investigating the splashes and puddle, Kara noticed that there should have been a hand lying there, but the body part was nowhere to be found.
«That fast bastard…» Kara whispered to herself, realising what happened. «He took his hand!»
When she stood up, the others were already returning – except for two shinobi. Itsuki ran up to Kara, concerned that she might have been hurt in the short fight.
She gestured him to the puddle of black liquid and shortly told him of her findings. The man looked back to where the creature went and shook his head.
«He headed back to the village. We might be a little too late…» he said.
«So what do we do?» Kara asked, feeling her body tense up again.
«We go to the village, as asked by Lord Ryuu.» Itsuki replied and whistled to the others. «Saddle up, we’re leaving now!»
As they ran off – back to where the horses were waiting for them, Itsuki stayed by Kara’s side.
«Don’t go off into the dark alone next time, Nakano.» He said. «Call someone to back you up.»
«I wasn’t sure, that’s why I left on my own. But I will not be so foolish next time.»
«Thank you.»
When they reached the horses, they quickly packed up their camp, jumped into the saddles and, pulling two of the absent shinobi’s horses behind, rode off towards the village to try and catch up with the creature they’ve encountered in the meadow.
Within an hour they reached the village and met with their comrades – trackers lost the creature, but were certain it went into the village and hid among the buildings there.
«All is quiet, no evidence of demons roaming this land, Master Inei…» the men finished their report.
«Surround the village, look out for the creature. Ayame, Nakano and I will go in and investigate.» Itsuki ordered and the men and women scattered, riding off in different directions to follow his orders.
Ayame, Kara and Itsuki, on the other hand, quickly changed into plain grey haorihakama and sent their horses slowly on the road to the village.
Everything seemed calm and safe, but Kara knew how misleading such a feeling of false security can be, so she looked out for any signs of the twisted creature among the dark corners and small spaces between the buildings.
It was not a very big village, and it had a relatively nice tavern at the end of the street. On its stairs sat a young man – leaning back and very relaxed, he was enjoying the chilly night with a bottle of wine in his hand.
«Hello, travellers!» he said quietly. «Are you in need for a place to rest for the night or are you passing by?»
Kara studied the handsome face of this man, finding him quite charming on first view. He was tall, skinny, and with a pair of very cunning amber eyes. Obviously a little drunk, he scratched his bare hairless chest that was showing from underneath his open haori.
Something about this young man seemed wrong to her. As if he was playing a part and not being genuine. Akuma tensed up under Kara and she tried to calm him down.
«Have you seen anything strange or anyone worth noting in the past few days?» Itsuki asked.
«I help around the tavern, there are all sorts of strange in here all the time. People babble about kitsune and oni every evening after a few cups of our wine.» The man replied with a cocky smile. «Speaking of… would you like some?»
«No, thank you.» Ayame answered coldly.
«Then a room, perhaps?» he ran his long slim fingers through his brown mane of ruffled hair. «I am sure you would rather spend the remaining night having fun with your beautiful ladies, rather than stay here in the cold.»
The three shinobi glanced at each other and Itsuki sighed:
«A room will be greatly appreciated. Where can we leave our horses?»
«Stables are that way.» The young man smirked, showing to the side. «Leave them in the far stalls, those were cleaned today and have some fresh water and hay.»
Itsuki nodded and rode off, followed by Ayame. Kara stayed for a moment, before riding after her companions. Something in the way this amber eyed man looked at her seemed very suspicious. She felt watched, studied, as if he was trying to learn all about her. But, at the same time, the cocky, arrogant way he treated his guests was something that gave out his absolute indifference towards people.
As soon as the horses were set up in the stables, Itsuki signalled one of the shinobi that was hiding in the dark – the man will watch the horses through the rest of the night.
«I don’t like the way he looks.» Ayame whispered to Itsuki.
«He’s watching and studying us, even though acts like he doesn’t care.» Kara agreed very quietly.
«Even more so. He was watching you closer than us…» Itsuki sighed, shaking his head. «Keep your eyes open, Nakano. I don’t like this one bit.»
Kara nodded and they walked out of the stables. The amber-eyed young man was waiting for them on the stairs – still half-lying on them and very relaxed.
«So… one room? Food?» he said with a smirk. «Call me Kaito.»
«One room, we’ll take food if you have any to offer.» Itsuki answered.
«Ai, ai, ai, who do you take me for? Of course we have food!» Kaito jumped to his feet, a little wobbly and drunken-looking, then turned and walked into the tavern.
It was cosy inside, very clean and smelled of fried meat and rice. The young man led them through the main area, where people drank and ate – even this late in the night there were still a few patrons, who were either drinking wine or slowly eating.
They walked through a short corridor and Kaito opened the farthest door. Behind it was a small, but tidy room with a window opened to let in the fresh air.
«I can offer you rice, some vegetables and meat to go with it.» Kaito said, inviting the shinobi to go inside.
«And tea.» Itsuki added coldly, walking inside first.
Ayame followed him, but when Kara stepped past the young man, Kaito bowed slightly and suddenly sniffed her long hair with a cheeky smirk on his face.
Kara tried her best not to give away her knowing she noticed, and walked in, looking around the room.
«I’ll be just a moment.» Kaito bowed once again and closed the door.
Kara listened to his footsteps as he went to the kitchen, and when he was far enough, she glanced at Itsuki. She tried remembering the sign language he taught her to communicate in silence, but couldn’t find the right signs to tell him that Kaito gave her the creeps. Frustrated at herself, she let herself shiver with a disgusted wince.
Itsuki touched her shoulder, looking very concerned, but she just flinched, showing at the door. The man nodded instead of a reply and offered her to make use of the bed roll that was lying in the corner.
«You haven’t slept at all tonight. We’ll look around the village in the morning.» Itsuki whispered to her.
Kara sighed, agreeing with him, and started unrolling the bed. Ayame sat down on the corner of the bed and smiled reassuringly.
«Don’t worry, Mariko, one of us will keep watch.» She said.
Kara understood why Ayame used her other name and nodded. But she couldn’t fall asleep just yet. She wanted to wait for Kaito to return with the food and see how he acts.
When the young man returned, he gave Itsuki a tray with three bowls of rice and a small teapot with a stack of cups on its side. Before leaving, Kaito bowed again and Kara noticed his lustful glance aimed at her.
As