Chapter 17
1127 Words
At least the man did not feel any pain. Kai was quite sure about that.
He looked down at his latest target. The man was a salt merchant, one of the wealthiest in the capital. As well as one of the most corrupt. The one who ordered the hit was a fellow merchant and business partner who even claimed a close friendship with now-dead merchant. But ever since said merchant decided to pursue some under-the-table deals with a new partner that the old one didn’t know about … well, the salt monopoly had always been a cutthroat business.
It was done swiftly and quietly, as he was ordered to do. The man’s eyes were open, and he seemed to be looking upwards at his assassin.
But that was naturally, an impossibility since he was dead. And completely unaware of it.
The floor of the merchant’s private study was utterly spotless, completely devoid of any marks, scratches, or even a single drop of blood. Ledgers and documents were on their customary haphazard piles on top of his desk as they usually were. There was no sign of any struggle or any sort of scuffle.
Kai put away the long and lethal poison needle he used to stab him at the neck and vanished.
An hour or so later, the merchant’s lifeless body was found by a maid who came to clean his study. The merchant’s household came to the conclusion he died of a sudden heart attack.
---------------------
It was another uneventful day at the village where Tatsuya had his forge. Except that it was closed for the day. Neither Tatsuya nor his apprentices were there, so those who needed to have their knives, tools and plows sharpened or repaired had to take their business elsewhere.
“ ’Closed for today’, the sign said,” grumbled a farmer.
“ ‘We will reopen tomorrow’,” added another fellow farmer.
“I heard them say somethin’ about a ritual purification of the forge, or whatnot,” spoke a disgruntled shopkeeper.
“Aye, but at least they’re usually as good as their word. They’ll be open again tomorrow,” put in a housewife in a confident tone of voice, her little boy in tow.
---------------------
Because there was to be no more practice session for the day, the afternoon became free for Lani to go to the village to buy a few household essentials.
Like all those who are supported by Lord Matsuda, the two women are provided with a regular stipend for their everyday needs. It was a fairly generous amount, more than enough that they can indulge in a few small frivolous but pretty purchases from time to time.
For Lina, today it was hair ribbons.
“My, my. You do have good taste for a foreign woman, if you don’t mind my saying so,” said Yukina, the ever-smiling, thirty-something lady proprietor of the fancy-goods store that Lani visits from time to time.
Lani smiled. Yukina is a bit brash by feminine Yashima standards, being a bit more forward and plain speaking than most. But she is a warm and sincere person, nonetheless. Which explains why many people go to her shop and leave as loyal customers.
She counts herself as one of those loyal customers as well. There is hardly a day she doesn’t feel even a little bit better whenever she sets foot inside Yukina-san’s store.
Another factor that works in the store’s favor is its wide selection of well-chosen, good-quality fabrics, fashion accessories and other similar female necessities.
Lani was busy gazing at the display of ribbons and hair ornaments. The hair ornaments and hairpins were all magnificent. Exquisitely crafted and made to represent trails of wisteria blossoms, cherry flowers and chrysanthemum blooms. Some were made to symbolize luck charms, wealth or good fortune. The hair ornaments were made from gold or silver wires, silk, satin, lacquered wood, coral, pearls, lapis lazuli and various types of multi-colored jade.
But hair ribbons were still and always, her favorite hair ornaments.
Of course, Tatsuya has long known about that.
It was just too bad Lani did not know that he knows.
And that Yukina-san, Lani, and all the other customers milling about in the store did not know about the burly smith / shinobi in that very same store, at that very same moment.
Hidden high up in the store’s ceiling rafters, to be precise.
---------------------
She reached out a hand towards the latest display of satin hair ribbons. Her finger stroked some of those that came in various shades of green, ranging from the deepest jewel-like emerald tones to the lightest colors that remind one of new spring leaves and grasses.
She’d be right down pretty with those hair ribbons … that color would contrast beautifully with her eyes … dammit! Get your fool head together, Tastuya!
“This one, please, Yukina-san,” Lani said taking three ribbons of varying widths and woven patterns. All of them were in shades of green.
“Always a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Lani,” cheerfully spoke the lady shopkeeper. After wrapping it in a softly-patterned wrapping paper and handing it to the other woman, the pleased customer turned to leave the store.
“No music practice today, Miss Lani?” the shopkeeper called out.
“Not today, Yukina-san. It’s our rest day,” she replied.
“Oh, I see. But let us know when his lordship will be organizing the next public concert. My husband and I always look forward to it!”
“I will! Thank you again, Yukina-san!”
Just as quietly and just as stealthily, Tatsuya followed her out of the store.
---------------------
A crowd of people quickly gathered in one of the dark alleyways just a little distance from the store. It was a perfectly understandable thing to do when one sees a group of bruised and bleeding semi-conscious thieves tied together like a bunch of radishes. And they were all naked too, except for their loincloths.
“I swears ta ya! I’m tellin’ the truth! We was tryin’ ta nab that foreign woman as soon as she done lefts the store!” one of the thieves sputtered.
“But outta nowheres, someone punched out all our lights and done roughed us up real bad. An’ when we all cames to, we’re all tied up like this!” another one spoke up.
All the children who saw this hilarious sight laughed and jeered loudly at them. “Nyahahahahaha!!! Serves you right!”
- Writer
