Kitori Manor

[Ku Saber]

With a gated entrance, ivy-coated walls and three stories, the Kitori Manor is a prominent member of society. It contains a half dozen bedrooms, not including the servant quarters, a restaurant sized kitchen, a dining room, two studies, a library, and many more rooms besides, most of which are empty. Dasuke's bedroom is on the second floor, and his sister's room is on the same hallway. The spare bedrooms are often rented to travelers who can afford the rent.

Dasuke leaned on the black-iron railing of one of the many balconies overlooking the gardens, his pale purple eyes glazed over with a thoughtful film.

"What are you looking at Dasuke?" a voice asked. He looked back behind him, to see his younger sister standing in the doorway, her blond hair hanging around her pale face.

"Just the people, Jez." Dasuke looked back to the garden, and over the wall to the streets where a few people walked up the street to the square, laughing. A few children darted past them, throwing a ball. How strange, he thought, that the world doesn't know I'm here. Jezzabelle hovered behind him a few moments longer, then heaved a great sigh, and returned to the unwelcoming depths of the house.

He knew he should pay more attention to his sister, but he didn't really care at the moment. Dasuke held out his hand infront of him, and a soft glow of fire ruptured into palm. It flickered, turning from blue to green. He closed his fingers over it, and the embers blinked out of existence.

[Ku Saber]

A sudden, barely noticable movement caught Dasuke's eye, and he turned his head, the blue strands of hair bouncing against his forehead. A girl in a thin cloak was hugging the wall, drawing up against the crowd of merchants in the square. The edge of his mouth curled in a smile, as he knew what was going to happen next.

Willow pulled up her hood, hiding her face, clutching the thin curved knife in her left hand. A noble in rich clothes, wearing his coin purse at his belt, was coming her way, and she deliberately slammed against him with her shoulder, the knife darting out. The coin purse dropped into her outstretched hand.

"Watch where you're going, you little wench!" the noble snapped. She drew back, tucking the purse into her pocket.

"Sorry sir! Sorry!" Willow replied in a lower voice than usual, vanishing into the crowd before he could focus on her face. In moments, she knew, he'd notice the missing bag, and would come after her. She ducked into a side alley near a large manor, and pulled her cloak away, throwing it aside. She could always get a new one somewhere else. Suddenly, a shadow dropped down beside her, and she whirled on Dasuke Kitori.

"That was a clever trick," he said softly, watching her. She held up the knife in defense, glaring at him in defiance.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped in reply, taking a step back. "You'd better leave me alone."

"How much was in that purse?" Dasuke asked out of pure curiousity.

"Get out of it, money bags."

Amused, Dasuke advanced on her, then quick as a snake, shot out a hand to catch her by the armed wrist. Willow cried out in surprise.

"Let go!" she shouted at him, pulling away.

"I could call for the guards," Dasuke threatened. She fell silent, and stopped struggling, biting her lip.

"What do you want?"

[Ku Saber]

"How about some fun?" Dasuke said, not letting go. "Mind if we play shadow for a bit?"

"If I say yes will you let go of my arm?" Willow said irritably. To her, he was just another arrogant, bored rich kid. He narrowed his eyes back at her, the silver ring in his bottom lip gleaming.

"Maybe."

With a sudden pull, she snapped away from him, and was off like a shot. Dasuke watched her vanish down the alley with slight disappointment, listening as her footsteps faded. He glanced sideways and picked up the cloak she had left behind. With a smirk, he pulled it over and made for the square. He'd be back before anyone even realized his was gone.