The Death Market *Obi x OC* (COMPLETE)

Heaven Knows

Song: Heaven Knows- The Pretty Reckless

By nightfall, Mitsuhide and I haven't made it even halfway through The Death Market. Some of the stalls are staying open, but I notice several already closing down. We could leave and return to the regular market until morning, but by then the access could change and it would be another process of repeating what I did to find the key and answer the riddle. That would be a waste of time. Mitsuhide asks what we're going to do and I tell him we will continue checking the open stalls and make note of the closed ones.

"If you're wanting to stay in the market overnight, you have to talk to The Miss. You're outsiders."

I glance back at a young girl with bright blonde hair. She'd look like any other ten year old, if it weren't for the intricate tattoos framing her eyes. That and the rather large sword strapped to her back.

"The Miss?"

"The leader of The Death Market."

"Where do I find The Miss?"

I follow the little girl's directions hesitantly but quickly find the path leading out of the market to the East and my eyes fall on a cottage nestled in the edge of a small patch of trees. That must be where we'll find The Miss. As I head toward the door, Mitsuhide stops me.

"Should we have weapons ready? Who is she anyway?"

"Be ready but do not have them drawn. It's not exactly respectful to enter a leader's home with weapons blazing. Who she is, I have no idea, but we're about to find out. We just need permission to stay overnight. By the end of tomorrow we will have gone through the entire market and we can get out of here."

As we approach the cottage, I notice two cloaked figures, much like the ones guarding the main entrance, leaning against the wall on either side of the door. I stop a few feet away with Mitsuhide beside me and the figures step forward.

"State your business."

"We've come to speak with The Miss concerning permission to stay in the market overnight."

I feel their eyes rake us over before we're instructed to surrender all weaponry and it would be returned after our meeting. I start to pull my weapons and drop them into a pile in front of me and I can hear him doing the same. After we're done, we're patted down before being led inside.

The cottage is dimly lit by dozens of candles and a small fire lit in the hearth on the far wall. The walls and tables are covered in different tapestries and brightly colored fabrics and patterns. My eyes lock onto a slight movement near the fireplace and notice a young woman stretched out on the couch with her back against one of the arms. In one hand, a book is propped open, in the other is a bottle of alcohol. Her golden eyes flick over to me and that same smirk from before graces her lips.

"Miss, you have visitors wishing to barter permission to stay within the market."

"Barter?" I hear Mitsuhide whisper and I elbow him and hiss at him to stay quiet.

In a fluid motion, the woman puts the book down on the table beside her and makes her way over to us. She stands only a few inches shorter than me but she still has the same demanding presence as I'd seen earlier. She crosses her arms over her chest and I notice her right eyebrow arch slightly as she looks us over. The two guards bow to her before moving aside to stand on either side of the exit. Mitsuhide and I bow lightly and an amused grin crosses her face.

"Nanaki and Hide... or is it Obi and Mitsuhide?" Her voice is almost hypnotically smooth with a slight accent I can't place, but her tone displays a hint of amusement.

"How did you know our names?" I ask, suppressing my surprise with an even tone and blank expression.

"What leader would I be if I did not know who was lurking around my domain, especially a man under the castle's employ?"

"Please allow us to stay within your borders for tonight so we can resume our search and leave as soon as we are able, Miss." I need to keep us on track here but I need to be respectful still.

"What is it you are looking for?"

"An object was stolen from the castle, he has been tasked with securing it's return."

"I do not permit castle employees within my borders. The man Mitsuhide must leave immediately or will face execution."

"And what of me, Miss?" I ask, choosing not to reveal that I am a castle worker as well.

She grins and steps closer to me.

"I know of you, Obi. Assassin, thief, bounty hunter... You disappeared from our world last year, have you... domesticated?"

"I could never." I smirk. "The pay for assisting the castle is too good to resist."

"You may stay in my market for tonight, Obi. Mitsuhide must be taken back to the main market. He can wait for you there." "I thank you for your kindness, Miss-" I prompt as I take her hand and kiss it.

"I am called Harlowe." As she lightly pulls her hand away and I straighten, her golden eyes meet mine, the slight light fading. "Take care Obi, Mitsuhide. There are many dangers in The Death Market beyond those who dwell within. If you violate my trust, you will have a war on your hands."

I can tell that we're dismissed when she returns to her couch and drains the rest of the bottle as she opens her book. It's as if we were never here.