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Mugen (1×1 w/ Jikkah)

“And you as well, Etsuko-san.” She nodded to her, gathering her few things before heading out. She would he straight back to her village to report her findings, knowing she would have a difficult time explaining what she had encountered, but she would have to make do.
 
Etsuko traveled by day, making it back to the mansion in a few days time. She reunited with Giyuu and told him what she had encountered; how she was injured by Tengen's brother and barely managed to defeat him with the help of Moriko.
 
He nodded slightly, expression sullen as always. “It sounds like you brought back good information- job well done, Etsuko.” Giyuu said calmly. “And your wounds? How are they healing?”
 
"Ah," she glanced at them from under her haori; the wound had opened just slightly while she was traveling, staining her uniform softly with fresh blood, "I didn't realize it had reopened until my guard was down. Forgive me, Giyuu-san, I guess I was careless." She said sheepishly.
 
His face showed little, but there was a soft tinge of concern in his eyes. “Get your wounds tended too right away, take some time to recuperate.”
 
She nodded, "Yes, of course...I saw Akatsuru-san on my way in, I'll ask for her aid." She bowed carefully before smiling a bit, "It's good to see you again, Giyuu-san...seeing you in good health does my heart good.."
 
“Is that so?” He asked softly, turning his head away from her, fixing his gaze on the far wall. “If it does you good, then I’m gad for it.”
 
She smiled more, always having seen a good friend in Giyuu and she tried her best to be as friendly with him as he would allow. He always seemed resigned and a bit sad, so she did what she could so he wasn't so lonely.
"I'll see Akatsuru-san now...maybe we could catch up once I'm well enough? If you wanted, that is. I don't wish to impose on any potential business."
 
He was silent for a moment, his gloomy expression barely changing. “If that is what you wish to do, I won’t stop you. It could also prove beneficial to exchange information of previous missions.” He said with a slight nod.

Moriko stirred slowly, a weak moan escaping her lips as her blurry vision slowly became clear. She could hardly remember what had happened, one minute she was relaying her findings on the Uzui clan to the clan head, then she was waking up on the ground in pitch black. She could still smell the scent of the candle smoke in the air, along with the heavy stench of iron.
 
Etsuko nodded and smiled. I'll take it, she told herself, and headed off to see Akatsuru.

There was blood everywhere, the floor around her wet and sticky with it. Was it an ambush? Was it Uzui, or had Shisui somehow survived?
 
She pushed herself up, looking around for the clan head, she had to ensure his safety. “Clan Leader..?” She called out, groaning as she made it to her feet, the back of her head thumping.
 
It was so quiet that her ears were ringing. She saw movement in the darkness, and it grew closer and larger before a man stood before her.
"You're still alive. Incredible." He said, the smell of rotten meat and iron smacking her in the face.
 
Moriko stumbled back with wide eyes, almost tripping over her own two feet. “D.. Demon..” She recognized the horrid stench, it was the same when she fought Shisui. Had she not noticed being followed? No, if that was the case, no other shinobi in the village she passed had noticed the creature either. And what of the clan head?
 
"I gotta say, I'm impressed with your endurance. Your friends didn't seem to handle me quite as well." He told her, dragging a body forward. It was the clan head, his neck twisted all the way around.
 
Her hands trembled at the sight and her legs nearly gave out beneath her at the sight. Was everyone dead? She drew her blade, mouth bone dry. She knew her weapons would do nothing against such a creature, but she couldn’t just give up, could she? “V-Vile monster..!”
 
Tears burned in her eyes the more she looked at the clan heads corpse in his hands, taking a shaky step back. “You’re wrong, you’re just a blight..!”
 
He dropped the clan head's corpse and moved on her quickly, his nails extending into razor sharp blades.
"It is you humans who are the blight."
 
She raised her blade to defend herself, backing up quickly in an attempt to flee from him, but she was still a bit wobbly on her feet.
 
The blade stabbed into the floor somewhere out of reach, pain flaring in her face as his claws tore open her face mask, knocking her to the floor once more.
 
She held her bleeding face as she scrambled backwards through puddles of blood on the floor. What was he planning to do? With a racing heart she turned and scrambled for the door, moving as fast as her feet would carry her.
 
The entire manor was completely dark, the thick stench of iron hanging in the air all over. She knew these halls like the back of her hand, all she had to do was get outdoors into the sun, there she would be safe.
 
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