| abstract
| - Asa was born shortly before the arise of Sengoku Jidai (or, the Warring States Period within Japan). Her father, fearing that his only child would be caught, abducted, and abused in fashions he would never want for her, taught her all he knew of the blade. This form she had learned, dealt with the drawing and sheathing of one's blade. Iaido it was called. Asa learned the very ways which she could conceal her blade as well as draw it in a multitude of fashions to not only confuse her opposition, but more importantly, to kill her opposition. Her training continued into her early twenties until her father was killed. She had challenged the two men which had killed him however, they would not raise their weapons. Despite them not drawing their swords, she charged them and was quickly bested. With a foot upon her face, one of the told her: "We aren't your average ji-samurai woman...if you've a problem, take it up with Nishke." After kicking her in the face, the two left. She laid in the dirt unconscious until the sound of thunder brought her out of her slumber. The next day, her father was buried. Despite having a cold due to her being out in the rain the previous night, she buried her father. In addition to this, she immediately left her mother and sought revenge against her wishes. Asa traveled the land honing her skills until she was greeted by a woman. A foreigner with green eyes and red hair. With sake in hand, they spoke. She offered an alliance to her, but not one of the Shogun's pacts or anything dealing with Japan, but one in darkness. Asa was offered to use her blade to end the lives of others. Before she spoke another word, Asa searched about the area with her eyes. Judging from the actions of those around her, this woman was not alone and out of the people happily drinking and talking only a handful of them were actually minding their own. The rest had been focused on Asa. "This is too exposed for such a conversation. If you wish to continue it, it will be done outside of prying eyes." Standing, Asa paid for not only her sake but the woman's as well. Watching her leave, the man whom had served them both sake had leaned in and asked the Messenger what should be done. "I will speak to her on her own terms." As this was said, the Messenger held a small roll of paper with the words "black island" scrawled upon it. Days later, Asa awaited the Messenger, however, as she reached the destination in the dead of night, she was greeted by none other than a green-eyed, red haired woman. Without her robes or hood, she could see her quite clearly. "How did your travel go?" "...well enough. There were no guardsmen about." Coming to a stop, it then hit her. "I suppose you had something to do with that?" "Ah, I'm innocent." With her arms raised and a smile upon her face, Asa hardly believed the Messenger was completely innocent. "Sake?" Asa looked to the railing and spotted a full flagon. A foreign object from the West but one she was familiar with. The two women drank. Speaking of Japan's history and even history and events occurring within the West. Asa knew well enough it was merely verbal foreplay to soften her up to the main point for which they were both here for. That said, she chose to cut the formal foreplay and ask a question which was on her mind ever since she left the Messenger behind the first time. "If I am to embrace this choice, can you do me a favor?" "Hmph, well that depends on the favor, love." "...I want someone...by the name of Nishke." "Vengeance is it? Or is it passion? Or romance? Or..." "He killed my father." "Ah....passionate vengeance. I will help you locate them, if they are still alive. With anything found, I will relay it to you when you're not preoccupied." Twisting the small cup within her hand, Asa closed her eyes and nodded. "Is that your way of accepting my offer? A bobbing head can mean oh-so many things these days." "Embracing more than accepting." "Ohhh. Well, that said, all that is needed is to seal that choice." "Seal?" "A kiss. Naturally." Asa ceased to move at this point. "Oh, I am very serious of this as it is our...custom. For the better of words." Lightly growling, Asa set the small cup upon the railing, still holding it within her grasp and sighed. "Egh...just get it over with..." With an arms wrapped around her waist and a slightly chilled palm against her cheek, the Messenger kissed Asa. Asa closed her eyes as she did not want to see what she had accepted while the Messenger closed hers out of enjoyment. Even when she leaned against Asa, it seemed as if the Messenger was enjoying every second of it. After what seemed an eternity, the Messenger slowly pulled away from her yet, she made sure to lightly bite Asa's lip before letting her go. "Do be sure to meet me here as if it were this very night for assignment, Asa." She wanted to ask how she knew her name, but if she surmised correctly, then this Messenger had been following her for quite some time. Though, it mattered none. If they helped her find Nishke, she would owe them for that debt. Yet upon this Seal...or Kiss, she had become a Contract Killer. Those with wealth were oft ones she was assigned to behead and as such, she carried her contract out to the very end. Rising officials and politicians were slain. Over the time of five years, she had built upon her reputation in terms of stealth, precision, seduction, and outright brute force. Deception was an art and as such, even her allies knew not of her when they sought her out. Of course, the Messenger could always find her in some fashion. However, in June 1467, she was given an odd contract. This contract in particular was of no true interest at first until she met the man whom she was to kill. His name was Yoshimasa. Ashikaga Yoshimasa to be precise. This man was not only in ties with power, he was the current Shogun. She knew that due to the current Shogun having no heir, a discrepancy had reared and in the faces of the warrior clans, she could tell that war would soon erupt. Yet, she worried nothing of this due to the fact that this contract would be the pinnacle of her career. Of course, it would not be easy to get close to one with such power or status; thus she began her surveillance. She studied the men whom guarded the Shogun but more importantly, she studied their strengths. She had heard of several renowned warriors ally themselves in order to protect this man and as such, she would need to know just how to bring each one down. While in the capital, she made contact with the Messenger once more. "Your employer, the one whom has asked for you, is there." Asa had become accustomed to the darkness and the fact that the Messenger preferred to make contact within that darkness. However, Asa ultimately believes its so that she could get her customary "kiss", so that it would not attract attention due to the darkness. Yet, even that was something which Asa could also do without much rejection to as it was the Messenger. Looking him over, he was roughly in his mid thirties. Bald, frail, and in the company of five guards. "I see." "Just letting you know..." The Messenger turned away to leave before stopping. "Oh, but before I forget..." She said in a song-like voice. "Forget? Since when do you forget?" Asa looked back as she asked that question and was not surprised by what the Messenger would say. "A kiss for a secret." Asa scoffed before pinning the Messenger against the rooftop and giving her the kiss she wanted. Biting her nether lip, playing with her tongue and even lightly playing with her. However, the two stopped when the Messenger gently pushed Asa upwards. "Let's not get carried away now." Getting to her feet, Asa crossed her arms while the Messenger wiped a small trace of saliva from her own chin. "Hmph...stingy aren't we?" "No...your employer is that of which you seek." Asa froze. Her eyes were agape with the words which the Messenger spoke. "Yes, he is "Nishke", Yamato Shinjuro to be exact." As the Messenger pointed to him, Asa's brown eyes were now fixated on Yamato. As she watched the man from the rooftop, the Messenger noticed the sadistic smile upon her ally's face. "Do remember to be professional Sasaki." "...I'll remember that..." "Ah, well I suppose it to be rude but, why've you not ask of my name?" Asa looked back but said nothing. Upon looking at Yamato did she answer. "It isn't being professional." The Messenger giggled. "Well, by the next time we meet, do address me by name." Lightly scoffing, Asa asked the Messenger of her name. "I did say next time didn't I?" With that said, she vanished; as she always does. Returning her sights to Nishke, now known to be Yamato, she knew that he had been one to roam about at dusk with his "entourage", that said, there was a possibility that the same two men were with him out of those five. Killing them would be sickly sweet...but orders are orders. "Tch...right..." Asa plotted to kill all six of them. As daylight approached, Asa took a temporary retreat into a dwelling which was uninhabited in order to rest for a few hours. By eleven of that same morning, she was in the middle of her surveillance that war had broken out. Men began to rush about and once she saw the first spray of blood fly, she immediately sought out Yamato. With chaos and fighting, she knew the guards around him were either scattered, near him or dead. One of the guards she had come across while another she killed herself but only after pulling him out of sight. As she stalked her prey, she watched as his guards did their best to fend off other attackers but were overwhelmed by sheer numbers. As she passed them by she looked down to the faces of the men and saw them both. The same two whom were present and whom initial killed her father. With a small waive and a smile she continued on as one reached for her while the other died while staring at her. In July of 1467, the Ōnin War had begun. Her opportunity had failed and as such, she fled. However, not before she caught eye to her "employer" losing his head amidst the chaos...
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