Takahashi Akari

  I studied the intelligence Cai returned to me closely, committing the schedules of the three lieutenants to memory. Each of them had a different routine, but there were windows of opportunity where I could strike. My clan had entrusted me with this mission, and I was determined to succeed.

  These men were monsters, important members of Krasnaya Ruka, (The Red Hand.) They were a Russian bratva, dealing in all kinds of organized crime. They were also responsible for the disappearance of several Japanese citizens. Among the last to go missing was the son of a powerful businessman; one who was well connected. The kid was probably into something dangerous, and angered the wrong people, yet his father wanted justice.

  My clan had been hired to send a message to the group responsible. I knew that taking these men out would save lives, and would be in keeping with the clan tenets. It was a weighty responsibility, but one that I accepted readily. It's what I'd been trained for since I was a child.

  The first lieutenant, Vladimir Markov, was a creature of habit. Every Tuesday and Thursday, he dined at the same exclusive restaurant. It was a small, intimate establishment with only a few entrances and exits. I planned to pose as a server and get close to him. A little bit of the right poison would ensure a quick death, one that would be difficult to trace. I would disappear into the night before anyone noticed. Before the chaos began.

  The second lieutenant, Ivan Petrov, was a more unpredictable target. He frequently changed his routine, but I identified a pattern. Twice a month, he visited an underground casino, always arriving and leaving at odd hours. I would blend into the shadows of that seedy establishment, waiting for my moment. With a silenced pistol, I would take him out from a distance, amidst the chaos of the gambling floor. Crowded places weren't ideal for guns, so I would need to be close enough. That would be risky.

  The third lieutenant, Dimitri Belov, was the most challenging. He rarely left the heavily guarded compound where he operated. Gaining access would be difficult, but not impossible. The compound's biometric scanners and rotating guard shifts posed problems, but every fortress had blind spots. During a security audit, I'd exploit the three-minute window when thermal cameras rebooted. A maintenance vent near the south wall —just wide enough for my compact frame— would grant entry if I greased the hinges beforehand. From there, taking Belove out would be simple. The exit might get messy though.

  With my loose plans formed, it was time to figure out the details. Before that, I turned to go over the data Cai had given me once more. The kid had no idea what my job actually was. His whole life I had taken him with me on missions around the world, watching over him as he grew.

  I made sure he grew strong and healthy, someone his parents would be proud of. I had even implemented several of my clan's training techniques, including stress inoculation training and ethical calculus. Yet, I hesitated to tell him about the true nature of my work. I wasn't sure how he would react, and didn't want to risk alienating him.

  I hadn't meant to keep my carrier a secret from him. I hadn't meant for much of anything at first. I was young, barely an adult, when his parents —my friends— died. I had no idea how to raise a child, much less tell them I was an assassin. No one else in the clan would act, so I was all he had. Over time, the secret between us grew.

  Most of the time my jobs were fairly simple, generally involving information gathering and espionage. The Kagehira Clan I belonged to were a clan of assassins and spies, formed from the remnants of an ancient shinobi clan. The professional role of ninja declined significantly during Japan's Edo period. With the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate, the era of constant warfare and feudalism, —which had fueled the demand for ninja skills like espionage and sabotage— came to an end.

  Yet some remnants persisted, though the forms changed over the centuries. The old clans were sworn to the service of either the government —like the Iga clan had been— or specific lords, like the Koga clan. The modern Kagehira clan had no master. Instead we work in the shadows for the betterment of Japan. We would take on jobs for money, but only if they would leave the world a better place.

  After several hours of intense research and scheming, my plans were set, and I prepared for the coming nights with a sense of grim determination. These men would fall, one by one, and the Krasnaya Ruka would feel the weight of my clan's justice.

  ****

  Tamamo no Yume

  The agony clawed at me, a searing brand across my shattered soul as I weathered the latest wave of pain. The coppery taste of blood from biting my own tongue mingled with the salty tang of my drying tears.

  How long? Days? Weeks? Time had become a meaningless blur since she —that viper of a cultivator— had tried to rip out my core with a ritual. Her laughter still echoed in the hollow chambers of my mind, a cruel mockery of my suffering.

  She was a grotesque parody of a woman, her eyes burning with avarice as she tore at my core, seeking to steal the very essence of my being and turn my cultivation into an essence pill to enhance her own. She fractured my core, leaving me a broken version of the warrior I once was.

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  The icy dampness of the cavern floor seeped into my bones, mirroring the chilling despair that gnawed at my spirit. Each ragged breath felt like a shard of glass piercing my chest. This wasn't mere pain. It was a slow, agonizing death; a disintegration of my spirit that would result in my death. If this cursed torment continued, I would be nothing more than dust, —fuel for the worms.

  My escape had been a desperate, brutal scramble. A fight for survival fueled by nothing but pure, unadulterated rage and the will to live. But the damage… the damage was beyond my ability to repair.

  Still, I would not succumb, not without a fight; the embers of defiance still flickered within the ashes of my being, and I refused to give in until my last breath. Yet the question remained: was that a faint whisper of hope, or just the cruel delusion of a dying woman?

  "Just rest, child. It won't be long now," My mother, Tamamo no Mae, said, her gaze flicking impatiently to the entrance to the cave. She continued to examine her paw, a slight frown furrowing her brow. "Henshin should be back soon with news. He has eyes everywhere, that much is true. Annoying as he is, and believe me, he is exceedingly annoying, he does have his uses... eventually.

  "Honestly, the theatrics he puts on are enough to drive one mad. One would think finding a suitable vessel for my daughter's soul wouldn't require such elaborate… diversions."

  She sighed, the sound heavy with her frustration at not being able to act. "If he doesn't return soon, I shall have to go find him myself, and that will certainly not be pleasant for him." A hint of dangerous amusement flickered in her golden eyes. "Though perhaps a little… persuasion might expedite things. That mujina is far too fond of his comfort."

  I examined her for a moment, but chose not to respond. Her fox form was sleek and beautiful, a rich, creamy white gold, like polished ivory touched by sunlight. Her fur gleamed with an inner light, faintly shimmering even in the dim, ethereal glow of the lower Astral. Her nine tails, each tipped with a delicate plume of white fur, flicked restlessly, betraying her impatience. Even in this restricted form, the grace and power of her movements were evident.

  She was wearing her fox avatar so that she could descend to the lower Astral with me. It was clear that she didn't enjoy the poor aether density of the lower Astral. Nor did she appreciate that she had to restrict her power to be here. It was the price all higher tier beings had to pay to visit such places. I couldn't remember actually seeing her true form, but from what I understood, she was a breathtaking Kitsune woman, with hair like spun gold, eyes like winter moonlight, and a beauty without rival.

  Unlike me however, she never had to cultivate for power. She had been born with a beast core, and over the millennia, she naturally grew in strength. I on the other hand, was born with a chakra network instead. It happened sometimes with creatures that more closely resembled humans. I had even heard that there were entire tribes of beings like me. It didn't mean I couldn't be powerful, but rather that my path would have to be different from hers.

  Luckily for me, my mother had spent considerable time in the lands of the immortals, and so she had some experience with their methods. Enough to point me towards Kunlun, or at least its lower astral realm.

  It was in the secluded mountain village of Qingfeng that I began my journey of cultivation; a path fraught with hardship and hidden dangers. The villagers, weathered and wise, were my initial teachers, sharing their meager knowledge of qi manipulation and martial techniques. However, the true masters of cultivation were notoriously secretive, guarding their techniques and breakthroughs like dragons guarding their treasure. Information was currency, and trust was a rare commodity.

  Despite the challenges, I made steady progress. Slowly, I mastered the basics of internal energy cultivation and refined my understanding of elemental manipulation. My days were spent in rigorous training, learning to fight and honing my skills. My nights were filled with meditative practices, striving to achieve a deeper connection with the spiritual energy that flowed through everything.

  That all ended when that woman attacked me. That bitch was an evil cultivator, using forbidden arts to gain power. I had heard of such people, but I had hoped I'd never meet one. Unfortunately, as someone from a different realm who lacked backing from a sect, I was a prime target for such a depraved cultivator.

  My thoughts were interrupted when Henshin burst into the astral pocket we were waiting in. He was a whirlwind of shimmering, badger-like fur and mischievous glee. He landed with a surprisingly soft thud, his tail swishing behind him like an excited ribbon.

  The mujina bowed deeply to my mother, a ridiculously theatrical flourish that somehow managed to be both respectful and sarcastic. "Greetings, Lady Fox," he chirped, his voice a sly purr. "I have news. It will not be long until my favor has been repaid." A wicked glint shone in his eyes.

  "Speak then Henshin. I grow restless here, and my patience is short, so waste no time on your usual games." My mother never did care for the Mujina, even if the badger yokai were similar to most Kitsune in nature.

  Both races were shape shifters and tricksters by nature. I was unusual for my kind. Self discipline was a necessary part of cultivation, and I had learned it well. It had been some time since I felt comfortable enough around others to be playful.

  "Very well," Henshin said, only looking slightly disappointed. "I was able to locate a potential host for your daughter. He was walking through a shard of the Feywild near a badger spirit I had used to set my detections. The man's spirit burned brightly. I don't know how, but he is weak, yet filled with power."

  "That does sound good, if a little troubling. You're sure he is weak? It would not do for my daughter to find salvation, only to be devoured by a hidden tiger."

  "I saw him fight, Lady Fox, and he definitely won't be anything to worry about." He said with a smirk.

  My mother nodded. "Very well. Bring him here. Do what you must, but get him to follow you back, and do it quickly." My mothers voice turned into a growl as she expressed her impatience.

  With that, Henshin bowed again before vanishing with a flash of light and shifting badger fur. I was once more left alone with my thoughts, as my mother began to inspect the inscription on the ground that would empower her magic.

  I didn't like this plan. I hated the thought of doing to someone else what was nearly done to me. Yet, I liked the thought of dying even less. I would swallow my guilt and do what I must to survive.

  Still, I had hope it wouldn't come to that. I knew that the possession would only force cohabitation of a vessel. Taking control would be left to my discretion. Perhaps I could find a way to heal my soul without destroying another. Either way, this would at least offer me a reprieve from my torment.