Tsuko, he thought, poor girl. Possessing a great gift, greater than Norikazu if not for the confusion he had instilled in her during lessons.

The man known has Isawa Taki sighed and closed his eyes. Violence was approaching. He could smell it upon the air even without the clouded vision provided by Isawa Tsuko. He quickly unwrapped the parcel and revealed a long dagger. It had been a long time since he had served his true Master with a sacrifice of blood, especially with the eyes he could feel watching all the time. But with the coming darkness he can once again serve his Master, beginning with the young novice that had just left his chambers. She was too dangerous to let live.

He picked up the dagger and placed his tongue along the bare blade, revelling in the coldness of the blade against the warmth of his being. With quick and economic movements he bared his arm, revealing numerous small white scars, and made a small incision amongst them, allowing some blood to stain the blade.

"Master", Taki whispered, "He who was called Iuchiban, I make this small offering to you as a promise of what is to come".

He held the dagger in the air and knelt there, watching the blood on the blade. After a minute the small amount of blood was absorbed into the dagger, and Taki smiled. His Master had heard and accepted the small offering.

Quickly, he wrapped the dagger up in the leather wrapping and hid it again under the straw mattress of his bed. He breathed a sigh of relief and wiped his brow with his sleeve of his robe. Iuchiban was a harsh master to serve, but the rewards he promised to those loyal were great.

But here, in the very heart of Kyuden Isawa care had to be taken. For no matter how hard he looked, he could never see the eyes that watched all who lived here. But soon care could be discarded. A dark shadow would fall upon Kyuden Isawa and then his sacrifices would be hidden amongst the death and destruction that would befall the souls who dwelt here.