Shadow Hearts

 A slim form swiftly swung the blade in her hand at her side to clean it from the blood from the other ninjas. Their bodies lay, broken, under a cherry blossom tree standing tall as if guarding them, stretching its limbs to the skies. She took out a small pouch, its scarlet colour matching the liquid dying the ground red, and sprinkled a fistful of a golden powder onto the bodies, watching in disgust as they began to rot and go back to the earth. She walked away when she was sure that nothing was left of those men, the sakura tree being the only silent witness to the bloody massacre.

She, Tsuki, a young girl barely 18 years old, was the Head Ninja guarding the Young Master of the Yukimura Household, a centuries-long and noble family. She was a strong kunoichi leading those deadly shadows to take care of anyone daring enough to pose a threat to the family they had swore allegiance to and protected them hidden from sight.

After she returned to the Yukimura Courtyard, she immediately went to report her clean-up mission. She silently fell through a small hole on the ceiling and kneeled behind a large form wiping a katana. He didn't move nor show any sign of knowing she was there but the girl knew he had sensed her.

"How was it ?" A rich baritone asked her, the voice carrying a slight hint of relief. Her gaze softened at his tone, knowing full well how a much of a Tsundere her master was.

"They were all taken care of, Master." Her reply however was cold, as she steeled her heart. He could never know what her feelings for him were or he would not let her be by his side anymore.

He nodded, his obsidian dark hair fluttering in the soft wind that had entered through a gap in the window. Her eyes settled on the man's firm back before she bowed and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Half the time it takes an incense stick to burn later, Tsuki appeared behind another man, this one middle-aged and already having numerous white hair growing in his black crown. He turned around at the sound of an obvious 'Thump' on the ground, his eyes filled with unhidden hope. She bowed, her back round and flexible.

"I've come about your offer on serving your family instead of the Yukimuras." Her voice cold, her eyes devoid of feelings, she seemed just like one of those ghosts that haunted houses or streets at the search of long-forgotten lives.

"Ah, yes. Let's hear your reply then. You do know that our Mizuano Family can give you much more than what the Yukimuras could ever give. Choose wisely, young girl." He looked at her, his gaze calm and gentle.

She was going to voice out her thoughts when the sliding paper door was bursted open with a loud 'Bang'. Instinctively, she crouched low and surveyed the enemy, her hands already at her weapons strapped on her body. She suddenly froze when the form among the debris of wood turned familiar to reveal her beloved Young Master. His booming voice echoed in the silent household and his words completely numbed her mind, her heart aching in her chest. She hadn't even heard him come !

"I allow you to go them. I know you were going to refuse just because of your loyalty to us. To me. That's why I hereby relieve you of your duties as the Head Ninja of the Yukimura House. I don't need you anymore !" Blood drained from her face and despair hung heavily in her eyes. She however kowtowed and replied in a controlled voice, hiding with difficulty the turmoil of emotions inside.

"Yes, Master." He nodded with a strange glint in his eyes, his thoughts the opposite of his cold demeanour. He didn't want to let her go, but she had been strapped to him since they met 13 years ago and he wanted her to at least be able to make a choice in her life. The moment he had heard them talking, he had felt his heart clench in pain at the thought of having to let her go, but he was determined to not make her live a life without choices.