Turning on my heels, I start to spring away from the angry mob. "My heart tells me to get away! Also! The other guy is hiding there!" Pointing strongly at the figure in the alley, I can feel Raven's eyes go in disbelief.
Running out of the alley after me, he yelled. "You bastard! Couldn't you've just killed them?!"
Laughing out loud, I smiled. "I could, but I decide to do as my heart tells me." Feeling the ice sword in my hand disappear, I poke Raven. "No need to be so salty, I just didn't want to do that."
Shaking his head, he points to a fire ladder. "Up!" Jumping on the leader, Raven climbs on its side. "How are you doing that?!"
"Practice! And hurry up or I'm throwing the ladder down with you!" Speeding up, I reach the roof. Not waiting for me to even stop, Raven sprays water down the ladder. "A little bit of water is not gonna stop-"
*Snap* With a snap of his fingers the water turns into solid Ice freezing limbs and clothes to the ladder. Some scream in pain while others faint straight away.
"That takes care of this problem. But Ken, why couldn't you kill them?"
"I cou-" Cutting me off, Raven shakes his head. "That's not what I mean. What I want to know is what stopped you from mercilessly cutting them down?"
Stopping for a second to think, I reply. "My heart."
Raising his eyebrow, he asks. "Your.... heart?"
Nodding my head, we start to walk across the roof as I explain to him the philosophy behind the rules of heart.
.....
"So let me get this straight." Now outside a sketchy shop, Raven rubs his forehead. "Your master wrote a book called The Rules of Heart. Where he explains how a person should follow their heart?"
Nodding my head, he waves his head. "Heart is not connected to your emotions or anything like that. It's stupid to think the heart controls your emotions."
Rolling my eyes, I told him that you can't decide everything with your brain. Some things are decided by your heart.
Entering the sketchy store, I find that it's an old clothing shop.
"Welcome..." An old and bored voice sounds out.
Walking to the counter, Ravne spreads his cheeks into a predatory smile. "Hello~ There~!" Looking overly happy, the shopkeeper just looks at him and sighs.
"Raven, you come here twice a month. There's no need for you to be using the secret code. I know your face far too well to my own liking."
Pressing something on his old cash register, a loud creaking could be heard.
"Thanks, Barny. I'll tell your boss to give you a raise." Flipping Raven off, he walks over to the changing station. "Let's go." Lifting the curtains the usual mirror is open like a hidden door.
Walking down a set of stairs, I ask Ravne what we're doing here. "There's a great tailor here. He supplies criminals, mercenaries, and others with quality clothes."
Arriving at a single wooden door, Ravne pulls on the handle.
"Klee! You here? I've got a customer for you!" Not needing to wait, a man in a suit with fully red hair shows up "Raven, you haven't been here for a long time. Are you finally over her-"
Pushing a hand over his mouth Raven chuckles. "No, no, no. I've brought a different customer here." Pointing at me, the red-haired man takes one good look over me. "I think I still got some kimonos here somewhere. Anything special needed?"
Pushing me out of the conversation, I'm placed on an elevated rotating stand.
"Something protective, low caliber, and slash-resistant preferably. It's gonna be a rich setting so something more celebratory."
Signaling with my hands to slow down, I ask. "What are you talking about? I thought we just came here to get some clothes!" Laughing, the red-haired man tells me. "Ravne was always an on-hand guy. Even when they came here together he would tell-"
Getting kicked in the knee, the redhead sucks in his limps.
"Anyway, seems like the tailor need to be silent to focus on his job, so we can talk." Turning to me, Raven continues. "Auction, a large underground action is the thing of interest right now. I plan to buy you a sword there."
Nodding my head, I ask what that has to do with me needing celebratory clothes. "Most people there are rich. Also, the Golden Mask guys are gonna be there."
Tensing up, I hear the redhead whistle. "Damn, stretchy fabric it is. You've got nice muscles for someone so thin." Thanking him for the compliment, I ask Raven what he meant by the golden masks are gonna be there?"
"Well, Lilith. The woman in charge of the [Golden Masks] is gonna be attending alongside other VIPs." Nodding my head, I whisper. "So she's the one that ordered the attack on our Dojo."
Painting a picture of this evil woman in my head. I imagine myself cutting her down.
"But wait, you said she's gonna be with the VIPs. What does that have to do with us?"
Now coming to a stop, The Tailor turns to Raven. "He doesn't know anything?!" Asking in disbelief, he stares at Raven. "What do I not know." Feeling like something important is begin left out. I hear Raven reply in an irritated voice.
"He knows what he needs to know, our enemies are common, so you can call this a friendship build on mutual enemies." Getting a pitied look from the Redhead, I try to ask something only for him to slap my butt.
"We're done. I presume you also want a set for normal activities like you Raven?"
Giving him a nod, Raven looks at me and says. "You have a lot of questions on your mind, but there's a place and time for that. Right now, we will do the auction. And afterward, I promise to explain everything."
Stepping off the rotating platform, I look at Raven.
I barely know anything about him. I don't even know his second name. So why am I even considering him my friend?
"You promise?" Feeling like a huge box of questions has been found, and the answers unknown, I find myself asking....
Who is Raven?