Takashi

No One Escapes The Guilds

So, I think now is a good time to check what direction we want to take the RP. Would you like some down time with the characters, or would you like to introduce the first antagonist right away? I'm good for any direction you want to go.

No One Escapes The Guilds

Kiori was taken aback by Rylee's assumption about his hesitation. Shy about a woman's body? No, he had gotten past anything of the sort long ago. The Assassin's Guild makes sure to satiate the primal urges of all its members, providing a steady flow of courtesans as a reward for successfully completing contracts. Needless to say, Kiori was quite familiar with female anatomy, even desensitized to it so that it would be nigh impossible for a target to escape via seduction; perhaps that was part of the guild's machinations as well. "Ah, no, it's not--" but Rylee had taken the supplies and walked away before Kiori could correct that misconception. Now that he thought about it, though, he never had looked at Rylee with those kinds of eyes before; the Assassin's Guild had taken him before he had the chance to.

So, with Rylee not permitting them to discuss survival strategies and only a menial task at hand, idle curiosity managed to squeeze its way into Kiori's mind. He wondered what would have happened if the guild never scouted him. He probably would end up doing the same grunt work for the guilds that his father did. Rylee too; there was no way she would willingly take on the role of an idle house wife. He then wondered what their future together would be like. There would be no reason for them to move, and there were too good friends to simply drift apart. Then, in his reverie, he saw a young Rylee donning the blue constable's coat. Would she?

Kiori remained quiet when Rylee returned to finish setting up for the night, but his mind was abuzz with new questions. He remembered how as kids they could share literally anything with one another with complete confidence. Never had they betrayed one another's trust and never had they let a secret fall onto the wrong ears. Now, after all the swathes of blood he had wades through, Kiori realized that he wanted that back. But, he couldn't just pretend that a decade and a half hadn't passed; that unconditional trust was no longer there. All forms of trust had been gone from his life for so long now, that he almost forgot it ever existed. How could he get that trust back? He had no idea, but perhaps the first step was just to talk.

"Hey Rye," he said, breaking the silence that never would have existed between them as children. "When I saw that you were hiding in a tavern, do you know what my first thought was? 'I wonder what she likes to drink?'" His voice was gentler now, real interaction with another person kneeding the stiffness out of his voice. Sure, it wasn't a very funny or clever remark, but for the first time in the gods knew how long, Kiori heard a human voice come out of his mouth.

No One Escapes The Guilds

I think we're getting off to a decent start with it. The setup is good, and we can take it whichever direction we want.

No One Escapes The Guilds

Kiori wasn't surprised by Rylee's reaction; hell, he could hardly believe what he was saying himself. However, the rules of a contract were simple: kill the target or become the next target. Once a contract was made, there was no taking it back, there was no "passing" on a contract, and there were no exceptions to any of these very simple rules. The moment Kiori had decided not to kill Rylee was the moment he had abandoned his guild. Still, he could understand how someone who was not familiar with just how ruthless the Assassin's Guild was, even to it's own, could see it as a sudden decision, but really it was just the only logical course of action to take after an illogical decision like refusing to carry out a contract. Based on Rylee's "plans" though, it was clear that she was woefully unaware of how his guild operated.

"Sleep is important," Kiori said, "but the two of us must never be asleep at the same time. Even though news of my refusal to carry out a contract will take time to reach the guild, it is not inconceivable that this was all set up as a test. They don't want their assassins to have any emotional ties to the world, and they will either fix or dispose of assassins that are found to have such a weakness. If they knew that we were friends from the same village, then they may have deliberately chosen me for the contract to test for that weakness. If this is the case, then there is an observer somewhere in this city preparing to dispose of me, and then complete the contract." He spoke as if this were all simply a matter of fact. This was not a clever ploy or sly tactic; this was normal operation, and it was just a slice of the atmosphere that made him into the killer that he was.

"We'll sleep in shifts," he continued as he began making space as Rylee had requested. His mind was already thinking of their next move, but Rylee was clearly exhausted, so he would spare her his ideas until the morning. Then, his eyes fell on her still-bleeding shoulder. "But, before anything else, we'll need to dress that wound." Kiori had on him a few basic first-aid supplies for a worst case scenario, but he had never had to use them in his work before. He never dreamed that their first use would be on another. From one of his pockets, he took out a small roll of bandages, and an herb that would help stop the bleeding. He approached her with the supplies, but stopped awkwardly when he reached her. As a constable she should be more than capable of dressing the wound herself, but it would certainly be easier if he helped her. Would she trust him to do it? Despite all his training in strategy and tactics, he couldn't find the answer to this basic dilemma, and so he stood there looking quite dumb, waiting for Rylee to make the decision for him... if she even realized that there was a decision for her to make.

No One Escapes The Guilds

Kiori was caught off guard by Rylee's response. Ask a question, get an answer; that was the way his world had worked up until now. He had forgotten that without the shroud of fear that covered him as an assassin, people had to earn their answers from one another through trust and conversation. A more appropriate way to continue the conversation would be-- Kiori cut his own thoughts short. Was he really unable to hold a conversation except as an outsider mimicking the behaviors of others? He had lost more of himself to the guild than he thought... No, it wasn't quite lost, he had just misplaced it. Already, hearing his best friend's voice was reviving a part of himself that he had almost forgotten he had. "You're right," he said at last, "that's no way to greet a friend. But just so you don't hold it against me, you drew first." There, at least he remembered how to parry her sarcastic thrusts.

Rylee was vague in saying why she left her guild, though. Kiori wasn't happy with that answer at all and he was about to press her further on it, but checked himself. He hadn't even put his swords away, and here he was popping up out of thin air after fourteen years and demanding that she justify her actions to him. The next thing Kiori reclaimed was common courtesy; he was acting like a pretty big jerk. Twelve-year-old Kiori would have stood by Rylee unconditionally, and asked questions later if it even mattered to him. Finally Kiori took a deep breath and sheathed his swords.

"I guess I'm not really one to criticize," Kiori said in a stoic voice as he walked over to help Rylee off the ground. "As of this moment I'm no longer a member of the Assassin's Guild, though I would imagine my reason is quite a bit simpler than yours." He said the words, he knew they were true, and yet it didn't feel real. He had every right to be panicked, to cower in solitude in vain hope that he'd be overlooked. But somehow, whether it was because of his mental conditioning or some unknown factor within his being, he was still completely calm. Then, his cold, calculating mind got a crazy idea. "All things considered, I'm not to keen on rolling over to die either. The longest that it's ever taken an assassin to kill a target is twelve days. What do you say Rye, want to try to beat that record?"

No One Escapes The Guilds

Before the dust even cleared, Kiori saw that his target was prone, complete open and ripe for stabbing. Just one thrust of his sword and it would all be over. Yet, the dust was given time to clear and Rylee time to ascertain his identity; Kiori was just standing there. It was barely discernible, but his hands were clenching the swords a bit too tightly, and his arms were shaking, not from fear or fatigue, but from something else, something deeper. It was as if his years of bloody conditioning and the last shred of humanity that he had managed to cling to were having a tug of war with his soul. He couldn't kill Rylee, but at the same time he couldn't put his swords away. He was stuck. Then, Rylee spoke.

It seemed that he wasn't unrecognizable after all these years after all. She remembered him, she remembered his nickname. When was the last time he'd heard his name uttered with even a drop of compassion in it? In fact, when was the last time anyone had used his name at all? The guildmaster simply needed to look at him to address him, any business he conducted was under an alias, and his targets never knew his name. It was one of the guild's tactics to dehumanize the assassins; they were weapons with a single purpose, not people with individual names. But hearing her say his name was like a sudden burst of nourishment for his shriveled, withering soul. His stoic expression was cracked with the beginnings of a smile and he replied with a nod. He lowered his swords. "Yes, it's me..."

Kiori had no idea what to say next. As a boy he had never been short of words. In fact, the adults usually found him obnoxiously talkative. But for over a decade speaking had simply been a means of acquiring information with him. Assassins didn't need "friends." Those assassins that did associate with one another were so depraved that they would just as eagerly put a dagger in a "friend's" back as share a mug of ale. They were like rabid wolves barking at one another just to hear how loud they could bark. So, when it came to this, talking to a normal person, hell an old friend, he was at a loss.

Kiori let out a sigh and shook his head. "Why did you do it? I'm sure you realize the mess you made with all this, so why the hell did you think it would be a good idea to abandon your guild?" His tone was harsh, but his reprimand was filled with concern rather than malice. Nobody escaped the guilds. She was dead; they were dead. Her reasons for leaving wouldn't change that simple, undeniable fact, but at least he'd have a chance to chat with an old friend before they died.

No One Escapes The Guilds

Rylee was able to dodge his strikes, which was impressive in and of itself, but it bought her only a few seconds. She dodged backwards, meaning she gave up some of the precious space she had in this room. One more move like that and her back would be against the wall, no more dodging. Killing her was now simply a matter of controlling her movements. However, as Kiori's longsword thrusted forward, something strange happened. The metal bit into Rylee's flesh, but Kiori himself cringed as if he had been struck himself. Was he relieved that he had missed her vitals? More importantly, why had he missed her vitals?

It wasn't Rylee's sunlight trick, but the assassin's momentary hesitation that allowed her to carry out the plan. It was reckless, dangerous, and impractical, but because of that the assassin wasn't able to anticipate what she was planning. Kiori made another thrust with his longsword, this time making sure he was aiming right at her vitals, but just as he was about to guide his blade into his target's chest, he felt a feeling of weightlessness. Indeed, the building was in a sorry state. The wooden planks had not been maintained, nor had the roof. Drips and drops of water had created a foundation of mold, and the recent shower left the planks soft and fragile; it was amazing the floor hadn't collapsed on them already.

The two tumbled down, the sudden drop completely throwing off Kiori's strike and leaving a rare opening, though capitalizing on it mid-drop would require a remarkable level of agility. Still, it was not enough to shatter the assassin's concentration. He focused on righting himself and maintaining his balance as he fell. His feet touched the first floor. Good, he had control now. His legs bent as he landed to absorb the impact and his swords flew up in a defensive stance to stop any desperate strikes his opponent might throw his was. Everything was still under control. If she ran, he could catch her; if she fought, he could kill her; if she had inadvertently disabled herself, well that was that.

No One Escapes The Guilds

"I've changed that much, have I?" Kiori replied, but Rylee quickly made it clear that she had no intention of trading words. Stubborn as ever. He could be sure that as a constable, Rylee was at the very least proficient with that blade; it would be unwise to continue facing her unarmed. So, in a single, practiced movement that came as naturally to Kiori as breathing, he drew both his blades, longsword in his right hand, short sword in his left, and was immediately in a combat stance. His body knew exactly what to do. Rylee's stance was basic, her style easy to dismantle. His mind whirred calculating the first three, four, five, six -- no, it wouldn't get that far -- moves of their exchange. Every possible thrust, parry, and maneuver was accounted for and Kiori had his optimal response prepared for each. And yet, he didn't move.

It's just a little more blood, he thought. Another drop in the bucket. Yes, this is the Rylee I knew, but that was over a decade ago. We're different people now, and we know nothing about one another... Why did he need to convince himself to kill her? The contract was all the convincing he needed, and if that wasn't enough then the fear of his guild's wrath should have done it. How pathetic was it when the target was clearly more eager to kill than the assassin? That was enough. No more thinking. Just let his body do what it knew how to do.

With that, Kiori was finished ruminating, and began his attack. With hawk-like swiftness he stepped in. He made a sweeping motion with the short sword that would seem like a wide attack, but that was just a ruse. Human instinct would be to block, and that's what he wanted; the short sword would hold his enemy's blade in place, and the real attack would be a thrust from the longsword. This maneuver alone had been enough to mortally wound half the targets who had engaged with him in open combat. He wondered if Rylee would be able to survive.

No One Escapes The Guilds

Kiori's plan worked almost too well. It was only a matter of seconds before he heard the telling creak in the wood that revealed Rylee's location. He wouldn't make such a mistake. Many people fled into rickety old buildings, thinking they would be able to at least hear assassins coming, but the assassins were taught some basics on how building were constructed. Kiori knew where the main beams were in the floor and roof, meaning he knew where to step if he wanted the floor to remain silent. With footsteps as silent as a cat's he crept over to the staircase. He gently placed his foot on one step after the other, the beating of his heart the loudest sound his body was making. He slithered through the hall, and finally arrived in front of the room Rylee was hiding in. He hadn't drawn any weapons yet, which was unlike him; the split second it took to draw a sword in combat was wasted time, even if his opponent was just a constable.

Without any further hesitation, Kiori pushed open the door. There was no need for stealth at this point; once he saw his target, there would be no escape. With a brief scan of the room he saw her standing there, terrified, but it was unmistakably her, the Rylee Jamison he remembered. Of course she was grown now, but her face was fundamentally the same. His hand hovered over the hilt of his longsword, but he didn't draw. Why couldn't he draw? She should have been dead already, and Kiori should have been on his way back to the guild, but he simply stood there, frozen just as she was. Then, a thought entered his mind that should never trouble any assassin: I wonder if she remembers me...

Kiori's body relaxed and his hand moved away from his sword. This was the first time a target ever saw an assassin with his guard down. He let out a sigh and shook his head. "Hello Rye, long time no see."

No One Escapes The Guilds

Kiori walked through the streets of Cedarburg discreetly armed to the teeth. The only visible weapons he carried were his pair of swords, one longsword and one shortsword. There was a knife hidden in each boot, as well as a secret blade built into their soles. The pockets of his vest held a half-dozen throwing knives, dipped in poison of course. His leather cap was his one piece of armor; between the two layers of armor was a wire mesh which would serve as a line of defense against any brazen arrows that dared to fly towards his head. Even the cloak he wore had a single razor wire running through it, which Kiori could pull out in a pinch. And yet people would see nothing more than just another wealthy guild member flaunting his fancy swords.

It was a gloomy day and looked like it could rain any minute, but privileged people such as Kiori needn't worry about such trifling things as weather; all his clothing was enchanted to be water-resistant so any rain would simply roll off of him. Rylee Jamison... That name kept ringing in his head over and over. He knew she would be somewhere in this city. When he inquired at the gates nobody fitting her description had left yet; he "politely" asked the gatekeeper not to let anyone fitting her description leave. She'd look different now anyway. I'd never recognize her... It was rare for someone in the police force to abandon their guild, and members of law enforcement had the distinct disadvantage of being both well known among the rich, and reviled by the poor. Lips were very loose when he inquired about her. She didn't even want to join a guild. She said she wouldn't...

After a couple of hours of asking innkeepers and tavern owners about a "Miss Rylee Jamison," Kiori came to the conclusion that she was hiding somewhere away from the public eye. It was probably one of the better courses of action she could have taken. If nobody could see her, then nobody could talk about her. However, there were only so many places where nobody was. This wasn't his first time hunting for his mark through the streets of Cedarburg, and it wouldn't be his last. He knew layout of the roads, the alleys, who owned what shops. He had to know; an assassin's work could take him anywhere in the world, and it was never good to let the prey have the home field advantage. As his eagle-like eyes scanned the streets, though, the path to his prey became illuminated. It was fortunate that the streets were so filthy. Rylee's boots were filthy as well.

The pattern that would have been invisible to any ordinary person was clear as day to the seasoned assassin. Boot prints matching the pattern that officers wear. Not the even confident stride that they typically held; this person was running. Based on the physical description of her size, these boots were the correct size for the target. Kiori had found the track to his prey, now it was simply a matter of following them to the end. Rylee was clearly panicked. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to her direction. Hell, if she had just stayed on the main road, her prints might have been lost in the crowd, but this course of action was the downfall of her strategy. Before long, Kiori was standing before the abandoned tavern.

"It's a shame, they had good whiskey," Kiori whispered as he stood before the doors, his demeanor stoic, his eyes blank. She thought it was disgusting when I smuggled some of my dad's ale for us to try. I wonder what she drinks now... He picked up a rock and hurled it at the window of one of the neighboring buildings. The sound of shattering glass would do two things: first, it would mask the sound of his swift entry into the tavern. Second, it would hopefully startle the target. If she moved to investigate the sound, he could hear where she was hiding. So, Kiori stood silently in the threshold of the building, eyeing the shadows and listening for the sounds of creaking floorboards.