you be so idoit ? Obviously because her existence is thread to us . "

" Thread ,huh ?"

" Shin-ryu Technique that her family teach from generation , can stop our Shikkiri . I don't know detail on how steong she is nor I even care . But she is danger to us . To search Shin-ryu Technique , we destory so many sword school . So many destruction for one reason . So don't waste my time and let me kill you . "

" Now enough talking , my Shikkiri , Kaizeki Kazen . "

"Kaizeki Kazen ? "

" Kaizeki Kazen , is my shikkiri which allow me to use the corpse of the people that I have kill in battle .In short ,

there are from hell who a achieve the pain of the being dead . "

" I warn you it is not 10 or 20 , no 50 or 100 . They are 500 in total . " She smile

Through the sword of her , army of corpse appear from the ground .

" Five Hundred , huh ? They are nothing more than your zombie . " Ishikawa

" Zombies , huh ? More than zombie I would like them to call my puppets. So , can you defeat me now , huh ? "

Fear can be seen in the Ishikawa eyes .

" Now , it time for Puppet Show "