Chapter 1: The red figure
Swish!
A red figure flashed among a group of burly men, the face barely discernible at how fast it passed at them. The group immediately halted to a stop and vigilantly observe the quiet surroundings.
"Who's there?" Black, the leader of the Black wolves shouted.
"Heh," A small laugh emerged from a nearby tree and all the Black wolves unsheathed their swords. "Long time no see, Black. Don't tell me you don't remember me?"
Black furrowed his eyebrows. The seductive voice seems familiar, however, he cannot pinpoint when and where he heard that voice of a girl.
"Who are you? Show yourself!"
"But I'm afraid you'll piss your pants once you see me."
Hearing her arrogant words the group darken their faces. Just a mere girl and she has the audacity to look down on them. Just who the hell is so gutsy to court death in this manner?
Does she want to die that badly?
"D*mn! Show yourself and I'm gonna hack you to a hundred pieces!" Black signaled his group, and they all surrounded the tree.
Swords drawn, they stared at the lone girl standing at one of the branches. The wide sleeve of her dress fluttering with the wind, yet no matter how hard they look the face is still hidden in the shadows.
"Kill her!" One of them jumped, his sword stabbing directly at the girl as he set his foot at the branch.
As the tip of the sword was about to hit her abdomen, the young man suddenly trembled at the sight of her bloodthirsty smile, it was akin to a demon—ready to play him to death.
Silence followed.
No one uttered a word while droplets of blood eerily fell from the tree.
"Ha! Seems the girl is dead!"
"Come down here now, young Gu! That girl is finished!"
"Maybe we can play with the body for a while!"
The group laughed loudly, all of them rejoicing at the demise of the girl in red, yet no matter how many times they call for the young man above them, he remained quiet and unmoving.
Black signaled everyone to stop. They called young Gu again but even a small whimper was unheard.
"Hey! Young Gu! If you want the vixen so badly we can bring her body with us!"
Black snickered and he was about to take a good look at the tree when something unexpected happened. A body fell down but instead of a woman, what lies before them was the unmoving body of young Gu. His own sword stabbed directly at his throat.
Fear enveloped them. It seems like the young man did not even has the chance to retaliate before he died. What happened was too fast.
"Oh." The girl muttered, her voice laced with natural arrogance. "He died so fast?"
"F*ck! Get down here, you vixen! I'm gonna show you what hell looks like!"
The leaves trembled when the girl moved from her spot. Her red kimono fluttering like a butterfly when she suddenly landed in front of them.
Moonlight illuminated her figure, the kitsune mask hiding half of her face and only showing the fox-liked pair of eyes as well as the reddish lips.
She smiled at the Black Wolves— not a friendly one though— it was a bloodthirsty smile that even the brute leader can't help but shiver in fright.
"P-prime..." Black stuttered. "W-what do you want from us?! I don't remember offending your gang!"
Who doesn't know her? Judging from the mask and the viciousness that lay behind her eyes, no man would hesitate to run away as fast as possible.
Prime is the leader of Kitsune gang and their notorious deeds have travelled far and wide. Everyone knows that she kills without batting an eyelid while wearing that signature smile on her face. Even her gang is as bloodthirsty and wicked as her.
Prime curled up her red lips. "Being a member of the Oni is already a big offense to us."
"Heh, do you think you can take down the Oni?" Black pointed his sword at her, regaining his initial attitude. "If you dare to hurt me I swear that the Oni will hunt you down and you will never know how you died."
"Is that so?"
Footsteps emerged from behind them and before they knew it, the eight other members of Kitsune gang has already surrounded them. Their black fox mask hiding their faces.
The Black Wolves stared at them vigilantly, the grip on their swords or daggers tightening. If they knew that they will encounter the Kitsune gang tonight then they could have changed their plans of attacking a small village at the suburb of Edo city.
But it was too late now, they can only fight back.