Quiet Night

"There she is!"

"Blast her! Don't let her get close to the boss!"

A last remaining toughs of a small battalion yelled slinging balls of fire and electrical storms of maximum pwnage to obliterate their current object of obsession while their protectorate cowarded in absolute fear behind them.

"You idiots! She's making you all look like fools! Protect me!"

He screamed as he had a clear view of his grim reaper skirting through the darkness filled alley, completely cloaked in black where the only thing that could be seen were a pair of piercing sapphire blue orbs. It was like an intricate ballet, the way she bounced from the walls to the fire escapes before flashing to the ground and ripping through the various youths with her bare hands and, as little effort as possible, before retreating back into the shadows.

"There's no one left."

Her voice was chilly and haunting, enough to get her target scurrying away and down the hallway, trying to escape his fate, but she was on him. Like an all encompassing black abyss she ensnared him in his horror and throttled him so no one could hear his screams, crushing his windpipe with the energy his battalion of weak bodyguards had charged her with. Then she dropped the body as the moon shined its light into the alley, unveiling Tama in her full battle gear covered in the blood of the guilty. She touched a hand to her face, smearing it across the left side of her face before looking up at the sky.

"Kon." Tama called, summoning her Chaomao to her side, the cute little bugger, "Send the message that the job is complete." She told it before turning to leave the alley, allowing the black and red to drain from her clothes and be replaced by pristine white and deep blue.

Another mission complete, on another quiet night.

No energy, no presence, incorporeal, a figure faded in and out standing atop a building that held significant to its on identity. He stared through the battered and bruised helmet on his head down into the inner city, street level, a particular alleyway, and, if the helmet wasn't in the way, he cracked a small smile. Pushing his cloak aside, revealing the high-tech, almost futuristic, hand cannon on his right thigh, he equipped himself and pointed at the alleyway.

Once the young Phantom was rescued from the darkness that nearly swallowed them whole, the Yojimbo left her there after his services were done. He had no other business with her nor anyone else. Though a Phantom, he was a lone operative that came and went as he so chose, protecting anyone he came across, yet following the orders of no single man but himself. His assistance was given as he saw fit, yet he remained faithful in his allegiance to those that bore the mask. The events within the Dusk were beginning to concern him more and more... First, with the rise in crime, then with the sudden consumption by the darkness... And now...

"... Hm?" He could smell the blood of many that has fallen in the Central City, for reason unknown to him that he would soon make clear. He had been walking in the shadows, out of the sight of everyone, as if in the corner of their eyes, only to find himself in an alleyway when the smell first hit his unnaturally sensitive nose. He scaled the wall quickly, hopping from each side of the two parallel each other in order to boost himself slightly upward, till all the way at the top of the building. This was the easiest way to move without causing any attention to himself. He followed the scent of blood until he peered over the edge of his building and saw the handiwork of an unknown assailant. His eyes narrowed.

He steady himself, steeled his resolved, and his power responded in kind. For a brief moment, there was a flex and then a flare of a huge amount of energy the likes of which could draw the attention of any and all with a refined ability to sense abnormalities of any kind. It was fleeting however, just as quickly as it had happened it was over and the consequence was already set into motion.

With the flex and flare a bullet left he chamber of the figure's hand cannon, traveling towards the mark in the alleyway with speed unimaginable for a normal bullet. There was massive amounts of kinetic energy that had propelled this bullet at a speed close to that of speed, and the figure was only testing the waters. He smiled again.

Lowering his hand, sheathing his weapon of mass destruction, the figure stood at the edge of the build, foot on the ledge arm resting on his knee. He watched keenly, observing what the woman of silver hair, who treated killing like a recreational activity, could do.

Tama wanted to go home, or where ever she was calling home nowadays. For all the money she made, she never saw any of it. Nothing she did was ever for herself, and yet it was always for herself. Tama was fine with any old hole in the wall that would take her in. In most cases, any place would since she had a cute face and preferred to be seen rather than heard. No one dared touch her, her killing intent when provoked was probably the most dangerous thing about her.

Then she felt it, like a disturbance in her very genetic makeup. A flux of unimaginable power that brought her physical pain from being able to sense, which was really saying something. She turned, but before she could get a read on whatever it was shed sensed there was a bullet basically already at her forehead. Normally she would have allowed it to strike, and absorbed the kinetic energy behind it, but this time she was forced to dodge, flashing out of range with her speed that bordered on being teleportation.

"I... I almost died." She whispered breathlessly to herself before taking off for a run. She wasn't known to flee, but Tama knew when a strategic retreat was in order. Whatever had just tried to shoot her, could have.

Remaining ever observant, the man garbed in a pitch black kimono that almost looked to be the wings of a bird wrapped 'round his bod would bear witness from the shadows the assault at the assailant from one unknown, his keen, unusually perceptive eyes only finding him when the fluctuation of power was released within the vicinity. He was nearby on a building that was in clear view of the alleyway below that the silver haired woman seemed to be attempting to flee the scene into; the one that she almost ran into the Yojimbo in. With his eyes now fixed on this strange figure, yet his ears and nose very much still affixed on the fleeing woman, he would, in a trail of black feathers, make his way swiftly and silently to the edge of the other building where the marksman stood.

"... Is that your game...?" he muttered lowly, voice just as stern and mystic as it could be, "... Or, do you seek her for the reason she is soaked in the stench of blood?" His form was barely visible under the darkness of the atmosphere as well as his black robe. His hands were barely visible, if at all, for the long sleeves of his robe covered them and blended with the overall flowing of his garb. The only distinct feature was the mask that protruded outward, like that of a Crow. One could easily call this feathered creature a Tengu, if they knew of its lore.

The incorporeal figure didn't turn his head, keeping the majority of his attention locked on the actions of the silver haired woman with eyes of sapphire blue as she fled. He assessed her, observing and picking her apart on a subatomic level before putting her back together, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and mystically. From what he could gather as he heard the faint sound of his bullet hitting the ground without doing any damage to the wall it would have struck, she could have taken that hit and survived unscathed. In fact, she'd absorbed the energy from the bullet as soon as she'd made the choice to dodge and flew.

"It is the job of a parent, to observe and nurture their children." The sound didn't come from the figure, but from the various angles around the gentleman that had joined it on this particular rooftop; the rooftop of the old headquarters of the very first Banshoukage. It wasn't well managed anymore, rundown and empty save for homeless when the figure could feel moving around inside.

He rose to a more upright position, unsheathing his killing tool again and taking aim once more at the fleeing girl, scared for her life as her target had been just moments ago. Where had her conviction gone? Where was that killer who danced and orchestrated her assassination like a delicate ballet?

Massive energy surge again before vanishing as the figure pulled the trigger again.

She felt it again, agonizing pain that made her trip and stumble over herself as she felt the approaching of her end, a cold chill at her neck and the embrace of death come to whisk her away as his new prize. She fell forward, catching sight of another bullet aimed perfectly for where her head would have been if she hadn't caught herself and flipped forward over it. She panted frantically. This wasn't a strategic retreat anymore, she was actually running away.

This overwhelming sense of dread was a feeling she'd long since forgotten. She'd only ever felt this scared once and that was on the night she was abandoned at the doorstep of the broken home orphanage. She couldn't remember the name or the face of the person who'd dropped her there, and she wouldn't know the name or the face of this assailant either. She just wanted to live and go home.

The crow-like man remained unfazed by the sudden speech from all about him, seeming to stem from the man with the hi-tech weapon and powerful aura. For some reason, his words reached the Yojimbo's heart... Yet, not in the manner in which he may have thought.

"... You call yourself a parent," he muttered, lowering his head, yet strengthening his conviction, "... Yet, you nurture your child like a savage." It was clear in his voice that he was not at all pleased with how this person treated his daughter... It seemed to trigger something of personal reminiscent value to the strange, shadowy man. "In my presence, I will not have such blatant lack of love for one's children." From the depths of the black feathers adorned about his body, a shining black blade with a beautiful, glowing crimson edge slipped from the shadows and into clear view. The long, large flowing sleeves covering it made it look as though the sword were his hand... Though, to a true swordsman, that was the truth of the matter when wielding any edge.

"I love her, more than you know." The figure's voices said again as he sheathed his pistol again and turned his head to look at the man who had joined him on this night. There was no need for a fight, at least the figure would not fight. His power was beyond this, so far that another version of him hand appeared in the alley for the woman to run into the arms of.

The figure on the roof, rose his hand and pointed towards the alleyway, any expression on his face shielded by the battered and old helmet he wore. It was clear he'd been through stuff, seen things, and rose above it all. There was an air about him, the way that he stood and how he held his head showed he wasn't an evil person. He could not be, or his power would leave him.

"Didn't you see? She is strong, she lacks the confidence necessary to use her true power consciously. She was never in any real danger."

Frantic, she felt like she wasn't moving fast enough. She didn't feel that sense of pain shook her very being, but before she could think she'd run into someone. They had a firm body that didn't budge even with her moving at full speed when she rammed into them.

She immediately retreated, pushing away from the body and landing on the floor. "W-who are you!?" She screamed, not able to see any facial expressions because of the mask the figure was wearing. She didn't sense any ill will in it. She couldn't sense anything at all from it and that scared her the most.

The Yojimbo fell silent as his gaze was taken over to the girl, where another image of the already apparitious figure appeared again like a haunt, this time bringing the young woman into his arms. The blade was lowered to the side of the dark figure, until it seemed to have blended with his attire entirely. "... You are teaching her, then." He was aware that this was how many sought to teach their children that harbored the great powers he'd witnessed in times past... And he wouldn't have put it past this strange one to do something similar. With it, the Dividing Enigma could rest easy.

"... There is blood on her," he had to mention, "As well as the smell of bloodshed." Any seasoned warrior who knew the battlefield could tell immediately what the field of the slain smelled of. "... Is she a fugitive of some sort? Or perhaps, she's fallen into criminal activity?" He was not certain of what the scenario was nor the relation between them. The two of them were rather suspicious, but that didn't go to say that most things in the Dusk weren't. Nigh everything was done in the shadows, and most came up only to mingle with each other before returning to their rat holes and hide outs in the vast technological city of darkness. He never liked this place; much too much of a spectacle for his liking. Yet, it was not time for him to make his way home just yet.

"... What is your purpose here?" he couldn't help but to ask. He was skeptical about this man, yet also curious to he and his intent. There was a sense of familiarity about his stature, though the lack of presence denied the Yojimbo such understanding as to how. Such is what common inquisition is for... Yet, he remained ready for whatever could occur.

"Have you not realized it?" This time, the voice came from the mouth behind the mask before he reached his hand up and placed it to the face plate. He pulled up and removed the helmet to reveal his silvery hair and the piercing blue eyes he shared with the girl below. It had been many years since he had stepped upon the surface of this place, but it was a necessity.

The face that revealed itself to the man on the roof would show a smile as he held his helmet carefully under his arm. "She's an assassin, for good." He felt he needed to add that qualifier. Even off world he had been watching her intently. She was his most favorite, even if he hadn't been able to gift her with the extravagance in which her brother relished in.


The figure stepped forward, towards the downed woman, and knelt to offer her a hand. "Do you trust me, Tama Tamura, the Vanishing Storm, user of energy manipulation and Daughter of the Assassin?"

"H-huh?" Tama was still short of breath, on edge and afraid. The ruthless, cold blooded killer had been reduced to nothing more than a frightened child and if she wasn't as old as she was, she probably would have started crying already.

Tama wasn't sure how this man knew who she was, and with such minute details being completely correct. For some reason, despite her usually hang ups about people knowing so much about her, she trusted this figure who spoke kindly and offered his hand. She could tell it was a man, by how broad his shoulders were and his voice, and she could tell he didn't mean her any harm at all. He felt... familiar.

She took his hand, placing hers delicately into his armor covered and rose to her feet.

The crow-like figure beckoned closer to the man, cautiously, yet resolutely. He would gaze closer at his face, finding some of his features to be rather distinctly familiar, yet somehow unknown to him, at the same time. "... You seem... Remarkably familiar..." Yet, he knew that the true sense of this came from the woman he called his 'daughter,' where he felt this nostalgia more thoroughly.

He hadn't been answered on such an inquiry to his purpose, but perhaps it was to be left to the shadows. Neither one seemed to know much about each other, yet wished to leave as much as possible in the dark. For the Yojimbo, however... His only thought was as a protector. A Bodyguard to whomever at whatever time he crossed their path, as he had always done since he lost his own life many years ago and sought to piece it back together. It came naturally to him with his strong sense of morality, even if slightly traditional and not conventional. Could be the reason why he'd be running around the technological city with what seemed only a sword and a mask, wherein others may have been equipped with more hi-tech machinery and techniques as the man who no longer donned the helmet over his head. The Yojimbo wished he had such a luxury as to expose his face to others so readily, like he used to.

The figure left it at that, it was for the best, as he donned his helmet once more and turned his head to face towards where his daughter met her father for the first time in the 22 years of life she had lived. Her brother was far, far older, but he was created before the figured had gain this power he now possessed. It was probably wrong, but he and his partner at the time thought it best if their daughter grew up without them. He couldn't interfere with them, too much, but he could prepare his favor for the coming day she met her disappointment of a brother.

"You may have known me in another life, in another reality, a different universe. I'm just a forgotten hero, lost to the cosmos here. I want to prepare her for the meeting of her blood, she isn't ready to meet her greatest opponent."


The figure took hold of Tama's hand more firmly than she probably would have allowed, and pulled her into him again, an embrace between strangers, or something more. He relished in it, holding her as firmly as he could, knowing she wouldn't break no matter the pressure he applied. Under the mask, he could have begun tearing up. Being able to hold her meant more to him than she could ever know. She would probably hate him once he revealed his face to her.

"My flesh and blood, you've grown into a remarkable woman." He said loosening his grip as he began to feel her pulling away.

Tama's eyes widened in surprise as this figure embraced her for with an uncomfortable amount of pressure, for an unthinkable amount of time. She wasn't against physical interaction, though she had never experience anything besides acts of aggressive nor had she ever allowed a man/woman to take her, but this made her completely uneasy. Yet it was a bit soothing, she could feel his caring aura, and it made her previous feelings of fear melt away. She pulled away from him anyway.

"What are you talking about, I have no kin." She said flat out. Tama was an orphan, always had been and planned to always be so. When she came of a respectable age, the order removed her from the orphanage and began her training in the ways of the assassin. She hated it there and once she'd gotten skilled enough, which only took a year or so, she killed the masters and freed the other children. She was unmatched in terms of her battle prowess and learning potential and she figured it was because she was an emotionless sociopath.

"Perhaps," he said, questioning what this man knew about the alternate realms in his tone, "... Yet those things are meaningless here." That much, he knew. This world was different from the one prior, and quite possibly many others out there. He was quite content with it as it was, even if this specific section of it was not his fancy. "... This presence, as well as her features..." he began, eyeing her more carefully, "... Remind me of someone I called 'Son.'" This sentiment may not have had any meaning to the strange man, but the Yojimbo was naturally the type to speak his peace when he felt it settled in his head and his heart.

The feeling overtook him at that moment, inclining him to ask, "... May I meet with her? Your daughter?" Certainly, this may not have been the time, considering that she'd not only just been shot at and startled but also fell into a reunion with her parent of whom it seemed she was not quite aware of, from the startled and stunned look on her face. Yet, he figured it didn't hurt to ask.

If the figure hadn't have put his helmet back on when he did, then the man that was sharing the roof top with him probably would have noticed the smirk he had on his face, as well as the quiet chuckle that escaped his lips. Luckily the helmet was sound proof when he needed it to be, which was why when he spoke it came out like voices coming from all directions around a person instead of from him. He was manipulating space and to make it seem that way.

"I wouldn't mind if you did, she probably would. She's not keen on authority figures." The figure had seen it, he'd seen her entire life from the moment she was left at the orphanage to when she killed the masters that taught her the way of the assassin a little too well and to now. He'd also seen her future and that was why he'd come down from the cosmos to help her grow into the role she would need to fulfill. She would meet her end if he hadn't.

"Of course you don't, of course." The figure said as to Tama as he reached to remove his helmet and reveal his face to her. She never knew him, had never met him, but now he wanted to rectify that. He'd given her brother everything and he was the worst kind of person. He'd given her nothing and she was everything he could have ever hoped for in a daughter.

He placed a hand to his silvery white hair and rubbed out all the helmet hair that he had before opening his piercing sapphire blue eyes and looking into hers while holding his helmet under his arm. He tried to give her a smile, but it was hard enough for the legendary cosmic-level hero to hold in the emotion. It started to drizzle just from that alone.

Tama breathed a sigh of relief that this figure had understood what she was saying. She'd never met her parents and assumed them dead, and she was happy with that knowledge. It didn't stop her from wondering about them, and what they were like, if she was making them proud or if she was tarnishing their legacy. No one seemed to recognize her at all, unless they knew her reputation, so she figured her parents were a couple of nobodies. Even still, they would have been her nobodies.

"Right so who...." She was interrupted by the man beginning to pull of his helmet, revealing hair that resembled hers so keenly it was almost like she was staring at her own, and eyes of sapphire that dwarf hers in how deep and blue they looked, but the resemblance was there. "You... you can't be..." She took a couple steps as if she couldn't believe what was right in front of her. This figure wasn't corporeal, so this could be a fear induced hallucination, but his hand and his embrace had felt so real to her, like he was really here. She could feel herself beginning to tear up and, before she could realize it herself, she was already jumping into his arms.

"Papa!!"

The Yojimbo continued to gaze on at the heart-warming reunion, only to think of his own daughter in his embrace again. He couldn't help but be moved; things like this had a greater weight on his heart than anything, since he regarded family and love just as highly as morality and tradition. He moaned contentedly at the peace, nodding his head.

"... I am happy for you," he finally said, "... The both of you. For reuniting." He'd leave his own personal sentiments out of the equation, this time. "... Perhaps it is best if I leave you two to your familial bonding." He adjusted his garments, turning away from him, "... I needn't intrude. I came here only to protect once I sensed the disturbance." He had no place in this world beyond that anymore. "I wish you two the best. I hope to see at least one of you again."

The figure nodded his head, but turned around towards the man. "Wait, can I ask a favor of you?" Unfortunately, Aeragon's time on this world was finite until he could build up the energy to create a physical form and descend again. For now, he really was just a part of the cosmos and was expending energy by coming here incorporeal. He wanted to ask this man if he could look over Tama in his stead, at least for a little while until he could complete his cosmic tasks. He would return as fast as he could.


The figure smiled now, wrapping his arms back around Tama and stroking her head lovingly as he had always wanted to do to her as he watched her struggle through hardships at such a young age. She didn't know it, but he would dip his hand into her affairs every now and then, give her mysterious gifts on her birthdays and such, but he could never show himself until now. The universe was a large place and it always needed him.

"I missed you so much, Tama. I'm sorry I couldn't meet you until now." He really was, as he buried her deeper into himself for as long as she wanted to hold on. It couldn't be forever though.

"I thought... I thought I was all alone." Tama whispered into her father's chest, rubbing her face in it to wipe away her tears and make sure he was really real. Though he faded in and out of existence, there was a tangible body here, or he was making himself tangible. Tama didn't care about and semantics, she only cared that she was able to meet at least one of her parents.

She withdraw herself, reluctantly so, and wiped her face before trying to get back to her cool and collected persona. "Why are you back? where did you go? Why couldn't you meet me? Were you shooting at me? Where's mom? Do I have a mom? Is she coming too? Are you staying?" She could continue and she was fully prepared to do so.

He stopped for a moment at the call of the incorporeal figure, turning to meet his eye as he was called; slowly, but curiously. "... I seek nothing but to help those in need," he said rather matter-of-fact, clearly knowing his will and purpose in this world, "... As long as the need is not wicked." Taking on the title of 'The Yojimbo' meant a life of servitude, so to speak... Nay, not 'Servitude,' but 'Commitment.' He did not need to serve anyone, but was committed an dedicated to helping those that needed his protection. His Devotion to the World based on his Decision alone. The difference between what makes one a slave to helping others... And a master of it. He waited for the man's request to be made clear and straight forward, so that he may decide whether to accept or reject.

"I ask you to look after her, at least for as long as you can, or want to. It's unfortunate, but I can't be here forever." The figure said with an audibly deep sigh. There was so much that he needed to do, so much that he wanted to teach her and catch her up to speed with, but he just couldn't sustain being down here long enough for all of that.

The man chuckled awkwardly, scratching his cheek as a bead of sweat dropped from his forehead. He expecting questions, just not so many at one point in time. He supposed she had inherited exactly what he had intended for her to; the Tamura bloodline and their overpowering curiosity. he remembered when he went by that last name, but it was more 25,000 years ago. Way before before her brother was born.

"In order: To train you, To space, Reasons, Yes, Spaaace, Yes, I can't answer that, and unfortunately, no." He tried answering her questions as fast as she had asked them, but he was much more a mellow type than she was. The questions about her mother made things a little awkward since he hadn't seen or spoken to her mother in a while. They were still, technically, engaged to one another, but time had caused them to drift apart. The feeling to see other people was mutual as well.

The figured placed his hand to her head. "Look, we'll have time to all those questions later, but there's something more important that I need to tell you before my time is up."