Hello, this is a short story I recently wrote for my Creative Writing class. The setting is loosely inspired by the song Tokyo Smoke By Cage The Elephant. Hope you enjoy:)
The Deal
“I’ll pay you 1,000 Xu,” the man in the hooded cloak says.
“Deal,” I respond before walking away, back to my waiting friends.
“What did he want?” Kurokawa Hikari, my partner in crime, asks.
“The usual,” I say, shooting her a meaningful look.
“You mean he wants you to kill someone,” Yamauchi Mamoru, my trainer and friend says.
“Yes, he wants me to kill the Emperor.”
Hikari laughs, “That’s insane, who would ask a member of the Red Dragon to do something like that?”
“My betrothed, Kawahara Shuji, the Crown Prince. He wants me to kill his father. All so he doesn’t have to marry me and can rule.”
“You’re joking. Right? You can’t be serious. What did he offer you?” Mamoru asks, curious as to what would make me accept such an offer.
“Just the thing we have all been looking for. Freedom, justice, revenge,” I say, a smile slowly forming on my face.
“Did he recognize you?”
I shake my head, how would he have recognized me? I’m dressed in a black kimono and have a veil covering my face from the eyes down. A far cry from my usual style of dress. Though it’s far more practical in my line of work.
“So, what’s the plan?” Mamoru asks.
“Simple. Get in, get out. Kill those who get in our way.”
“Sounds violent,” Hikari says, “I like it.”
“Should we tell the Red Dragon Commander?” Mamoru asks.
“I will,” I say, “you both go collect supplies. I want some daggers and poison. Bring the acupuncture needles too.”
My friends depart, Hikari heading in the direction of the storage department and Mamoru going for the training grounds. I walk in the opposite direction of both, going towards the main headquarters. The Red Dragon is a gang that makes a difference in the lives of the poor. They once helped me after I lost my family to the plague. They helped me find a home, though only for a short while before moving me back to the streets.
They are the reason I am where I currently am. Stuck in a house that’s not my own, surrounded by riches I had only dreamed of when I was still myself. I’ve been forced to don a disguise after being left to my own devices, stuck on the streets in the dead of winter, where I lay barely moving until two well dressed people knelt by my side, asking for my name and age.
I had complied, saying I was 10 and my name was Hayashida Amaya. They exchanged a glance, whispered into each other’s ear, then patted me on the head and told me to get my belongings because I would be living with them from that point on. Confused, I asked what was going on, and they said that my name was now Tokuda Mizuki, and they were my parents. Mizuki was killed by the same plague that killed my parents. Not knowing what to do, I grabbed my few belongings and obediently followed behind them on the long walk to my new home. Anything was better than the streets, especially in the cold and rain. I was willing to take any chance I could get, wrap my grubby hands around its neck and squeeze until I got what I wanted if that’s what it took.
After I was taken in, I applied for a position in the gang, one not many filled. I applied to be an assassin. For eight years, I have trained and fulfilled many jobs, however, I was demoted due to a mistake during my last job. They still hadn’t found a replacement.
Reaching the doors, I pull them open and find Kuno Tsuyoshi kneeling on the floor sipping tea. I bow, my hair falling around me like a dark curtain.
“Amaya, what a surprise. How can I help? I heard about your next job. You seem to have caught a big fish.”
“Commander Tsuyoshi, word sure does travel fast. Though I would expect nothing less of the largest gang in Wasaki. Am I permitted to take on this job?”
“Of course, it will be a good opportunity for you to make up for last time. Do you remember the rules?”
“Stick and move. Sharpen up the knife. Make your mark. Take your own advice.”
“It seems to me that you are well prepared. Goodbye Amaya, in case I don’t see you again.”
“Goodbye Commander Tsuyoshi. Thank you.”
I bow again before leaving the building. With Tsuyoshi’s permission, my friends and I won’t get in trouble for raiding the supplies. Though I am curious as to how word of my deal traveled so quickly. No matter, we have an assassination to plan. I meet up with my friends who have gathered a few katanas for Mamoru, an assortment of daggers and different poisons for me. Hikari will be using her skills in Aikido along with shurikens to aid the fight.
“Should we go to the pavilion by the koi pond to plan?” Hikari asks.
“Sure,” I respond, considering that it’s a secluded area.
We make the short walk there, passing the koi pond and the towering bamboo, before settling down onto the worn cushions around a low table.
“Who should ultimately kill the Emperor?”
“I think I should,” I say.
“Yes, I think it would be best if Amaya finished the job. It was assigned to her after all,” Mamoru says.
“Good point,” Hikari responds.
“Should I do it as Mizuki or Amaya? I am pretty sure the Crown Prince and the Emperor only know of the existence of Mizuki.”
“Mizuki. Then you will have another identity to fall back on, in case things go sour.”
“With the amount of money that the Crown Prince is paying us, we should be able to leave the country. Do you really think that the Crown Prince will be any better than the Emperor? I doubt it,” Hikari says.
“Maybe not the country but we could definitely go to another part of Kashikawa. Maybe a small farming town with less of a corrupt government,” Mamoru says.
“Sure,” I say. “Let’s do that.”
“Now for the plan, let’s get started.”
We decided on a plan after about two hours of discussion and debates.
- Hikari and Mamoru sneak into the palace, taking out the guards if needed.
- I head in through the front gate, claiming I have a meeting with the Emperor to discuss my marriage with the Crown Prince.
- Head into the throne room, and have the Emperor dismiss his guards.
- Hikari and Mamoru sneak into the throne room, killing the guards waiting outside of the doors.
- I use a poison tipped dagger to kill the Emperor without much of a hassle and escape through the freshly cleared hall.
- Meet up with Hikari and Mamoru before collecting pay from the Crown Prince.
- Collect my belongings and flee to another part of the country with my friends.
The plan is set into motion the next morning. I dress in a navy blue kimono, good for hiding the potential blood stain. Bidding my guardians goodbye, saying I’m going out with my friends, I make my way down the cobblestone street to the palace. The warm summer wind blowing through the cherry blossom lined road makes the day seem serene. Too peaceful for the violence and bloodshed that is soon to come. I walk quickly, the daggers pre-dipped in poison stored in my hidden hilt. One strapped to my thigh, one around my waist. Hikari and Mamoru should be arriving shortly after I enter the palace, ready to sneak in and take out the guards for our escape plan. As I approach the gate leading to the inner palace, I see that there are only two guards standing out front. This is going to be easier than I originally believed.
“Tokuda Mizuki?” asks one of the guards.
“Yes, I am Tokuda Mizuki. I have a meeting with the Emperor. I don’t want to be late.”
“Of course,” the other guard says.
“Open the gates,” the first guard orders.
The tall wooden gates are hulled open, revealing two more guards waiting to escort me to the throne room. The palace stands tall in front of me, the lavish architecture and lush gardens mocking me. This is where all of the Emperor’s money has been going. While the slums are full of people barely getting enough to eat each day. Shivering in the cold. Suffering from the plague. Barely holding onto the will to live. I scowl as the guards lead me through the gardens to the throne room. The Emperor is the reason my family is dead. Had he provided financial aid, or medical aid, my parents would still be alive today. I wouldn’t be here to kill him. Standing in front of the gold embellished wood doors, I realize that even if the Crown Prince had not paid me, I would still be killing the Emperor. Fulfilling my personal vendetta. The guards pull open the doors before flanking me as I enter the grand room. Keeping my gaze down, I bow at the waist towards the throne.
“Rise Mizuki,” the Emperor says.
So I do. Only to see that the Crown Prince is standing by the Emperor’s side.
“Shuji has been telling me some interesting stories about you Mizuki. Or should I say Hayashida Amaya.”
“What? Hayashida Amaya? I’m Tokuda Mizuki.”
“It’s no use protesting Amaya,” the Crown Prince says, shaking his head. “Your beloved Commander Tsuyoshi told me the whole story. From start to finish. I know you are here to kill my father. All for revenge.”
He laughs. It’s not a nice or pleasant sound that emits from his mouth. The Emperor joins in, his mocking laughter filling the room.
“Commander Tsuyoshi,” I whisper to myself. “Betrayed me.”
“Give it up Amaya. There are guards everywhere in this palace. Three in this room alone. Did you really think you would succeed? It’s pathetic really,” The Crown Prince taunts.
“You hired me to do this. YOU HIRED ME, YOU ROTTING CARCASS.”
“I hired you? Why would I do such a thing?”
I played the fool again. My old unfaithful friend. Another failure. This one costing me my life.
“Guards, seize her. She is to be thrown in the dungeon for charges of treason and slandering my son,” the Emperor booms from his golden throne.
I can’t die here. I can’t let the slimy snake win.
I see the guards approaching, though they haven’t pulled their katanas from their sheaths. They are expecting me to go down without a fight.
They should learn to expect the unexpected.
I pull one of my daggers free, throwing it in the vague direction of the closest guard. He cries out as the blade sinks hilt deep into his chest. He goes down, though he won’t die immediately. The other two guards shout, pulling out their katanas and quickly advancing. I rush over and pull the dagger from the chest of the wounded guard. He cries out again as blood pours from his wound in thick streams. The Crown Prince and Emperor cower behind the throne, eyes darting around violently. Neither have their weapons, and they are too scared to fight hand to hand. The other guards are upon me then. I slash the blood coated dagger, cutting the side of one and slicing the thigh of the other. They both stumble and halt their approach. I stand up, wiping the blade on my kimono.
“Kawahara Shuji, your next.”
I stalk towards the throne, dagger clenched in my hand.
“GUARDS!” The Emperor shouts.
“There is nobody out there, Your Imperial Majesty,” I say mockingly.
The Crown Prince scrabbles backwards, further away from his father. The Emperor is stricken, looking over at the three guards bleeding out on the ground not far away from where he hides. I corner Shuji, before crouching down in front of him and holding the dagger to his throat. The blood starts to drip down onto his white kimono, his eyes fill with fear.
“Wait, Amaya. I’ll pay you double. Please!”
“Double?” I press the dagger harder against his throat.
“Triple the original amount. Kill my father!” he cries.
“You have yourself a deal.”
I pull the dagger away, making sure to nick his throat as a threat of what would happen if he decides to betray me for the second time.
“Shuji. My son. WHY!” the Emperor shouts, looking frantically between his son and I.
“It’s for the better father.”
Standing, I turn to face the Emperor, smiling a wide smile. I raise my arm, ready to end the life of the Emperor.
“SHUJI! Call her off,” the Emperor cries frantically.
I let go of the dagger and it flies
towards the mark
hitting right where I intended
between the Emperor’s eyes.
His body thuds to the ground. I turn back around to face the sniveling coward.
“Your Imperial Majesty,” I bow in mockery.
He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a bag of Xu before handing it to me.
“This should be more than enough,” he says, scowling at my smiling face.
“Listen closely because I will only be saying this once. My friends and I will be leaving the city. If you attempt to follow us, I will kill you. If you attempt to stop us, I will kill you. If you so much as mention us when announcing the death of the former Emperor, I will kill you. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I understand,” he replies before standing and shuffling away from me.
I leave the room. Four dead people in my wake. Hikari and Mamoru wait for me outside the doors.
“Ready to start our new life?” I ask.
Then we are off, grabbing our belongings and heading towards our new life.