Hark, Tis thunder and breeze!

Crashed Performance

The shogun? Here? today?

Kazuha paced back and forth along the wooden balcony of the Wangshu inn. It was nearly impossible for the shogun to be present today. The Sakoku Decree had only recently been abolished, it was highly unlikely for the Shogun to be visiting Liuye. Every step Kazuha took became louder and louder, he needed to act fast...for if he didn't...

Kazuha took a sharp inhale. Only a moment to collect his thoughts wouldn't ruin the moment now would it? He felt the last bits of calm wind coil around him, lifting his strands of hair about. Yes, only a moment wouldn't hurt the situation, but it was risky. His mind was trapped inside of a horrible twister. The possibilities were endless, something big or small could hit him in this twister, a single wrong step could lead to death. Kazuha rocked back and forth where he stood.

He couldn't stay like this any longer, it would be too late.

The show would be starting soon, he heard people whispering in excitement, he just had to get down there. He hurried himself quickly down the spiral wooden stairs. Any sense of nervousness could be caught b someone else, he needed to keep a low profile.

Hs heart beat faster as he made his way to the bottom floor, only slightly though. The lights began to dim. Kazuha looked around for any strange activity, though none was to be seen. He was closer though, he could feel the harbingers presence creep along his back as if they were spiders. 

Only a matter of time before they bite.

Kazuha scanned the room once more before heading backstage. If anything strange were to happen, it would be back there in the first place. No ominous villain finds trouble in the middle of a crowd, that would be stupid. The second he reached the tan colored curtains, a lady in a fine purple silk interrogated him. 

"do you have a pass?" she looked kasha up and down

"Ms. yun and I are friends." 

"oh wow, you're a confident one aren't you" the lady chuckled mockingly. Kazuha gave her a warm smile. "Well I should be registered on the guest list."

The lady shot him a confident look, "Lets see then" she held a hand to her mouth. Kazuha looked behind her but it was too dark to see anything at the moment. "what's your name" she demanded quickly. 

jingle jingle

Kazuhas eyes shifted to the sound immediately. It came from directly behind the woman. He stared blankly at it for a moment. The woman, confused, turned around to face the sound as well. "what are you....anyways, what's your name kid" she coughed

"Kaedehara Kazuha" He said, walking behind her swiftly. "Hey!" she called after him "you aren't on the list! Hey!" 

Kazuha was already out of sight. The woman sighed, "I don't get paid enough for this"

Kazuha maneuvered his way backstage, it was like a maze. Which way to turn, where was the sound coming from? There was no presence behind the sound, he might've just been hearing things. Kazuha learned to stick with his gut a long time ago though, so there was no way in stopping him.

jingle jingle

Left.

jingle jingle

right

Kazuha's footsteps became quieter as he went. He bumped into many vases, knocked over many trays of jewelry, but it didn't pause his movement by an inch.

jingle

Right

jingle

left

...

every single noise had stopped at once. Kazuha could only hear his own breath, not even the crowds of people could be heard. "concentrate" Kazuha lectured himself in his mind "concentrate"

something horrible stopped his thinking though. "Yunjin." he gasped softly. Kazuha automatically turned the other way. No this wasn't good, the stage set was large, and Yunjin would be on the other side, waiting for her signal to begin.  This wasn't good at all, she was in the very field of a possibly dangerous presence, Kazuha scolded himself for not identifying It before he entered. The second he heard a jingle, a harbingers presence disappeared, and it wasn't the North Star. No, it was the one he was dreadfully worried about, the one who's presence mirrored the Raiden Shoguns. No this wasn't good, how could he screw up like this.

Yunjin might be in danger, his friend might be in danger, and the culprit might be behind him at this very moment just waiting for Kazuha's misstep. He moved quickly with the heavy twister clawing at his back. It felt as if time was slowing itself down.

Finally, he made it to the dressing room, in the front of the backstage. He looked around for any sign of Yunjin but he couldn't find her. There were two doors on the right side of him. From his memory, Yunjin had told him that one of them held her costumes, while the other was an accessory room. It was likely she was in the accessory room, besides, Kazuha wouldn't want to unknowingly walk into a dressing room. Everybody knows how that shit goes down.

He turned the handle of the doorknob, it was cold to the tip. Nobody had been in there for hours, otherwise the knob would be warm. The accessory room was filled with countless amounts of golden things, from cultural headpieces to pins. He walked in between the two tall shelves full of golden objects, all color coded too.

"Yunjins manager color coded these things??"

He gazed in awe at the items, but kept silent. A presence wasn't hinted in here at all, not even a drop. 

jingle.

Kazuha's eyes widened. The sound, he thought he lost it back at the backstage entrance. Kazuha looked around for anything to hide in. Not that he was scared, he was just strategically thinking was all. If he could take the opponent by surprise, he would have a moment to escape. 

But what about Yunjin? She was still nowhere to be found.

Kazuha heard the door open.

He quickly hid behind a bin and matched his movement with the sound of the door opening.

jingle

Kazuha held his breath

jingle

A long moment of silence settled in the room, until broken by the sound something being placed on a makeup table.

"This is where it is? Surely Rex Lapis wouldn't be dumb enough to store it in this shack"

The shoguns presence. 

The voice Kazuha heard sounded like a males voice, a menacing one at that. A voice that would insult you to the core, it irritated Kazuha a bit.

He heard footsteps inch closer to "his bin"

The jingling had stopped now, but he could hear the show starting. Everyone was cheering and clapping, but it became faint to him, for he was trapped in a room with a possible shogun.

He heard the sound of shuffling, the person was looking for something. The harbinger was mumbling something Kazuha couldn't make out.

Suddenly, Kazuha felt the figure creeping up in front of him. The person was standing right in front of him.

Shit

Kazuha held his breath. He didn't dare move. The harbinger was practically reaching over him. no, now was Kazuhas perfect chance to strike, he had to. Yunjin's song began in the background.

Gathering all of his courage , Kazuha quickly drew his blade.

strike.

CLIFFHANGERRRR - I hope you enjoyed this little chapter even though it took longer than ep 8 of Helluva Boss... which still isn't out yet..

Anyways, tysm for reading! Next chapter will come out its just a surprise factor!