The Lightning's Edge

[Manzokushi]

Hitomi strolled beneath the lotus petals as they fell within the garden. The sight was quite beautiful to behold and spoke volumes of change in the air. He could hardly believe how much had changed with the birth of his son. Jin?ki was a sharp student and his lessons were progressing quite well. Though at times he showed his father?s brash behavior often making mistakes due to a lack of thinking his actions through. Hitomi?s mind wandered over the harsh lessons learned from his grandfather; the countless hours spent sparing, the crack of rattan, blood on the mat, and months of memorizing the body?s physiology. The Kasarugi clan was known within the country for their aptitudes as assassins and with the changes that have come since, now they were even more sought after. The time had come once again to claim the life of another. Hitomi?s days of being a student were long since behind him but his desire to carry on the legacy of the clan was paramount.

The mark?s name was Yamgi Sing, he was a government official who had begun to get close to the truth of those living near Hiroshima. Jin?ki was allowed to travel with his father in order that he better understand the family business. He was chosen this night to watch and silence any security that happened to interrupt his father?s mission. The boy was only a teenager but Hitomi had killed his first man at the age of ten. Perhaps his son was a bit soft; after all he had his mother?s eyes. Jin watched with awe as his father danced from building to building becoming one with the shadows. The man moved as if the darkness was his to command. He slipped between security patrols, approaching the office building. Father always had a knack for theatrics and tonight was no different. He had chosen to strike at the heart of the organization, Japan?s INTERPOL office, to claim the life of Mr. Sing. With heightened reflexes beyond normal human capacity father leaped and climbed along the building without the aid of special tools so often employed by those of our particular trade. His target awaited him on the 15th floor, according to reconnaissance data, Mr. Sing would be in the office until late that night.

Hitomi scaled quickly moving from floor to floor approaching the apex of the building. His hand began to radiate pulsing with electricity. The buildings security system began to pulse and eventually it went down from the surge. He only had a few moments before the backup systems engaged. Mr. Sing sat at his desk bent over intent on some documents he was putting together. Within moments a thin wire shot from the shadows of the room wrapping around Mr. Sing?s neck he convulsed and within moments slumped over dead. He looked to be sleeping at his desk to any passerby. Hitomi slipped from the building, shifting from shadow to shadow. He made it out clean and met up with his son on the neighboring rooftop. Just as he landed a sound split the air as a long distance rifle round pierced Hitomi?s shoulder. The blood sprayed everywhere as the man began to waiver collapsing beside Jin. A quick glance confirmed that his father would be fine but would not be of use to him at that moment. ?Stay still father, I will find the man responsible.? He flew from the rooftop a gale of wind dead set on vengeance.

It did not take him long to spot the assassin. He never even noticed Jin, probably attributed to the limited invisibility of his form. Jin willed the air around the man to harden, immobilizing his actions. The assassin was quite unnerved that he longer was able to move. In all his training nothing had been in the handbook about invisible bonds of air. Sure he struggled but after all the man was only human. Jin, cracked an eerie smile, his features accentuated by the currents of air. ?Well sir you chose the wrong family to attempt to kill. Your days are over in this business.? While holding the bonds air, Jin created a small vacuum around the man?s head removing all of the air watching him suffocate. Jin was no killer even with all of the training his father had beaten into his flesh. Once the man collapsed Jin lifted the assassin preparing to bring him back to his father for interrogation. Just then the man burst into flames a roar of heat splitting the air.

A man completely consumed in flames with blazing azure eyes stared into Jin?s soul, ?Your soft boy that will be your undoing.? And then the heat exploded all around his body burned, the air was too hot, and he began to lose consciousness?

To Be Continued?.