Page 19 of Behind the Mask

"A man who should have been the next Lord of the clan, the most capable shadow warrior in your clan…felled by two common thugs and a pirate before that.I wonder if perhaps I am wasting my time studying your magic.Obviously it does not work for any of you."

Kasumi remained silent, carefully testing his bonds.Common rope, and they had stupidly bound his hands together over his head.Stupid.That would not hold him for long, mask or no mask.Excellent.This was turning out easier than he'd anticipated.

Across the room, Minoru looked at him, amusement flickering briefly in his eyes."Kasumi, I am happy to see you alive."

"Master, I believe those words are mine.Are you well?"

"Well enough.To be honest, this being kidnapped will be much easier than explaining everything once it is over."

Kasumi grimaced, agreeing wholeheartedly.

Jun prowled close, and Kasumi forced himself not to recoil when cold fingers stroked his cheek, his jaw."Beautiful, Lord Kasumi.Truly.If your eyes were blue, you would be perfect.I suppose close to perfection is all most can ask for…still, it is a pity."

"Do you really think you can get away with all this?"Minoru asked tiredly."You have accomplished what amounts to nothing in all these weeks of study.Even Kasumi's mask, so far above the rest you have collected, gives you nothing.The clans have lasted this long without their secrets truly being discovered.Why do you think you will succeed where hundreds of others have failed?"

"Shut up," Jun said."Your noise has not moved me before, it will not move me now.Kasumi, where is the good Captain?"

"Good Captain?"Kasumi asked contemptuously."Do you mean that aggravating pirate?Dead.He's as sloppy as you.After your men dropped me, he set me free with the idea we could track you down together."

Jun just looked at him.

"We made our way back to his ship, only for it to blow up in our faces."

Jun laughed.

"After that he showed me his backup—a pirate, it seems, is always prepared.After we were well on our way, I slit his throat and dumped him over.You have been aggravating to find."

"I am impressed you've found me.I would be concerned other bothersome persons might locate me as well, but once I have your secrets I will be moving on."

Kasumi sneered."What secrets are those?I will give you nothing."

Jun laughed and stroked his cheek again."My dear, you are in no position to say no.I am beginning to doubt your skill—first kidnapped by a pirate, then taken down by mere thugs?Though you did take out several before the last two finally took you.Did you leave the ones upstairs alive?"

"All but one," Kasumi said."Is this where you start trying to torture me?"

"No," Jun said."This is where I ask you nicely.If you fail to cooperate, I torture Minoru."

Kasumi said nothing.

Jun smirked, then moved to a small chest in the corner.From inside it he began to pull out several silk-wrapped bundles.One by one he unwrapped them, and Kasumi trembled with increasing rage as each one was revealed.

Sixteen masks in all, amongst them his.Five total from his clan, all half black, half colorful, but each with a different pattern of colors.Another three from the West clan, deep gold on one half with brilliant flame tones on the other.Four more from the South clan; one half deepest blue, the other half painted to resemble ice and snow.The last four were a rich, dark brown on one side, the other patterned with leaves, flowers, ivy, all manner of greenery."Bastard," he hissed."Those do not belong to you."

"I took them, they are mine," Jun said, no small amount of smugness in it."Once I unlock their secrets…ah, the fun I will have.No more will I be ignored or packed off to some dismal countryside."

Kasumi was going to kill him, slowly and painfully.Then he would rip the bastard's heart from his chest and see how he liked it.He barely repressed a shudder as his own mask was picked up and stroked.This bastard had no right to touch it so.

He held still as Jun walked toward him with the mask held tight.

"You will die," he snarled.

"No, I do not think so," Jun said."It is not my problem that despite your lineage you are obviously an idiot.I am amazed Lord Minoru is still alive.Now, tell me what spells are laid into your mask.Some I can guess; spells to improve the senses, strength, things like that."He carefully touched several marks—or what he believed were marks.Kasumi would have laughed in his face if doing so would not have given away that Jun was sorely mistaken."Which of these is the spell for keeping all but a precious few from removing the mask?"

Kasumi did laugh at him then."You can cancel the spell, but do not recognize it?"

Jun motioned to a man standing nearby, who stepped forward and backhanded Kasumi.

He licked blood from his lip."You'll ruin my pretty face if you keep that up."

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