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The hall was empty aside from the rays of light streaming from the barred windows. There was a quiet tapping as a figure cloaked in black quickly rushed through the hall, his cloak flapping behind him. Only it's legs were visible as it sped through the hallway. Stopping only when there were small noises not caused by him. Stopping outside a sliding door, he pulled his cloth mask up over his nose. Breathing lightly, he checked behind him. Kneeling down, he attached a small piece of string to the wall, two inches off the ground. Attaching another end to the opposite wall, he smirked as he stood straight up. Anyone coming by would be tripped by this wire, childish as it was, it was effective.

Leaning his head to the door, he removed the hood from his head. Putting his ear to the door, he listened for three seconds before slowly opening the door. Poking the blade of a knife through the opening, he looked at the reflection of the blade. After being sure the coast was clear, he stepped through the door. He was twenty meters from the target. His exit was secured, and so far no one had spotted him. It was great to have a plan go smoothly. He had exactly thirty seconds to get down this last hallway. Then he had ten minutes to wait before he had to leave.

Slipping through the door, he quickly moved down the hallway. Stopping at the last window, he quickly cut around the screws holding the bars, tying a hang-knot he knocked the bars out. Slipping out the window, he climbed along the rough edges of the wall outside. Ten seconds, or else the guard would pass under him. Making it to a balcony, he pulled himself over the railing. Right on time. Smiling to himself he, pulled out another small knife and used it to mark the railing he had used. Walking to the door, he let out the breath he had been holding.

Pushing open the sliding door, he stepped inside. The room was quaint, small, yet colorful. Curtains hung from the ceiling, all different colors. They surrounded a small futon.

"God your guards are rough, you know that? They're getting used to my tricks."

The girl sitting on the futon looked up at him, smiling lightly. Sitting down next to her, he sighed. Leaning back on his arms, he looked up at the ceiling. Smiling to himself, he pulled his mask down.

"Tatsua."

Looking down at the girl, he tilted his head to the side. That was probably the only word she knew. That and "run". They never really spoke when they were together. She usually sat on the balcony, drawing in her little scrolls. She was a beautiful artist, she was also older then him. About three years older. He'd first seen her when he had been found by the guards sleeping in the garden. He had gotten away when he snuck into her room. She had stabbed him with the end of a brush. Strangely he had fallen for her in that moment.

He had to run as the guards entered the room, the brush still in his right shoulder. He returned it a week later, blood free. He also brought a small paint set, one he had actually paid money for. She almost stabbed him again. Instead she painted his picture, she had him surrounded by guards, a smirk still on his face. Since he visited her whenever he passed near enough. He had a bounty on his head, ever growing with every visit known to the guards. She didn't say much to him, but she showed him her pictures, and always drew a new picture of him when he came. They barely spoke, until they heard the footsteps of either the guards or her servants.

Looking around the room, Tatsua looked at the picture scrolls hung on the walls. It was kind of strange, he had visited her hundreds of times, yet he had never met her father. Though he had offered near one hundred ryo for his capture. It caused him no end of grief since he had been entitled the ragged, ugly, brute of a whelp who attempted to rape his daughter. His description had only been provided by the first picture she had painted of him after she had stabbed Tatsua. He had been fairly sure it would be a bad idea to meet him at current moment.

Tatsua was brought back to reality as he heard rapid footsteps. Jumping to his feet, he faced the door as it slid into the wall. There stood four armored guards. Giving them a nervous smile, he looked down at the princess. There was a loud clanking as the guards pointed their spears at him. Nodding to Tatsua, the princess bowed her head. The guards rushed him all at once. Tatsua jumped, grabbing one of the curtains, he pulled himself higher. Using one of the spears as a spring board, he jumped over the guardsman. Landing on two feet, he took a bow as the guards struggled to turn around in the small room. Turning, he took off down the hallway. He had no reason to use stealth now. He could hear other guards becoming aware of him. apparently they had spotted one of his traps. That meant his escape route was blocked.

Turning a corner he slid to a stop as he saw three men. Two guards and an older man. He was the only one not in armor, and was also the only one with a fancy katana.

"So you're the whelp who keeps coming into my home. Haven't had enough of my daughter yet have you?"

Tatsua stifled a laugh as he listened to the old man. Yet now he was caught. there were guards coming from behind him, and these three were in front of him. And talking right now would do him no good at all, and he couldn't hurt the guy. This was not his best moment. Looking around, he sighed. Jumping towards one wall, he bounced off it towards the opposite window. Kicking the bars as hard as he could, they broke off.

Tatsua realized his mistake as soon as he saw sky. This was the third floor of the palace. Not the ideal place to jump out of a window. Drawing his sword, a beautiful five foot Muramasa, he plunged it into the side of the building. It cut down through the second floor, stopping as it hit the second floor through the wall. Hanging for a second, he looked towards the ground. It was about twelve feet below him, it was going to be painful on his ankles.

Pulling his sword out of the wall, he sheathed it again as he landed on his feet. Forced into a crouch by the fall, he stopped for a second from the pain in his lower legs, then he took off in a full sprint. He could hear shouts coming from behind him as he ran. Smirking to himself, he jumped. Spinning in midair, he blew a kiss back towards the castle, continuing the turn he landed forward again. Leaving the palace grounds, he disappeared into the crowd.

"Well, I met her father. I think he likes me."