[Dodomeki Chitoku]

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[attr="class","butt-box2"]Inside the house that night, Chitoku let his disguise rest so that he could allow his chakra to replenish. He’d recommended that everyone stay up on the second floor within sight to avoid any attempts to separate them. With the knowledge that a crowd was moving from the neighborhood deeper into the village, he figured that they had done enough to stir them into action.

The movers never really did show up, because there were none. Part of him worried that it might have hurt their cover but he did know a thing about traveling, and people traveling with a lot of stuff were often late to their affairs.

"Have any of you all ever lived in a place like this?” Chitoku asked, sitting cross legged on the floor of one of the barren upstairs bedrooms. His glasses were hanging from the collar of his jacket and all but one eye on his left arm was closed. "Ayane and I came from a little farm town. We had lots of space between houses. With packed in places like these, it is no wonder people get so fed up with bad neighbors.”

His thoughts wandered. This was probably the first time he’d stayed in a real home in a long time. They’d seen the inside of plenty of ryokan along their travels, squatted in ruins, but more often than not they slept on the ground.

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NOTES
If anyone is opposed to the way I rolled us into the transition feel free to play with it.

JUTSU/EQUIPMENT USED
None.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Chōmoku
From a young age Chitoku was implanted with preserved eyes of deceased clansmen all over his body. Coverage includes both his arms (5 on each arm), torso (9 eyes), and back (7 eyes) effectively granting him a 360 degree field of vision when his chest is uncovered and a plethora of eyes to use as visual triggers for certain genjutsu. When all but his arms are covered there are small pockets of the field which only fall into his peripheral vision.

This gift comes at a price, as he is more susceptible to seeing visual triggers himself or having the soft tissues of the eye damaged. In case of being blinded, covered eyes can be uncovered to provide sight as well, although the more eyes that are blinded or damaged the less coverage he has with line of sight.

Homicidal Medicine
Versed in traditional medicine including surgery, Chitoku can provide conventional first aid treatments to the wounded and practice medicine in general. Knowledge of the human body also grant him insights on vulnerable parts of anatomy and a deeper understanding of pain as well.

Exceptional Chakra Control
Compared to most shinobi of his grade, Chitoku's chakra control is exceptional. He is able to conserve a good deal of energy with his jutsu usage which allows him in turn to use more jutsu over time. His control is precise enough to channel complicated illusions and medical chakra as well.

TAGS
None

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[Muramasa Uemon]

the sun slowly sets

---

Though his expression remained mostly unmoving, his eyes did widen a touch at Ayane's revelation that she was also a puppeteer. Kugutsutsukai were a rare sort, and he had never met another aside from himself and Kota.

Under different circumstances he might have inquired further or struck up a conversation about the subject— one of the few aside from weaponry that could really get him talking. But they were here to do a job... and even if he could afford the distraction, any free space in his mind was occupied by bloodier thoughts about his former home.

A nod followed Ayane's assumption of their hypothetical foes not attacking in daylight. "Agreed." Was all he said before proceeding to set up his puppets and take position with Suisei. Mention of awkwardness prompted little response from him. She was absolutely right, but he had to keep watch by the window just in case. Aside from that, his own middling social skills and ineptitude at being boisterous would probably hinder her efforts more than help.

So he stood vigil, leaning against the wall and keeping his gaze on the street. After some time, Ayane appeared with a stringed instrument to add to Suisei's wall of noise. It was all a bit grating which was precisely the point, though her singing voice was not all that bad. For a few moments, his eyes did drift to the lute and linger there with something approaching interest. "How long has it been since I last held a shamisen?" He thought, trying and failing to recall. "Sensei always played when she thought I was asleep..." Then, as quickly as it had come, his reminiscence departed with a small shake of his head. "...it no longer matters." Uemon remained silent as he returned his gaze to the window.

Time passed quickly enough, and aside from his regular scan of the area with his sensory capabilities, he gave his chakra system a much-needed rest. Hopefully he would be feeling a bit better when it came time for action... but the ache in his midsection and his general exhaustion told him otherwise. Chitoku voice carried into the room he was situated in, posing a question for them all. He kept quiet and listened as the doctor shared about himself and Ayane.

"Not like this, no," he said after an extended silence, still gazing at the street below as Date's screen remained active nearby for the others to watch. "My village was small as well, and our neighbors were less..." Uemon motioned vaguely at the air, a small shake of his head seeming to express some sort of disapproval. "...irritating."

Miyamoto-mura had not changed much since he had been gone, and after recent events, he imagined it would be quite some time until he saw it again. "If ever..." he thought. Nothing remained for him there but ghosts, now.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

SUPPORTIVE TECHNIQUES:
N/A


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

片付け | KATAZUKE | CHOREOGRAPHY - E.C.C.
Puppeteers must maintain expert control over their wide selection of puppets and so too must a shinobi with their chakra. Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses for jutsu. Experience has allowed his skill in managing his energy to grow, making him even more stringent with his chakra. This both helps compensate for his average reserves and allows him to stay in the fight that much longer without much worry of tiring.

心掛け | KOKOROGAKE | READINESS - INTELLIGENCE
In Bushidō the Way of Thinking is quintessential. Taught by his sensei Hanagisa that all battles are fought in the mind, he was schooled in the art of warfare at a young age. Now a learned strategist, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some. It also allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings on the fly. Knowledge of battle tactics cues him in on which approach works best depending on his target.

足遣い | ASHIZUKAI | FOOTWORK - ENHANCED SPEED
Operating the legs of a puppet requires dexterity and agility. Much like moving one's own body. As a child in Tetsu no Kuni Uemon trained in Jujitsu and Kenjutsu, finding his aptitude for speed rather than strength. Honed after years of travel, training, and battle, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in terms of speed.

署名 | SHOMEI | STAGE LIGHTING - SENSOR TYPE
Lighting is a crucial part of any play. Identifying the actors and drawing focus to them in the dark. With much training Uemon has become a Sensor Type, able to detect and hone in on chakra signatures akin to a sixth sense of sorts. A useful tool when it comes to tracking or surveillance. As of now, he is capable of passively sensing chakra up to one hundred meters from his body, or one kilometer if actively searching. This also allows him to more efficiently utilize his puppets without needing a line of sight to his targets. Knowing the placement of actors on stage at all times is essential.

黒衣 | KUROKO | BLACK CLAD - STEALTH
In bunraku, the puppeteers who manipulate scenery are known simply as 'Black Clad'. Invisible to the audience, undetectable while they operate, and able to move freely without fear of being seen. Uemon's constant training has granted him the ability to mask his presence to an expert degree. Able to move, attack, and even kill while maintaining stealth and reducing his visibility. To all but very highly trained ears, his footfalls are near imperceptible, his movements leave little trace, and his attacks are almost wholly silent.

[namikawa suisei]

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She knows that she had been wishing for an instrument just moments prior. And yet, the moment she hears that singing and the lute, she is stopped by a shiver down her spine. With the instrument comes a weighty expectation that not even that smile can help to lighten.[break][break]

She is by no means a gifted singer. But contrary to popular belief, consistently singing off-key is harder than one might think. Perhaps, it's because it has become habit for her to hit the notes within her range: The breath, the curl of tongue and lip, the very memory of each note and step seared into her muscle. To undo habit is like asking her to write with her right hand, possible with a ton of conscious effort but painful to keep it up.[break][break]

But beyond that, rounding back to the analogy using her right hand, she looks between the instrument and her hand with a rather long and awkward silence.[break][break]

So she must adapt, fingers gracing the tuning pegs as she begins to creak each in random directions.[break][break]

"From what little I remember... my village was pretty small. Our houses were pretty packed together between rivers and mangroves. You'd be lucky if you didn't wind up stepping into water if you went outside after the rain."[break][break]

She laughs, right index finger attempting to push a string down against the neck of the lute and failing rather miserably. And yet, she dare not tear her gaze away from the instrument, lest the other two in the room spy the flicker of a stray emotion in her eyes. Instead, she hoists the lute and readjusts to hold it with her left, clumsily pressing down a random chord and strumming it.[break][break]

Ah yes, perfectly off-tune.

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Dodomeki Chitoku + Okada Muramasa + Hanyuu Ayane

made by gimmick

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[Hanyuu Ayane]

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[attr="class","headtexteye2"]a new day will dawn
for those who stand long

[attr="class","subheadi2"]And the forests will echo with laughter

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After spending several hours in the hot sun painting the outside of their house a hideous shade of lime green, Ayane had retreated into the shade of the house to join the others in the upstairs room. She busied herself preparing her puppets for battle. The girl had summoned all three constructs from within a scroll and they were laid out on the center of the floor. The first was an eerily accurate copy of herself with a life-like painted silicone exterior. The next was a little smaller than life-sized doll of herself with a porcelain mask painted to resemble her twin sister. This copy was obviously a puppet with visible joints and compartments in the arms that were currently open. Ayane fussed about making sure there was nothing blocking the projectiles within and changing out the poison cartridge. She wanted to make sure that there wouldn't be any malfunctions when the time came. The third puppet was an oversized teddy bear. She rubbed some oil on the hinges of the trap mechanism in the bear’s stomach.

Ayane closed her eyes and sighed when she was finally satisfied. She could sense a group of people moving towards the center of town. She glanced out the window and saw a little bit of movement in the distance. She looked around at the other wanin. "Are we sure we shouldn't follow them? I know we shouldn't. This place is the best fortification that we have; it just feels like a cage… or a trap. I bet the people that went missing felt safe in their homes too. I don't think I've ever been this nervous about a fight before. It’s the waiting that’s doing it. Too much time to overthink it.”

🗡

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[bonobo]

The silence of the night was interrupted only by the sounds of off-kilter music from the abode, the newcomers to the village being the only ones speaking into the night. Of course, speaking was a relative term, for the off-key singing and strumming of the shamisen did not go unnoticed, nor did their work throughout the day. It seemed that the newcomers had gone out of their way to break every single rule that had been said to them. Were they trying to initiate some sort of response from the locals? It was the only logical explanation, and it was what formed the majority of the conversation in a meeting some distance away. Hushed voices and angry tones filled the air, as an assortment of middle-aged and middle-class voices traded barbs and frustrations with one another. Yet, for the newcomers, the night passed without much in the way of comment. Their efforts did not go unnoticed however, for the eyes of the neighbourhood watch were truly everywhere. It was only a few moments after dawn the next morning that a series of rapidfire knocks came to the front door. To whomever greeted their visitor, they would see Karin, ever poised, ever smiling, but it was clear from the frown lines that etched her face that she had no pleasure. "It seems that you are trying to irritate your neighbours, no?” She spoke through gritted teeth and a smile, "Please cease such barbarous behaviour. This is your final warning, else, we may need to settle our rules before the appropriate body.” Not waiting for a reply, Karin would huff and leave. The first day had passed with obvious irritation and a very clearly worded warning. Whatever would come, it was evident that it would occur the following day or, perhaps, even earlier.

Dodomeki Chitoku Muramasa Uemon namikawa suisei Hanyuu Ayane

[Dodomeki Chitoku]

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[attr="class","butt-box2"]Chitoku was near the door when he heard the knock, but he decided to take the form that Ayane had worn so that he wouldn’t answer the door as a senile old man. He stood there as the middle-aged woman and gave an exhausted look to the woman while she gave them an irritating warning.

She was gone in a huff before he could respond. He gave his best defeated sigh and then slammed the door shut. He dropped the disguise and moved to meet with the group. There was a sort of amused grin on his face that hinted he was enjoying this mission. Ayane knew that he’d been considered a troublemaker back home.

"Okay, I think we’re almost there,” he said. "They are threatening to bring our behavior to some sort of trial or something if we don’t stop. So I think one more big ticket annoyance should expedite the process.”

He held his hand to his chin. "What if one of us vandalizes some property nearby. These people care so much about their neighbors yard, so I can’t imagine the response if something happened to their own. What do you think? I’m open to other ideas, just throwing my thoughts out there.”

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NOTES
None.

JUTSU/EQUIPMENT USED
None.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Chōmoku
From a young age Chitoku was implanted with preserved eyes of deceased clansmen all over his body. Coverage includes both his arms (5 on each arm), torso (9 eyes), and back (7 eyes) effectively granting him a 360 degree field of vision when his chest is uncovered and a plethora of eyes to use as visual triggers for certain genjutsu. When all but his arms are covered there are small pockets of the field which only fall into his peripheral vision.

This gift comes at a price, as he is more susceptible to seeing visual triggers himself or having the soft tissues of the eye damaged. In case of being blinded, covered eyes can be uncovered to provide sight as well, although the more eyes that are blinded or damaged the less coverage he has with line of sight.

Homicidal Medicine
Versed in traditional medicine including surgery, Chitoku can provide conventional first aid treatments to the wounded and practice medicine in general. Knowledge of the human body also grant him insights on vulnerable parts of anatomy and a deeper understanding of pain as well.

Exceptional Chakra Control
Compared to most shinobi of his grade, Chitoku's chakra control is exceptional. He is able to conserve a good deal of energy with his jutsu usage which allows him in turn to use more jutsu over time. His control is precise enough to channel complicated illusions and medical chakra as well.

TAGS
None

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[Muramasa Uemon]

veiling a macabre night

---

As they occupied the upstairs of the small house, the purposely off-kilter tune continued to carry throughout the rooms. He listened to Suisei speak of her home as she played and kept his eyes on the street below them.

It seemed that all four of them, despite their disparate homelands, had come from limited means. Four poor nomads, brought together by some twist of fate and now waiting to disappear... If he were the type to, he might have scoffed at their situation. It was ridiculous... but whatever the reasoning, they were here now. At least I will have company if I vanish.

Uemon glanced to Ayane as she prepared her own puppets, a subdued flicker of interest in his gaze as he observed the creations. Hm... he thought, rather impressed by the craftsmanship. A duplicate of herself? Canny. He could imagine the many uses such a copy might have, and if nothing else, would be the perfect tool for a Kawarimi should he ever find himself in need of something to swap with. Perhaps I should make one. The wanderer thought as he looked to his toad puppet, Date staring blankly into space as it always did with its big, dullard's eyes. ...round little fool. 

One of his scattered sensory scans picked up a group of people congregating at the town's center, but he shook his head as Ayane spoke. "We should remain here," he responded quietly, a faint hint of assuredness in his otherwise flat tone. "Abandoning a defensible position for uncertainty is rarely wise." Skulking around in the dark could lead to bigger problems if the others were not versed in stealth, though her concerns were absolutely valid. "If this is a trap, we will set some of our own in kind. A counter-ambush," he continued, keeping his gaze focused out of the upstairs window for any signs of movement.  "Whoever is responsible for these disappearances may know where to find us... though that also means that we know where they will be." Eventually, assuming there was any merit to this assignment, the perpetrators would come to them. That was their moment to strike.

So far this was the most he had spoken, and he talked of tactics with the same ease one might use when speaking of the weather. Clearly, he had was no novice. Ayane expressed her apprehension and Uemon remained silent, debating whether or not to comment. "Unease is natural," he muttered, some sad attempt at reassuring for no other reason than to maintain battle-readiness. "Trust in whatever training you have. Your body will recall it even in the din of battle." It was not always true, as some people lost their nerve once the first sword stroke fell... though he hoped for their sake that Ayane would hold fast. The night passed uneventfully and he kept an overly-long watch.

Eventually he did settle, sitting  near the window with his back against the wall to rest his eyes. Dawn arrived well before he would have liked, and several sharp raps at the door jolted Uemon out of a light sleep. Instantly his hand reached for a concealed kunai holster before realizing what occurred. Godsdamned neighbors... he complained to himself internally, the exhaustion of weeks past having caught up with him. Somehow, the grogginess seemed to make him even more crotchety, and he wore a tired scowl from then on out. Chitoku answered the door, and when he returned with news, Uemon nodded. "Fine," he grumbled, grabbing his kasa and placing it atop his head as he rose to his feet with some effort. "Allow me." Loud noises were not his forte, and his recent injury meant that he would be relegated to a support role if a battle did break out. But vandalism... he could manage.

He made his way downstairs, taking hold of the paint bucket Ayane had made use of the day before as he exited the front door. Not quite the correct color to ruin a lawn, though... his thoughts trailed as his eyes settled on the adjacent facsimile house. ...there are better targets. In a move lacking all of the caution and subtlety that seemed to color his typical actions, he strode across the street and tossed the can's lid on the neighbor's grass. Uemon readied himself, wound back, and completely spattered the front door with a coating of abominable lime green paint. There. 

If this did not earn them the ire they sought, he did not know what would. The wanderer held onto the bucket as he left, pausing to look back at his handiwork. Hm... a moment of contemplation followed along with a slight tilt of his head. Then, he glanced to the nearby mailbox and kicked it over with a sandaled foot. Only to be certain. After, he retreated back across the street and dropped the bucket by their door to make the trail even more obvious.

He reentered the house, returned upstairs to where the others were gathered, and took up his position by the window without a word. "..." A long silence ensued. ...I dislike this place. He was fatigued. Spiteful, too, it seemed.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

SUPPORTIVE TECHNIQUES:
N/A


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

片付け | KATAZUKE | CHOREOGRAPHY - E.C.C.
Puppeteers must maintain expert control over their wide selection of puppets and so too must a shinobi with their chakra. Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses for jutsu. Experience has allowed his skill in managing his energy to grow, making him even more stringent with his chakra. This both helps compensate for his average reserves and allows him to stay in the fight that much longer without much worry of tiring.

心掛け | KOKOROGAKE | READINESS - INTELLIGENCE
In Bushidō the Way of Thinking is quintessential. Taught by his sensei Hanagisa that all battles are fought in the mind, he was schooled in the art of warfare at a young age. Now a learned strategist, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some. It also allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings on the fly. Knowledge of battle tactics cues him in on which approach works best depending on his target.

足遣い | ASHIZUKAI | FOOTWORK - ENHANCED SPEED
Operating the legs of a puppet requires dexterity and agility. Much like moving one's own body. As a child in Tetsu no Kuni Uemon trained in Jujitsu and Kenjutsu, finding his aptitude for speed rather than strength. Honed after years of travel, training, and battle, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in terms of speed.

署名 | SHOMEI | STAGE LIGHTING - SENSOR TYPE
Lighting is a crucial part of any play. Identifying the actors and drawing focus to them in the dark. With much training Uemon has become a Sensor Type, able to detect and hone in on chakra signatures akin to a sixth sense of sorts. A useful tool when it comes to tracking or surveillance. As of now, he is capable of passively sensing chakra up to one hundred meters from his body, or one kilometer if actively searching. This also allows him to more efficiently utilize his puppets without needing a line of sight to his targets. Knowing the placement of actors on stage at all times is essential.

黒衣 | KUROKO | BLACK CLAD - STEALTH
In bunraku, the puppeteers who manipulate scenery are known simply as 'Black Clad'. Invisible to the audience, undetectable while they operate, and able to move freely without fear of being seen. Uemon's constant training has granted him the ability to mask his presence to an expert degree. Able to move, attack, and even kill while maintaining stealth and reducing his visibility. To all but very highly trained ears, his footfalls are near imperceptible, his movements leave little trace, and his attacks are almost wholly silent.

[namikawa suisei]

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"Most who felt safe in their homes didn't know what was coming for them." She adds. Most of those who had gone missing were not trained like they were. They had been defenseless, right down to their core. "At the very least, we have somewhat of an idea. And we're not facing it alone."[break][break]

If worry paralysed one of them, there were still three others to cover for them. As long as they worked together, there would be few that could hope to wipe them out.[break][break]

As Uemon leaves to take care of the vandalism, she can't help but wonder if they're being a little too obvious with their attempts. Would the cleanup team arrive more guarded than they usually were? Or would they be too blinded by anger to be cautious? The tension of lute strings cuts into her fingers, reminds her to take a step back before she falls into that exact trap.[break][break]

No ifs, ands, or buts. The deed has been done and all they can do is simply face whatever comes for them head-on. With everyone else far more capable of sensing approaching danger than she is, she just has to sit around and bide her time.[break][break]

So she does, quietly humming as her crooked fingers intermittently pluck at notes.

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Dodomeki Chitoku + Okada Muramasa + Hanyuu Ayane

made by gimmick

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[Hanyuu Ayane]

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[attr="class","headtexteye2"]a new day will dawn
for those who stand long

[attr="class","subheadi2"]And the forests will echo with laughter

[attr="class","imaintext2"]Ayane was reassured by Uemon and Suisei. They both seemed like they had more experience than her and Muramasa talked about their plan as if it were pretty sound. She nodded as he told her to rely on her training but she felt like she’d swallowed a gallon of ice water. Had these others received some sort of training? She wondered where someone would go for that sort of thing and how much it cost them. She’d paid a random shinobi to teach her how to use chakra to make strings but everything after that she’d just figured out on her own. Mostly she’d done so out of necessity.

Eventually she cuddled up next to the teddy bear puppet and closed her eyes. She focused on the chakra signatures moving about on the edge of her awareness for many sleepless hours. The sun was creeping in the window as she sat up and looked at Chitoku. "The door.” She warned and he went down to check who it was. Karen of course. It seemed they’d be in for another long day of waiting. She was surprised when Muramasa offered to take care of the vandalism and she watched from the window. A mischievous grin met him upon his return, "Well, well. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

Ayane laid back down and took a nap in the morning light. It didn’t make sense for them to all be exhausted when the HOA finally decided to take matters into their own hands.

🗡

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[bonobo]

The newcomers had been warned, they had been visited, and yet they seemed to delight in drawing the ire of the good folks of Nagamachi. Karin had done her best to try to get them to conform, but they were beasts disguised as men, and it seemed that she would need to ask them to leave the neighbourhood. Such had been the decision of the HOA at another nightly meeting, one old man having complained incessantly about paint on his lawn, a middle-aged woman had moaned about the noise. Gentle approaches were foolish, these were creatures that would never conform to good society. So it was, as the meeting wrapped up that the designated matriarch of their little hamlet would make her way to the house of the newcomers. It was a new moon, and blackness covered her every movement, only the unnatural shine of her white teeth piercing the night. The witching hour was at hand, and some mere moments after 3 am, four firm knocks would wrap on the door. Karin stood, eyes shining bright with the first sign of life in days, her smile absolutely cheshire. Whomsoever opened the door would be greeted by a simple greeting, a garden sheer aimed directly at their abdomen. The blade had been sharpened well beyond that required to prune hedges, and the woman handled it deftly. Mere seconds later, the windows on either side of the living room would shatter, two bulky men, twins by the look of them having thrown what appeared to be fence-posts through the windows, before attempting to amble through adorned in thick leather overalls. Whatever witnesses there may have been to the assault were either quiet, or taking part, this street, it seemed, was loyal to one thing and one thing only. Good manners. "Should have read the by-laws,” Karin hissed.

Dodomeki Chitoku Muramasa Uemon namikawa suisei Hanyuu Ayane