Initiation to Shadow Heart [SH-D]

[Fayte Scarlett]

The rain increased its strength. Yet Fayte continued her pace as if nothing had changed. Finally they arrived at a seedy looking house in a run-down slum of Hosenka. Not all of Shadow Heart's operation bases were in such locations... but this was one of the lower points of contact; one that Fayte thought would be safe to take him to. If she took him into the main base at Crocus... he would likely be killed before they got more than a few steps inside.

Fayte stepped inside a small enclave, a few feet from the house. "...Wait here," she ordered him. When she was certain that he wouldn't move, Fayte entered the house alone. She met with one of the mission suppliers, a middle-aged woman by the name of Yami. Thankfully Yami was able to offer Fayte more insight on how to deal with their hopeful initiate.

Fayte returned outside, finding Toma exactly where she left him. “My family would first have you complete a task before you are allowed to join,” she explained to him. “In Hosenka, there is a wizard by the name of Satoshi Oshiro. His will was weak when he joined, and he now seeks to abandon us. As I said earlier, membership is for life. Satoshi should be in Hosenka – your task is to find and kill him.”

A recent initiate hunted down by the upcoming talent. Yami had thought the irony would inspire Fayte's charge to stay in the guild, at least longer than Satoshi. “As for me, I will accompany you and deal with any... complications. Anything such as information-gathering, fighting any of Satoshi's friends, should they be there, or other issues... I will aid you in this. However, you will handle Satoshi himself. He is a novice wizard, and should be relatively weak.” If Toma couldn't even handle a single rogue novice wizard, he would never last in Shadow Heart anyway. Even if Toma couldn't use magic, others could, and he'd need to know how to deal with them.

Fayte handed to him a small envelope, one which provided a description of Satoshi and places he liked to frequent. There was also a small picture of him, ensuring that they would know who their target was. And Fayte had not entirely explained her presence there in complete truth. She was there to help him, sure, but that was not her primary function. She was to kill Toma if he decided to have any regrets or last-minute thoughts. Death and killing was practically a common day occurrence in Shadow Heart. If he couldn't stomach killing, he wasn't the right fit for Shadow Heart. For now, though, she'd let him take the lead on how to handle the mission, and provide whatever support he needed.

[Toma Hawke]

With the rain coming down harder, Toma was feeling it. Possibly more than Fayte. What with his skintight clothes. But such was life, and he would bear with it. It's not like it hurt, so it obviously wasn't going to slow him down or stop him. So he followed along after Fayte quietly, letting his mind wander. It was dark out, and since evening was well under way it was getting darker. He didn't quite like the dark at the moment. It reminded him of how lost he felt, even if he had some direction now.

When he was asked to stay outside he merely nodded and leaned on one of the beams supporting the overhang he was left under. He wasn't a member quite yet... at least he didn't think so. An organization this secretive wouldn't be that easy to get into, would it? No, probably not. Fayte was probably conversing with another member, setting things up for his entrance into this shadowy guild.

When she returned, it was with a test. That made a lot more sense with the whole secrecy thing. And to an extent he'd expected a test. What he didn't expect was the kind of test they wanted him to take. And to make matters worse he was already in too deep to say no. He'd never killed before... hurting someone else was something he was normally against. He didn't like fighting... But he needed to find Astra.

So he listened intently to what Fayte had to say. She would help him find the target, but he had to be the one to dispense the shadowy 'justice' that needed handing out. He supposed it was fair, after all every action had a consequence... good or bad. And it was fair, since Toma himself would face the same consequences as far as he could tell.

"So I just have to... kill him?" Toma was hesitant to say the word. That's how much he didn't like it. Even with that though, he didn't hesitate to take the envelope. Opening it, a picture slipped out and into his hand. The face staring back was, in a sense, similar to his own. Innocent but tainted with a certain darkness. Unlike Fayte however, it hadn't really managed to take a firm hold.

"...Well, we both made our choices," Toma said before Fayte could say anything to his previous question. He was scanning through the written information as he turned. "There's nothing left but to see it through. Do you mind if I make a quick stop at my house? I don't usually travel in town with my sword. ...I should probably start doing that now..."

[Fayte Scarlett]

Fayte stared silently at Toma when he seemed to hesitate. If he couldn't even form the resolution now, Fayte would be forced to kill him much sooner than she anticipated. Her initial reason for asking him to join Shadow Heart... wasn't because she hoped he would fail. Fayte wanted him to pass this test, to survive on and become useful to Shadow Heart. And there was so much more involved than 'just killing' the target. Fayte was there to help, but Toma would still be facing a desperate mage. Satoshi would likely suspect an encounter with shadowy operatives, and desperate wizards could do desperate things. Fayte was just backup, really... there to handle things that might be too hard for an initiation mission. But still, Satoshi would be dangerous to handle.

Fayte nodded when Toma asked about returning home. "Prepare well, and we shall begin after. We will likely need to leave Hosenka for some time after the mission is completed... so take whatever you need," she warned him. It wouldn't do for Toma to complete the mission, only to be caught by the Magic Council. She wanted him to succeed. She didn't want him to be captured or die; she wanted him to become useful to Shadow Heart. A sword was certainly a useful tool for him to pick up... especially since he lacked any kind of magic. "And if you truly have no magic... then yes... I would hold onto it closely from now on," Fayte agreed with him. There was no telling when trouble could come up unexpectedly. Such was the life in Shadow Heart. At any point in time... they could be recognized and targeted, by the Magic Council or even other official guilds. Toma lacked the notoriety now, but that would certainly change in the future. Unless of course... he did his jobs with exceptional skill, and managed to silence any who might tell of his deeds. Fayte had managed to keep a low profile herself by crushing potential threats.

And of course... Fayte planned to come with Toma to his house. She doubted it was a ploy to escape, but she still needed to be with him at all times.

[Toma Hawke]

"It won't take long," Toma promised as he pocketed the information. He set a brisk pace, since he didn't want to lose time. He didn't want to kill, but he had to. Fine. His parents wouldn't find out... they were out of town. Had been the last few months. They didn't even know what happened to Astra, or that he'd been out looking in several other towns around Fiore.

True to his word, it didn't take long for them to reach his house. It was a nice two story house with a shed off to the side. It was painted a nice brown to make it look similar to tree bark. Inside, the lights were out, and the door was locked. "...So they haven't come home after all."

He pulled out a key and unlocked the door, pushing it open with a small creak. He stepped in and flicked on the lights and looked around. The entire house was covered in a film of dust from not having anyone inside of it for the last two months. Outside that the place looked clean and organized. Pictures hung on the wall leading up the stairs. One rather large picture showed a short roundish looking man standing next to a taller, skinny woman. Between them in the front was two kids, one looking like Toma, and the other a smaller looking boy. Everyone was smiling happily.

Next to that was a picture of the two boys with a girl. The girl was shorter than younger Toma, but only slightly. Her black hair was a mess and they were dirty, but grinning happily. However, that's not where Toma was going. He did walk by the stairs, but he walked past them into another room. On the wall, hanging vertically, was a bastard sword. It hung off two nails, holding it up by the hand guards. It was peace tied via a strap of leather.

Toma was quick to untie it and unsheath it before letting out a sigh. The blade clearly hadn't been maintained. He thought his parents would have at least taken care of the family heirloom. Instead, it was chipped and battle worn. Thankfully it wasn't rusting. But it definitely didn't have much of an edge. Getting cut by it would be like getting cut by a saw...

"...It'll do." Toma said as he slammed the sword into the sheath in frustration. He tied it to his side before standing up straight. He turned and went up the stairs this time, before coming back down a few moments later with a bag. Efficiency was something he was fairly good at. Though it helped that all he was packing was clothes and first aid items. "I'm good to go."

[Fayte Scarlett]

Fayte simply followed Toma. It was getting a bit late now... they likely looked a bit suspicious together, but nothing that would cause immediate attention. The rain also seemed to abate other potential onlookers. At least it was the prime time to go after a target now. When they reached Toma's house, Fayte subtly checked their surroundings. No one appeared to be following them... And there weren't any recent markings of someone going into the house, either. That was good as it seemed unlikely to be a trap... Fayte always considered such things, especially when revealing even half of Shadow Heart's secrets... But it was also a bit strange, since Toma had called it his home.

She followed a few paces behind him. There was no need to shadow him everywhere; his house was his own private life. Besides, he would need to exit the same way anyway. The noticeable dust seemed to speak true to Fayte's earlier assessment of the outside. Perhaps Toma had been traveling more than Fayte originally thought... she had thought his search limited him to Hosenka. The wall by the stairs that Toma had taken caught Fayte's eye. Or rather, she noticed the pictures hanging on them. Taking a single step up, Fayte analyzed each of the details of the pictures... A younger Toma... Others, whom she presumed to be his family... Where they all alive? With such a family style of displaying pictures.... Fayte figured they probably were. Angelique's family had passed away long ago, and Fayte had lost Master Xian Fei two years ago.

The sound of footsteps heralded Toma's approach. Fayte's head turned to the sound. She made no effort to conceal that she'd just been staring at the pictures. Her eyes flickered briefly to the sheath... so he had found his sword, that would aid him well. If she had seen the condition of the blade, Fayte might have said something to Toma. "Good," Fayte confirmed, turning to leave his house. "It's getting late, so that narrows down the places Satoshi wlil try to hide. Perhaps we could try a tavern or one of the stores he frequents... Even if we don't find him there, someone would likely know about him. But it's your call on where to go first..." She said.

[Toma Hawke]

"Mmm..." Toma frowned. She was staring at the pictures. Those pictures were a reminder of what he didn't have. And had he the will to, he would have slashed them to pieces long ago. Though, he didn't press Fayte on the issue of the pictures and instead focused on the mission at hand. After all, she wasn't there to simply visit and hang out.

"If I was a man running from a shadowy organization that was likely going to come kill me to preserve secrets and scare other members thinking about leaving," Toma said tapping the hand rail of the stairs. He was looking at the door rather than Fayte. "I wouldn't go to a Tavern. Taverns gather information. Going there for information also plants information about you there. No..."


"He'd likely be getting supplies so he could stay low for a long time, and let his trail get cold," He concluded. Really, the only reason he knew about looking for people was because of his search for Astra. "He'd probably be buying in bulk, but bulk he could carry. And when few people are around. Less people to notice him since he's scared of being found."

"So we should check out local stores," Toma concluded as he walked past Fayte and to the door. Throwing it open he took in a deep breath of the rainy air. It was time to track down someone else. He stepped out and began walking. He knew Hosenka fairly well, so he knew where his first stop was going to be. A general store attached to a store that sold magical items. It'd be a reasonable place to find a fugitive.

[Fayte Scarlett]

Toma had a point... Taverns were typically the first place someone would go to for information. Their target would likely be avoiding an area where he could be easily recognized. She could follow Toma's logic, and supposed it made sense assuming their target was smart. Satoshi was probably desperate and paranoid... but smart, that remained to be seen. Plenty of her targets had idiotically secluded themselves to the point where it was easy to pick them off. Others continued life as if nothing had happened.

"Okay," Fayte agreed with his decision. She left the pictures behind her, having no intention of bringing up the life which Toma had left behind. All the more power to him if he wouldn't look back. The rain continued when they reached outside, Fayte following next to Toma. They both knew Hosenka well, and that would also aid in their mission. The commercial district of Hosenka was mainly empty, as expected in the evening rain. Some of the lights in the stores were on, others were not. The general store that Toma had targeted was open late...

Even before they entered, Fayte could make out the silhouette of a man. "I have never met Satoshi before, so even if we stumble upon him... he shouldn't recognize me," Fayte told Toma. Their organization was vast, and Fayte had certainly met less than half of Shadow Heart's members. Except for the higher ups, very few knew the details of their organization. She waited for Toma to open the door first, before following after him...

Inside the store, a man who presumably owned the general shop was at the cashier. There was a customer buying quite a few items... ranging from healing supplies, food, and some basic survival tools. From the back of his head... he certainly looked like it could match Satoshi. The door chimed as the two entered, the owner looking up with only half interest. The customer didn't turn around, finishing up bagging his supplies, only turning to leave. While similar... now that he was facing them... the customer was clearly not Satoshi. He was far too young. But there was definitely an uncanny resemblance to the two of them, something too much that could be a coincidence. He was walking their way... supplies in hand, he walked towards the door... inevitably towards Fayte and Toma's direction. Fayte's eyes flickered to Toma... waiting... to see what he would do, and she would follow...

[Toma Hawke]

Toma was glad to see the shopping district empty. It would make life easier for them since there’d be fewer people to sift through to try to find him. And there wasn’t a crowd he’d be able to lose them in. He was silent as he walked, since Fayte didn’t seem like a talkative person. He was, like any normal person, curious about her. But he didn’t know her well, having just met. And they were on a mission. He’d just have to focus on that.

That’s when they stepped into the store. It wasn’t his first time in such a place, he’d shopped here often growing up. He glanced at the clerk and was relieved to see it wasn’t the normal one. The normal one knew him enough to know he disliked violence, and he currently had a sword on him. Then he scanned the rest of the store looking for his target.

He didn’t seem to be by the meats section. Nor was he by the produce from where he was standing. He was about to walk in further when he spotted someone else in the store. From the back the person looked like Satoshi. But as he turned around it wasn’t him. Frowning he stepped to the side and let the boy go out.

“That wasn’t him,” He said quietly as he stepped outside. He watched the boy’s retreating form and frowned again. His arms folded across his chest as he looked thoughtfully at the boy. “He looked very similar though. It’s not often two people look that similar.”

“Unless…” Toma’s eyes lit up as an idea hit him. He began walking after the boy from a distance, making it look like he was taking a casual stroll with a friend. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if someone was there to watch… he was only supposed to kill Satoshi. But if his theory was correct, then the situation was a lot tougher than he had thought it’d be.

[Fayte Scarlett]

Fayte also stepped to the side, parallel to Toma, mimicking his own movement. The Satoshi look-alike passed by, barely looking at the two. Clearly not on high alert. Fayte got a closer look as the boy passed... The similarity was too much to be a coincidence. Some family member, then? The door chimed, the boy walking out. He held his grocery bags unevenly, the weight clearly slowing him down and making him slightly off balance.

Silently Fayte followed Toma outside, her gaze flickering back to her initiate. Toma clearly had a similar idea to Fayte. So their target was too worried about his own life to buy supplies directly... but had no qualms about sending a clear family member. Either it was a trap, or Satoshi was clearly that desperate and stupid. They kept a good distance away, but their followed target wasn't completely oblivious. After two or three turns, he started casting furtive glances behind him, hastening his steps each time. They hadn't quite followed far enough for it to be obvious what they were doing... a few turns could be a coincidence, after all... but the boy seemed particularly paranoid.

"He seems to suspect us..." Fayte told her companion quietly. No one else was around, at least... not that she could detect. "We could try and be more subtle about how we're following, but... there is a chance he might lead us into a trap. Or... we could catch him now, of course I doubt he will simply give any useful information without persuasion..." She offered her own opinions on the matter. "Or, if you have another idea... but we should come up with something quickly." If Fayte was acting alone... she would capture the boy. If he was Satoshi's brother, or some manner of kin, then he might prove useful later too. But there were risks for both sides, and she didn't think one option outweighed the other heavily... Something needed to be done, and fast, before they ruined their initiative.

[Toma Hawke]

Toma moved just ahead of Fayte, but the rain was making silence difficult. And soon enough he'd caught onto them. Toma cursed himself as he realized what Fayte was saying as she said it. Of course it wouldn't be that easy. Why would it? If it was this easy, he wouldn't be joining Shadow Heart to find Astra. But he wouldn't let himself be swayed from his goal. Not with so much at stake.

He glanced over at Fayte, and weighed the options he was given. Interrogation was probably the best tactic... But Toma wasn't completely lost to sanity just yet. No, he wouldn't do that unless he had to. Of course, this meant they only had one option. But it was one he could take.

“Trap or no, I don't think cornering him for answers will get us anywhere,” Toma decided after a long moment. He continued forward, but kept his voice down as they moved. His hand shifted down to his sword as he walked, looking far more tense than he probably should. But he was focused on what he had to do.

“So we follow him in,” He said with a firm nod as they continued down the alleyways they were chasing their quarry in. “If it is a trap, I'll cut my way through it. If he is family to Satoshi, then he will eventually go back for help. Seeing family in danger, Satoshi might come to us.”

[Fayte Scarlett]

Fayte said nothing at Toma's response. They were going to continue on like normal, trap or no. While Fayte didn't think it was the best option, it wasn't a terrible one either. If Satoshi had let this family member put himself in danger to begin with, there was a chance he wouldn't care what happened. But that was a bridge they'd cross if they got there. Cornering Satoshi's look-alike could have yielded more than just simple answers to questions... they could have used him as bait against Satoshi. Fayte suspected Toma might be trying to involve as few people as possible, but sometimes it was necessary to sacrifice one in order to avoid others.

Satoshi's look-alike started making unusual turns. They were taking a zig-zagging path to wherever they were going... on the odd occassion, the boy would cast a look back, confirming the far but very much present Fayte and Toma. Fayte was certain this was his way of confirming that the two of them were indeed following. Now what will you do... Fayte wondered. The boy quickened his pace, but had yet to go into a full-out run. Eventually he stopped at Hosenka's inn. If Satoshi was planning to run away, he likely wouldn't use his own house - was this where he was hiding? The look-alike dashed inside and practically slammed the door shut. It was a public place so they wouldn't just be able to storm through. Still, it was already evening, and it wouldn't be long before most people went to sleep. Fayte looked over to Toma, waiting for his directive...

((feel free to NPC too))

[Toma Hawke]

Toma followed after the look alike as he moved through the alleyways. He wasn't going to lose their only lead... not that easily. It took awhile, but they reached a destination. The main inn that people used in Hosenka. It was popular, usually bustling with people, and easy to disappear in. Thankfully, Toma knew a few people around town, including the innkeeper at this particular location.

“I know the people here,” Toma stated as he started walking forward. The building loomed over him in a way it hadn't before. While the last time he'd been here it was a warm welcoming haven... now it felt terrifying to stand in front of. “I'm pretty sure I can find the room he's using.”

And so he walked in casually, dripping wet. The place still had several patrons sitting around eating and drinking. As he walked in, he caught a brief glance of their quarry running up the stairs. He only paused for a moment, dripping in the door way.

“Toma!” An old man at the counter greeted him. Then, after seeig the sword and bruising on Toma's face, his eyes widened slightly. “You're dripping wet. You and your friend should come in before you catch a cold!”

“It's alright,” Toma greeted him warmly. He stepped in, knowing Fayte would follow. Once at the counter he leaned in slightly and spoke in a hushed voice. “My friend here needs to see Satoshi. She has some information that he'd like to know about.”

“Well...” He looked torn for a moment before reaching down and pulling out a key. “He said no one was to bother him. But you're a good person, Toma. Maybe you and your friend can help him.”

“I'll see what I can do,” Toma nodded and took the key. He nodded his thanks and headed for the stairs, casting a glance at Fayte. Once they were out of earshot he gave a small sigh. “I'm cutting all my ties here doing this.”

[Fayte Scarlett]

Getting the key and location was surprisingly easy. Not just that, but Toma had indirectly confirmed that Satoshi was indeed staying in the hotel. Fayte simply nodded in acknowledgement when Toma mentioned that she had information for Satoshi. So Toma 'was a good person'... huh. Maybe she was looking at him a little harder than normal, trying to figure out if she had missed something in his character. She was never that good at judging what people would or wouldn't do, only what they were capable of. People trusted Toma, which was both a good and a bad thing. Depending on what happened, Fayte had a few ideas on how Toma might salvage part of his reputation in Hosenka. Joining Shadow Heart didn't necessarily mean everyone had to know about his criminal activity. There was a good chance that the mission could get public and messy, though, and Fayte didn't want to get his hopes up. So she said nothing in response to his comment.

Even from their current position, it was loud downstairs. The half tavern, half inn was a popular place. Sometimes the worst things could happen while others were distracted. The actual hallway they were in now was deserted. "If it's only Satoshi and the boy from earlier, our odds for combat should be good - as long as he doesn't get downstairs and alert everyone," she told him. Indirectly implying that this would be a good place for attack. They couldn't wait forever.

"You were being followed and you still came back here?!"

The conversation was audible even a few steps away from Satoshi's room. Satoshi had taken the supplies, thoughts elsewhere, when his brother told him the news. Satoshi had nearly dropped everything. Instead he shoved them onto the counter, whirling around to face his brother.

"I-I wasn't sure if they were, for sure," Hideki Oshiro defended himself, quieter than his brother. "I mean, I didn't know what to do. Where would you have gone if you were me?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe to the Magic Council? You don't exactly have anything to hide, Hideki," he sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I need to get out of here then. No wait, they'll probably be waiting outside," he started to pace restlessly. "That's what they'll want me to do, leave. This place has a ton of people. They can't attack here."

"I could go outside and see if they're around," Hideki volunteered.

"No! Then they'll probably just grab you, Hideki. You better stay here until we figure this out. We need to think about a plan carefully..."

[Toma Hawke]

Toma took Fayte's silence as a form of judgment. They didn't want weaklings that couldn't cut their ties. So he was going to swallow his fear. It's not like people ever liked him. The innkeeper only warmed up to him because of Astra. Astra and because he was a paying customer. Pushing himself off the wall he started for Satoshi's room. His steps were slow and quiet, because he was worried that he might have friends ready to ambush him.

As he moved his hand was on the hilt of his sword. His free hand shook slightly, though even he couldn't tell if it was fear, excitement, or nervousness. Once he was at the door, he could hear voices. Leaning in he could hear them arguing. So Satoshi knew they were coming. ...And he was worried about his brother.

He reached for the key slowly. He was drawing it out longer than he had to... but people couldn't blame him. It was for a good cause, right? Satoshi had made his mistakes and had to pay for them. Toma was just dispensing justice. Right... justice. Justice for trying to go back to a corrupt world that turned it's back on the weak for selfish gains.

He unlocked the door and slowly pushed it open. Thankfully neither were looking at the door during their arguing. So he walked into the room, still dripping wet. Once he was inside enough to block escape he stepped into a lit part of the room.

“Satoshi... right?” Toma asked looking between the brothers who were now staring at him. He could feel the mix of surprise, fear, and anger in the room. They had their quarry cornered... now they just had to seal the deal. “I'm here on business.”

[Fayte Scarlett]

Fayte silently stood behind Toma. Waiting. There were warning signs - the drops of sweat (water?), a shaking hand, the slow reach for the key. This was the true decision point right here. If Toma turned back to Fayte, if he said he couldn't do this after all, or that he needed a better opportune time... She would have run him through right there. Going back wasn't an option. But it never happened. The key eventually found the door, opening to reveal the two brothers. Fayte stayed close to Toma, only a few steps behind him, but still perfectly in view for the other occupants.

It didn't take long for the two brothers to notice they weren't alone. Satoshi took a step back and nearly stumbled, but managed to get a footing. The profile clearly matched the description and image for their mission - there was no doubt; this was certainly Satoshi. "How- I told the old man not to let anyone in," he shook his head wildly. Any amount of planning was useless now. It was just him and his brother in the room. "Don't come any closer!" His voice was close to a shout. Next to him, Hideki jumped. "This is your only warning - get out now." His voice wavered only once; he managed to glare fiercely at Toma. Satoshi's eyes danced to the hilt Toma was holding - it was pretty obvious what kind of 'business' he was here for, but he didn't dare ask. He and his brother looked ready to pounce at a moment's notice, clearly expecting the fight.

[Toma Hawke]

“Shut up!” Toma shouted as his free hand clenched tightly. It was clear, even to him, that the nature of the mission was getting to him. However, he relaxed quickly. His voice was much quieter, and his posture was more relaxed. Even pulling the chipped sword from it's sheath was a slow and relaxed motion. His eyes shifted between the two, seeming a mix of warm nervousness, and cold intention.

“You had a chance...” Toma said as he took a step forward. That's right... the world needed fixing. Something Shadow Heart could do. They could cut through the red tape that held people back and bring about change. “You had a chance to fix this broken world. But you backed out...”

“You backed out!” He said louder as he gripped his sword with both hands. He started walking towards the two of them, his intent fully clear. “So I'm here to do what you couldn't! To fix this broken world. And unlike you, I have the commitment to see it through.”

“So die, Satoshi!” He said lunching forward, swinging the sword at his target. It was a downward diagonal angle, from top right to bottom left. He wasn't paying attention to Satoshi's brother however. “Die for your crimes against this world!”

[Fayte Scarlett]

Satoshi was already preparing for a fight as soon as Toma began spewing nonsense. Even his younger brother seemed to get the idea, falling into a tense stance. The raindrops still clung to Toma's body, which Satoshi had noticed as soon as the other came inside the room. He moved his hands as soon as Toma charged. The rain twisted into a near-solid mass around Toma's feet, intent on making him trip. The sword strike still went through, Satoshi barely able to stumble out in time.

Hideki let out a shrill shriek. Haphazardly he rushed Toma, seeming not to care that the other was holding a sword. Fayte was next to him in a heartbeat. She barely showed any movement at all. One moment she was at the doorframe, the next, she was next to Hideki. She stopped his punch with her palm. Before she could close around her hand and trapped him, he twisted away. Not exactly graceful, Hideki nearly tripped over himself. But it served its purpose, managing to avoid the hit. Fayte stared at him impassively. It was clear - if he got involved, she would stop him. Did she even need magic to beat a child? She doubted it. Now that he had seen them, they had no choice but to kill him too.

"Mind-washed Shadow Heart!" Satoshi tried to back away; to gain some distance from that sword. This room wasn't the best place for combat. Fayte's eyes narrowed; this man who spoke their guild name so freely had to be taken care of... and soon. "Listen to what you're saying! Open your eyes!"

Satoshi MP:

[Toma Hawke]

Toma fell over in surprise when the binding spell hit him. He fell to the floor, but kept a grip on his sword. It was embarrassing to fall over in the middle of a fight... but Fayte hadn't told him Satoshi used water magic. And being covered in water put him at a huge disadvantage. More so now that he was on the floor with his legs bound.

Was that part of his initiation? Seeing how he handled unexpected circumstances?If that was the case he'd show them he was as good as any mage, if not better. He rolled onto his back and took his sword. He swung down between his ankles, slashing the spell. There was a small flash as the spell was dissipated and he stood up again.

“When I needed help it wasn't the guilds or council that helpped me!” He stated. “They turned their backs on me and made excuses. They left me alone to fend for myself... But they offered to help me. And nothing you say or do will change that!”

He dove for Satoshi again, this time aiming for a thrusting maneuver. With his sword in the small room they were in, dodging would be difficult. He had noticed Fayte step in, but didn't mention it. There would be time for discussion later. For now, Satoshi had to die.

[Fayte Scarlett]

As soon as the water wound itself around Jin's legs, Satoshi dashed forward. His plan was simple - attack while the other was immobilized. The sword was going to be a problem, so Satoshi needed indirect means of facing his opponent. Unfortunately, right as he closed the gap, Jin managed to free himself. Now the two were in close combat, with Jin's sword at ready, the exact opposite of what Satoshi aimed for. He tried to get out of the way but couldn't dodge completely in time. Jin's blade drew first blood, Satoshi gasping as it struck his side. He had avoided a lethal blow, but it was an injury he was clearly going to suffer from. There was no time to nurse his wounds. "I'm going to make it through this alive!" Satoshi insisted, more to himself than to Jin. Satoshi raised his fist, which became embalmed in a bubble of water. Forcefully he thrust it against Jin. If it hit, the spell would explode in a beam of water, strong enough to cut.

Hideki and Fayte were still locked in combat. Although Hideki threw out punches and kicks, it was clear that the boy had no clear idea of what he was doing. Dispassionately she dodged or blocked his hits. At this point, she was drawing the fight out - to witness Jin's fighting abilities. If Fayte took out Hideki immediately, there was a chance that Satoshi would be distracted. They could easily avoid the fight altogether if Fayte took Hideki hostage - she was fairly certain Satoshi cared for his brother, at least a little, if their earlier conversation was a clue. But she couldn't end it too soon. So for now, she would keep Hideki occupied. The other boy was already beginning to pant, clearly not used to such physical exertion.

Satoshi Spells:

[Toma Hawke]

When his blade caught Satoshi’s side and drew blood, Toma hesitated. He hadn’t expected… Expected what? To land a hit? To actually hurt someone? He hadn’t wanted to hurt people. In his moment of distraction the spell hit his off arm. It was a deep gash, though not to the bone. But instead of recoiling in pain, Toma looked over at his arm and looked at the blood flowing freely. Sure, it stung, but it didn’t hurt as much as a normal person should feel it.

That’s when realization dawned on him. It was Satoshi or him in this fight. Outside the fight didn’t really matter. If he died, it would have no impact on him. And if he was to live and make an impact on life, than Satoshi couldn’t. Gripping his sword he stepped forward with a downward slash.

Not caring what came next Toma decided to follow up. He was self taught in the art of the sword, and it no doubt showed to everyone in the room. But he was no amatuer either. Toma let out a shout as he used the momentum of his sword’s motion and the swing to spin around with a horizontal slash. This slash was where he put the most effort for a killing blow, and if it connected would split Satoshi’s torso wide open. It would be messy, but it would be assuredly fatal.

[Fayte Scarlett]

Satoshi knew he was going to get hit before it happened. Desperately he tried to step away, water beginning to rise as he tried to form a shield. He still tried even though it wouldn't make it in time. The sword slashed across him, the magic dying in his hands. Letting out a gasp, he staggered back. Drips of blood created a trail. The power to his feet gave way and he collapsed to his knees, hands suspending him from the ground. The wound was undoubtedly fatal but wouldn't kill him swiftly. His head raised defiantly to meet the gaze of his opponent.

Out of the corner of her eye, Fayte saw Satoshi go down. There was no reason to keep playing around then. Her fist slammed against Hideki's cheek, with a cry the younger boy flying like a rag doll against the wall. The single strike had closed his eyes; he slid against the wall completely immobile. "Hideki!" Any pretext of bravery completely left Satoshi as he watched his brother fall. "W-wait, now just wait!" He flinched, seeming to remember that he was, in fact, currently in excruciating pain. "You're after me, so you'll leave him alone, right? He's just a kid - he's got nothing to do with all this."

"If that's what you thought, you shouldn't have involved him," Fayte said dispassionately. But for now, she had turned her back on Hideki and was watching the current scene between Satoshi and Toma. "You seem to have a loose tongue. There's no telling how much he knows about our family."

"D-do with me what you want, but at least promise me you won't touch my brother," Satoshi's eyes turned to Toma, finding no compassion in Fayte. It was a brave statement but his body betrayed his fear, his hands visibly shaking. Being cornered, words was all he had left. Fayte fell silent and left the decision to Toma. They were required to kill Satoshi and not necessarily Hideki. She thought her own preference was fairly clear, but she wouldn't require him to kill Hideki.

[Toma Hawke]

He saw Satoshi’s magic, but his attack was coming in too fast and too hard for his target to evade. He was surprised when his blade found it’s way home, and Satoshi backed up mortally wounded. While the conversation with Fayte unfolded he stared down at the crimson liquid on his blade. That was twice now he’d gotten Satoshi. And this time it was beyond repair.

When Satoshi turned back to Toma, he jumped a little. He pleaded for his brother’s life, and Toma’s hand tightened around the hilt of the sword. Where were people when he was looking for Astra? She needed help and no one would lend a hand. It wasn’t fair… This world wasn’t fair. So he stepped towards Satoshi slowly and then gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands.

“...I promise…” He said quietly as he hesitated. This was it… Was it right? Probably not. But he wanted to see Astra and it was the only way. So he took his blade and thrust it forward into his throat. Then he placed his foot on Satoshi’s shoulder and used it as leverage to pull his blade free.

“That he’ll be with you soon,” Toma said in a quiet voice. He walked over to Hideki and stopped. He had seen them. He knew what was going on. If the mission was to silence someone who had information, then it included people he told. So he slit Hideki’s neck. With the blood pooling on the floor he grabbed a cloth and wiped his blade clean.

“...Our objective was to silence the information, right?” He asked quietly as guilt crept into his mind. He looked at Fayte for reassurance. For some semblance of being right. He couldn’t help the emotions running through him and shakily put his sword back into it’s sheath. “S-so… Mission complete? We can go now?”

[Fayte Scarlett]

Fayte waited for Toma to give his final verdict. They had come this far, but in her past experience, the end was when reality really sunk in. She'd give him about a 50/50 chance of actually killing Satoshi. And Hideki... well that wasn't required, but it was still important. If Toma showed Hideki mercy, any chance of them keeping their identities secret would be gone. That and Hideki would likely seek vengeance in the future. Dispassionately she watched as Toma's decision was made final... first Satoshi, then Hideki died.

When the deed was done and Toma turned back, Fayte knew the other was in shock. It was quite common. Sometimes it happened immediately after, other times it wasn't for hours. But those who weren't used to killing - the first was always the hardest. It was also a pivotal moment which usually set their allegiance. "Yes," Fayte nodded, meeting Toma's gaze. "If you had let Satoshi's brother live, do you think he would have seen it as an act of kindness? Not only would your hometown know about your crimes, but he would harbor resentment. Revenge can be a powerful motivator, and it's better to eliminate potential threats before they kill you. Besides... You only did what was necessary." She turned back to the door, not even sparing a second glance at their now dead targets. "Try to keep it together until we at least leave the inn. Then we'll need to get out of Hosenka... to the base of Shadow Heart: Crocus. And then... we'll find your friend."

[Toma Hawke]

She had a point, even Toma’s mind could grasp. Satoshi’s brother most likely would have come for him and tried to kill him and Fayte. And it would likely be that he would be wounded, or they would be out numbered. Any number of situations could occur if Hideki had been let go. “I’ll… I’ll be fine.”

That said he was pale and shaken. The thought of finding Astra kept him from completely breaking down, even as they came out in front of people. He was still wet, so the blood on his clothes wasn’t all that visible. Especially since he wore darker clothing. his sword had been wiped off and sheathed back in the room.

“Toma, you look like you’ve just seen a ghost!” The tavern owner called out. Toma visibly flinched at the voice. But he did manage to look at the man.

“I-It’s… we were too late,” Toma managed to lie. He needed to get them out. To get out and far away as soon as possible. He couldn’t afford to get discovered now. So he just ran with it, digging himself a deeper grave as far as guilt went. “They’re both dead. B-but… we found a lead! So…. we have to… We can’t stay here!”

“Alright,” The man smiled at Toma despite the situation. “You go catch the guys that did it. I’ll get the magic council in here to clean things up.”

“T-thanks…” Toma said before quickly heading out the door. Once outside he simply tuned down a road and started walking. “Let’s… let’s just go, Fayte. I-I’m done with this place.”

[Fayte Scarlett]

So Shadow Heart had another member. Fayte watched silently the exchange between Toma and the innkeeper. The two of them certainly looked and sounded suspicious. But perhaps Toma's shaken appearance might deter some initial suspicion from them. Mentally she supposed that this was where most people would touch Toma's shoulder, or show some sign of affection. For once Fayte wasn't completely disconnected. She did feel some semblance of connection between the two of them; she wanted to let him know that the beginning was the worst. That the rest would come naturally, given time. But physical touch was still something she wanted to avoid. So for now she kept her hands to herself.

"Let's go, then." She too was done with this place. Hosenka was also her 'hometown', and one she didn't enjoy frequently visiting. It was a place she remembered fondly, but the end had become too bitter for her to keep any enjoyment. She suspected the same would happen in Toma's case. But this was their job; a new life... One that did not welcome compassion. "Like I said. Try to keep it together at least until we leave..." She turned towards Crocus, prepared to lead the way.

~exit~

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