~Ashes to ashes~ [Maki]

[Kitana]

“Only a few find the way, some don't recognize it
when they do - some... don't ever want to.”
― The Cheshire Cat

(OOC: Attire and important jewelry worn... Iron Sais... A black broken arrow with the tip covered in cloth rests on her right hip.  I have also agreed that though originally Maki's mask is a half mask that in this thread for purposes his mask is a full one. PM if you might interested.)

.::The Cheshire Cat::.

.::The alias most used by the woman known by few as Kitana. An alias known well enough through the rumor mill. Dawning the mask she became for the most part a different person. She embodied the playful cunning nature. Toying with her prey like they were a simple ball of yarn unraveling each string. Feeding on their fear. Making them mad if and when possible. The mind was a fragile thing when the right buttons were pushed. A little hallucinogen didn't hurt to help the process. But with it all she was ruthless when she needed to be to her prey. Tonight was no different for Cheshire. She stalked her deader like a creature of the night. What was a deader you might ask? Hayato Okita; her mentor; coined this term within his field. She, just like he, did not have targets for once a contract was taken the rest of their short lives was a mere formality. A deader was already a limp body. Through the streets a man ran, colliding with folk and knocking over the occasional cart.  He stumbled and fumbled, breathing heavily if not completely hysterical. Onlookers stared at him like he was a mad man, moving out his way if they could. They saw nothing, no one chasing. Oh tsk tsk if only they looked to the roof tops to find the figure that used the cover of the lack of moonlight as a shaded cover, coupled with the people's oblivious nature, to run across the rooftops in pursuit. Though it wasn't truly a chase but a mere game of cat and mouse. He was allowed to run. Allowed to think he had gotten away and with him darting down an ally of sorts he surely had that feeling. His heart still raced but even then so he falsely held onto some kind of hope that he truly had escaped Cheshire. Did the mouse really believe he had outwitted the cat? Not this feline, good sir. He peeked his head out to see if she followed, too bad he didn't bother looking up at the horizontal pole that was a just above his current position. Cheshire balanced herself well like a cat, perched in a low crotch watching him. Watching how he tried to succomb to a feeling of easiness::.

"It amazes me how quickly you can slip into a delusion that you alluded me."

.::She spoke as she had slipped down. The man had no chance to react as one of her sais was plunged deep into his abdomen. There was nothing but the sound of gurgling gasp as she pulled it out stopping back to let him fall onto the ground. She stared down at him through her mask ever so coldly. Bending down she used his sleeve to wipe his blood off her sai. Twirling both of them she resheathed them and headed out the other way of the ally taking the way behind everything where no one truly was. She wasn't too far out of the town before she picked up on some loud commotion. It was so sudden, like a blitz attack. She snapped her head in the direction but didn't bother to make a move. Though it seemed like some group of bandits had stormed into this village with heavy intent on taking it over by force if need be, she saw it not to be her problem. She did what she came to do. She could hear the shouting from both ends. The leader from what she could tell from her distance was declaring his stake on the village. Still the woman wrestled with herself behind the mask. Her hands flexed open and shut. It wasn't her problem. Someone decided to blindly if not foolishly step up to deny the leader what he wanted. Naturally that didn't sit well and he turned his attention to the orphanage near him. Meanwhile thoughts danced in Kitana's mind. Her hometown was subjected to a hostile take by a group of bandits, who had no intention of even keeping the village. They just wanted to take and destroy. It started a slew of events in her life that she could not take back. But still maybe they should be strong enough to defend themselves. Her back turned away as she was almost ready to make the decision to walk away till the man set fire to the orphanage. Kids still presently inside. She heard the cries of the town folk as well as the screams of the children. Again she snapped around with widened eyes hiding behind that Cheshire mask. Anything involving children struck a strong cord within her soul::.

~Cowards.~

.::She growled within her mind as the decision was now made. Unsheathing her sais she found herself running back into the village as they started to attack and set ablaze to the rest of the homes and establishments. Her main concern and goal was getting those kids out, but first she would have to take down a few to get there. Some villagers that were capable of fighting tried hard to face off against the slightly more well equipped bandits. The group wasn't that big but enough for those untrained to deal with. Rushing back in she attacked two that were distracted, dropping them quickly and moving on. She had no intention of fully stopping her motion. Her movements were fluid like water. Flowing from one thing to the next with violent grace::.

[Kuroshi Maki]

It has been some time now, I had left the faction I once fought for. Having a high rank, yet it did make me have to bend to rules. These rules would not make me be able to do what I needed to do, once I found out my purpose and a way to redeem that what I did. I had left that faction for that purpose and even had left the woman of my life. I had moved into the Forrest near the Oda lands. There I held my base and created a group, this group was called ´The Grey Dawn´ The Dawn stands for the time that would come, meaning there will always will be a new day.. The grey stands for the road to come. I would help those in need, those that are being bullied because there weak or those that are to poor to even buy food. I have seen and felt that pain. It´s time someone truly stands up for them. I would kill for them and steal for them all so they can have a better life. Yet I will not be a Hero and stand there as myself as I no longer will be just a single man.

(Outfit, Instead of one Katana Maki will be wearing two, also the mask will be on his face instead of his belt} (Mask from Siggy)

After I had become the man I had been aiming for I checked for rumors on were to start. I had heard rumors of a Bandit leader going power hungry. Raiding villages and stealing all to become rich's, after he would burn that village down all to move to the next. I heard he would raid a village to the North of here this very night. Standing in my base I would put on the outfit for the first time and become a silent Guardian. Putting on the clothes I would cover half my face as well before placing the dog like mask onto my face. Two Katana's were laying in front of me on the desk and I would place them upon my back in a X shape. A red scarf would be placed around my neck. Checking myself in the mirror, I was ready to do this.

" I will make you proud Mother! "

Tracking the village as I was underway, yet it seems I was already to late. Smoke was rising up from over the tree line. As I dubbled my speed and came from the tree line I could see the village burning. ' Damn I was to late already' Staying in the dark I would come closer to the village and I could hear screaming, pain and suffer was being caused. Yet it seems the villagers were still fighting back. My eyes would stay cold yet focused behind the mask. It was time to show if I was really up for this, was I really able to stand up for them. As I had reached the edge of the village remaining in the dark i would see two bandits try to rape a woman, as they dragged her on the street ripping her Kimono apart. There sick laugh and lust would anger me. Both hands would reach for the handle of a Katana upon my back. Sliding the blades out and in front of me while walking up on them. Being to busy trying to please them self they didn't notice me standing behind them. Both blades would then stick out of there mouths as the woman would scream blood sliding down. Pulling the blades back the bodies would fall. The woman would look up and see a warrior dressed in Grey wearing a Dog like mask.

" Go hide! "

As she would make her way somewhere safe I would rush in further until I noticed another warrior wearing a mask, she took out some more bandits making her way to screaming children inside a building nearby. Wasn't I the only one that had this Idea? Not just walking up at the woman wearing a mask, I would stay in the dark holding blades at hand. But at this point more bandits came at the woman for attacking there own. But before they would come anywhere near her I would slide from the shadows, scarf dancing in the air and hair moving from one side to another, I would stand between her and the two other bandits.

" You will not harm anyone anymore! Make peace with yourself as it will be you're last!"

As the two would charge I would dash forwards using speed and stayed low, both blades at the side I would duck under their strikes slashing there stomachs, as there guts would slide out they would drop near the woman. As she would look at my back and the blades dripping blood.