User blog:Akasha1908/Case of the Black Lotus: Part 1

Yokkun stared at his brother Kazu in muted disbelief.

“That’s got to be the worst plan in the history of plans, ever.”

             Kazu’s tone was light and full of false cheer.

              “If you’ve got a better idea, Aniki, I’d love to hear it.”

“I don’t, but this…”   Yokkun replied skeptically. “This plan that you say is a plan, but is in fact not a plan at all, is going to get us killed!”

             “We’re not going die. Not if we follow the plan!”

             “What plan?”   Yokkun asked, throwing his hands up in frustration. “We’re basically just going to jump the wall, break into the castle and hope that the map old Fera gave us actually works.”

             “Exactly!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Yokkun dragged his hand down his face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Oh my God, we’re going die. You see! This is why I didn’t want to take this job in the first place! But someone,” Yokkun gave Kazu a pointed glare. “Decided to say yes without asking his older brother first.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “In my defense, you left me alone with a very unscrupulous client; a very tall, handsome and dangerous client, which you know is my type. How was I supposed to say no to all that hotness?!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Oh, I don’t know, Ka. Perhaps you could have used a little bit of that stuff called self-control!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Kazu sighed dramatically.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I said I was sorry, like three dead bodies ago. You’re upset. I get it. But can we please move passed this?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “No!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Geez, you are being so melodramatic right now. And here I thought you’d actually be happy with me about securing this deal. This Fera guy is about to pay us a ridiculous amount of money for one stupid box.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Yes, let’s hope they put that on our grave stones:   ''Yokkun and Kazu, beloved brothers. Died because of one stupid box! Too bad there’s nothing to spend all that money on in the afterlife.''”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I think you’re over-reacting, Aniki.”   Kazu said casually.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Over-reacting! We have less than an hour to get what we came for. Need I remind you that the once Lady Kuroki returns, all chances of getting that box vanish!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “We’ve been making good time so far.”   Kazu replied reassuringly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Yokkun rubbed his temples desperately fighting the urge to punch Kazu in the face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We left a trail of dead bodies all over the woods, because we didn’t have time to hide them! We still have to get over the wall, into the castle, find Lady Kuroki’s room, get the box and get back out again! And that’s if no one finds those dead bodies and raises the alarm.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kazu’s pouted angrily.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Well, when you put it like it sounds hard!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             At the last second Yokkun stopped his fist from connecting with Kazu’s face. He took a few calming breaths, hoping the tension in his body would loosen.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “It’s not hard, Ka. There are just too many variables.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “We can always turn back.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “No, we can’t. Not if we don’t want Fera to kill us.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “He’s not going to kill us.”   Kazu said, waving his hand mockingly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Are you serious? Did you miss the part where he said, I’ll kill you if you return empty-handed.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I heard him, but I think it was a metaphor for something else.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “You’ve got be kidding me.”   Yokkun mumbled. “I swear, this is just like Boca.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Kazu gasped in outrage.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “We promised never to talk about what happened in Boca!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">   “Sorry, my bad.”   Yokkun replied frantically.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Yokkun immediately realized his mistake. He should have known better than to bring up the incident Boca, but he was angry at his little brother for being so dense.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I was young and stupid and that guy was super-hot!”   Kazu carried on.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I said I was sorry.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“And it was my first time having sake! What did you expect?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I will never mention it again, Ka. I promise!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“And how many times do I have to tell you that I don’t know where the stupid donkey came from!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“For the love of God, Ka!”   Yokkun snapped. “I said I was sorry, now give it a rest! We need to keep our voices down.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Fine.”   Kazu whispered loudly. “But this isn’t over.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“It never is. Now come on, we need to go. Are you ready?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Of course I am! It’s my plan after all.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The two ran from the tree line towards the massive wall surrounding the castle. Yokkun braced his back against the wall, linking his hands so he could give Kazu a boost. Once on top, Kazu reached down and pulled Yokkun up. Slipping over the wall, they raced towards the window they’d chosen as their entry point.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">              “And it’s locked.”   Kazu huffed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Move.”   Yokkun whispered loudly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Yokkun placed his hand on the wooden shutters. After a few moments, the latch lifted and he pushed the window open. He stopped for a moment, listening for any sounds or movement.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “It’s clear.”   He whispered to Kazu.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “When did you learn how to do that?”   Kazu asked in shock.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Only recently. Master Daze has been teaching me a few tricks here and there.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Impossible. We’re incapable of wielding magic.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I’m not ‘wielding’ magic.”   Yokkun replied matter-of-factly. “I’m simply manipulating the magic that’s already in the air.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “How?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Well, if you spent as much time studying with Master Daze, as you do chasing men, then you would know how.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “First of all, I don’t chase them, they chase me. Second, I have this thing called a life, you should get one. And third, I don’t need those silly tricks. I’ve been getting along just fine on my whit and good looks these past 20 years, thank you very much.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Yokkun rolled his eyes, hoisting himself up and through the window. Kazu followed behind him, mumbling something he couldn’t quite hear.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The halls of the castle were nearly pitch black. The two brothers stopped for moment, allowing their eyes to adjust to the darkness. Despite being unable to use magic like most of the people in their world, Yokkun and Kazu had developed several gifts to compensate. Gifts which included enhanced senses and super human speed. They came in handy for the brothers when placed in precarious situations like the one they were in now.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Yokkun pointed two fingers forward, indicating to Kazu that they should start moving. Kazu nodded in response and they took off down the first hall.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At their second meeting, Fera had given them a detailed map of the castle’s floor plan. Yokkun had studied the map until the image was burned into his memory. For whatever reason, the entire castle had been built like a maze. Yokkun had speculated the reasons behind the bizarre structure and had come to one simple conclusion:   The Black Lotus was hiding something deep within their walls, and the maze was simply a deterrent to keep people out.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The thought of all the secrets the Black Lotus may or may not have, made Yokkun’s blood run cold. He shook his head trying to clear it of unwanted thoughts. No sense in thinking about those things now. Not when they had a job to complete.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">   “Do you feel that?”   Kazu asked. “This place is saturated with magic. I can almost reach out and touch it.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Yokkun could feel it too; the weight of the Black Lotus’ magic. It was impure and corrupted. It coated his skin like a thick tar and the stench made his stomach turn. It wasn’t at all like the pure, untainted magic Master Daze used.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “It’s a good thing magic can’t hurt us.”   Kazu said. “Otherwise I have the feeling we would be in a great deal of trouble right now.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Don’t fool yourself otouto, we’re in trouble with or without the presence of magic here. Now be quiet. We don’t want to draw the attention of any wandering guards.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">They kept to the shadows, moving silently down the winding, maze like halls. Yokkun took the lead as always, signaling to Kazu when they needed to be quiet or hide. From what Yokkun could tell, they were heading in the right direction, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. The halls were strangely quiet; too quiet. According to Fera, the castle was supposed to be heavily guarded, but they’d only run into a handful of men. <span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Unfortunately, Yokkun’s thoughts were interrupted by sound of heavy footsteps.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The sound grew steadily louder. Yokkun nodded to Kazu, motioning for him to move to the other side of the corridor. As planned, the guard caught sight of Kazu first, drawing eyes away from Yokkun. Taking advantage of the opening, Yokkun stepped forward, one hand covering the guard's mouth and the other slitting his throat. Yokkun caught the guard’s body against his, lowering the heavy weight to the floor.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">   Kazu peaked around the corner.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Clear.”   He whispered. “What should we do with his body?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “We’ll have to leave it here. We’re running out of time.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Spurred by imminent discovery, the two raced down the hall.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Sh*t!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Yokkun put his hand up stopping Kazu in his tracks. They came to a halt at the last corner they needed to turn before reaching the center of the castle.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “What is it?”   Kazu asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Two guards. I think they’re protecting the entrance to Kuroki’s room.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Kazu rubbed his hands together excitedly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“My turn.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “You’ll have to move fast.”   Yokkun instructed. “They’re about 100 feet from us. You need make sure neither raises the alarm. I’ll cover you.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Done.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Without another word, Kazu turned the corner and sprinted down the hall. Using the wall as leverage, he ran up the side launching one of his throwing knives at the first guard. The blade pierced the man’s throat, before Kazu’s feet hit the floor again.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Next he rushed the second guard. The man drew his sword, but Kazu dodged it easily. He caught the guard’s hand, breaking his wrist in one swift movement, then followed with a head-butt to his face. While the guard wobbled on his feet, Kazu picked up the fallen sword and thrust it straight through the man’s chest.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “You didn’t have to kill them, you know.”   Yokkun said, stepping over the body of the first guard. “We could have just knocked these guys out. We would’ve been long gone before they woke to sound the alarm.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Kazu looked at his brother, down at the dead bodies, then back up at his brother.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Now you tell me!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I thought you knew.”   Yokkun said, shrugging his shoulders

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Kazu ran his hand roughly through his hair.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Damn, now I feel bad!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “What? You feel bad about these two guys, but not about the 30 or so other people we killed on the way in here?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Kazu’s lower lip trembled as if he were about to cry.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I do now.”   He answered pathetically.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Oh please, give me a break already. Open the door. Let’s get this box and get the hell out of here!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Kazu tried the handle.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“I can’t open it.”   He said with a sniffle. “It’s locked.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Are you crying?!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “No! Maybe…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Move out of the way! Let me see if I can get it open.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Yokkun place his hand over the lock, but before he got the chance to open the door, a sweetly seductive voice shattered his concentration.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “No need for that boys. We’ve been expecting you.”