Without A Trace

The infamous fog that filled the tranquil village casted haunting shadows which danced to a silent tune. Its thickness obscured houses and swallowed light, slowly reaching for the souls of the village's inhabitants who slept peacefully. Unfortunately, the stars heavenly shine failed to pierce the village's dense mist, accompanying the brisk atmosphere citizens grew accompanied to. Wind howled through empty streets while trees danced in obedience, creating a hush whispered that echoed across Kirigakure. During this hour, the village began to settle down before falling asleep. Releasing a frightening silence broken only by an occasional stray scurrying across the streets and into an adjacent alleyway for shelter. Kirigakure had entered an era of relative peace where children played freely during the day and slept peacefully at night. However, the village still suffered from various political taints including tensions with Konohagakure and more importantly, a sever increase in both human and drug trafficking. Citizens attempted to avoid the evilness plaguing Kirigakure by avoiding the darkness that shrouded the monsters. But they found the monster's influence had recently surpassed the boundaries of night, by crossing into the sunlight.

"Hanahime! Hanahime!" A women panicked, running outside her house and onto the misty streets of Kirigakure. She kept her kimono tied tightly with a matching sash and wore sandals that she obviously grabbed in a rush. Her hair, due to speedily bursting through her door, was unkept and still wet. "Hanahime, where are you!?" She cried, her voice trembling at the horrifying thought of losing her daughter. Yet she remained strong while searching for the girl, continuously beckoning for a sign of life. She prayed silently, hoping an angel of fate would appear with her little girl in it's arms. Especially considering the fact that her own home vanished in the distance, seemingly swallowed by the seemingly endless mist. She searched the various locations she knew Hanahime to linger and explore in her free time. Ranging from a closed shop to an empty park. Hanahime's mother franticly searched the alleyways, unafraid of what could unveil itself before her. Either way, she made sure to refrain from traversing the darker locations known for their suspicious activities. Instead, she remained on open streets and in the public's reach.

She desired to keep searching, never stopping until her little girl appeared once more in her arms. Unfortunately, she seemed to lose faith with every step taken. She started to worry about her son, who probably yearned for his mother's protection and reassurance. Besides, her husband would arrive home anytime and he could potentially help with the search while she watched their other child. And so, she decided to return home quickly and quietly, filling her conscious with positive thoughts and promises to keep her willingness to continue forwards. She demonstrated the navigation in the mist that citizens tend to develop after living in Kirigakure their entire lives. The women possessed enough knowledge of the streets to refrain from getting lost. ''My husband should return any minute now. I'll have him alert any shinobi patrolling the area. Maybe they found her! She's probably home right now with Kenji-kun waiting for me.'' Hanahime's mother started to smile. Hanahime please forgive your silly mother for getting worked up.

As she opened the door, the frantic woman found her husband cradling their son lovingly. It was a mere fantasy she wished to be true, sorrowing as it may be, reality crashed onto her, as if the ocean crushed down on her. And the waves beat all the way to her heart, as it took away her spirit. She fell towards the floor, only luckily to be caught in the arms of her husband, while the grieving woman wept. He whispered lovingly to her, but she was deafened to it, despite that he promised that their daughter is fine; reassuring that she was at a friend's, albeit it was long beyond their child's curfew. The couple immediately called for help, sending them to check the girl's friend who denied seeing her since she left earlier. "Another one. A young girl who lives nearby disappeared last night." He spoke after taking a bite from meal. "Man, what the hell is this world coming to." The ramen shop was rather lively when compared to the depressing subject matter. Kids enjoyed slight meals and played gamed near their parents, completely ignorant to the evils of the world. However, adults heavily analyzed their surroundings, careful to avoid skimming over any faces. For it could be the one who separates them from their children. Of course they took note of the strange man with lavender eyes in a green kimono, who sat alone while drinking Sake. His trimmed eyebrows gave the unknown shinobi a fierce gaze. One which deterred others from approaching him. He also had darkened rings surrounding his eyes that complimented his bright irises. He kept a weird blade kept tied to his waist by a dark green sash, also tying shut the green kimono he wore. A piece of fabric lightly decorated yet easy to forget.

"Help! Help!" She screamed from outside his door, banging loudly to get the young shinobi's attention. "Help me, Dǎiyì!"

"Yukiko-san?" Dǎiyì threw open the door, almost dislocating it's hinges in the process. He was already dressed in his signature kimono. Arriving home not too long ago, the lavender eyed shinobi had attempted to relax before being interrupted. "What's the matter? Why are you crying?" Seeing the mother of Yuriko, the one who gave him strength, wrecked with despair placed a heavy burden on his heart. However, Dǎiyì attempted his hardest to remain strong for the three women. Unfortunately, Yukiko's voice suddenly vanished into the strong wind. She screamed but Dǎiyì only recalled silence as the world darkened. Consuming him completely until he stood alone in a single ray of light. Suddenly a certain warmth radiate from behind him as arms wrapped against his chest. Dǎiyì's heart started to race once he smelled her favored scent. "Yuriko..." He whispered.

"Is everything alright?" A women's voice replied. Despite the years passing onwards, Dǎiyì never forgot Yuriko's sound. And he could definitely tell the imposter behind him was not the girl who supported his dream. Dǎiyì jolted in an attempt to face the speaker, only to find himself sitting alone at a seat. "Are okay, Mister?"

Dǎiyì smiled at the waitress who left him at a nod. He continued sipping the cup of sake while carefully listening to the various conversations surrounding him. The sudden news of a missing child twisted his stomach. Another family torn apart by the selfishness of others. He cursed the evilness, once more vowing to destroy it. ''If I have to kill everyone to rid this world of evil, then I'll carry this world's greatest sin and suffer for it." Dǎiyì started to gather his things and headed for the door, leaving his usual payment for the drink. The sun started to slowly descend, leading to different families and patrons paying for their meals. But as they would immediately head home, Dǎiyì knew the sun's falling marked the beginning of his mission. A goal to bring peace and prosperity to the Land of Water; starting of course with the largest threat to Kirigakure. Dǎiyì lacked knowledge of the organization's location and structure, so he hoped tonight's journey could shed light on operations. And if the Kirigakure assassin was lucky, maybe acquire a few crucial names.

The first step actually involved meeting a rather difficult person, or rather a person Dǎiyì referred to as difficult. Unfortunately, his superior thought it entertaining when they were near one another since personality clashes often resulted in hilarious bickering and arguments. However, despite the constant arguments and annoyance, his companion had transformed into something he hadn't felt in years...Onwards Dǎiyì walked, allowing the thick mist of Kirigakure to envelope his person as he emerged from the shop, vanishing into the evening.

It isn't as misty as it was yesterday. Dǎiyì noted mentally as he stood inside an alleyway between two houses on the outskirts of Kirigakure. An area famous for housing families of the lower ranks of Kirigakure's caste system, it obviously transformed into one Kirigakure's more corrupted areas. Regardless, it served as an excellent starting point for destroying the Black Queen. Dǎiyì stood against a wall, consumed completely by shadows, in his signature Hunter-nin outfit. The Phantom was clad from head to toe in black cloth consisting of a shitagi covered with a sleeveless uwagi, tied at the waist using a dark purple sash. He wore hakama style pants secured at the ankles by of ankle-high boots. Her obsidian scarf was tied loosely around his neck. Unlike a few hours before, he kept a different blade at his waist. Instead one of the Seven famous blades, Nuibari, hung loosely from Dǎiyì's waist. A mask obscured the lower part of his face with a large blank headband covering the top. Tied in a secure knot, it allowed his brown hair to hang softly over it's black cloth. His lavender eyes, covered in dark rings, pierced Kirigakure's still night.