of pain and violence the likes of which had never been seen in modern times. A man’s life held no more importance to me than a fly’s, and I would snuff either’s out without a second thought. I gave back to the world all the pain and indignities it had heaped upon me twice fold, harnessing my hate the way I once tapped my confidence, Mouko Takabisha gave way to Howling Wolf’s Hatred. In very little time I had fulfilled my promise to Cologne, and in my mind the Wolf howled with pleasure and pride.




Then, at the end of the fourth year of this new life word came to me that Junsenkyo had been restored. By then I had graduated into the top tier of professional thieves and assassins. I was a freelancer, my skills highly sought after by various factions, all very willing to pay well for the privilege of harnessing my hatred for the accomplishment of their goals. I finished my current assignment and left Japan for China, returning to Junsenkyo and finding the Spring of Drowned Man with no hindrance – more proof to my mind that this world never awards the good. I bathed in the Spring, and with that baptism I washed away what little remained of Ranma Saotome. I finally died, and from the ashes of that pitiful, failed life arose Okami-sama, the Wolf Lord. I never returned to Japan, instead journeying across the world until I finally settled in the United States. I never gave my homeland and my old life a second thought… until that fat rat Wantanabe caught my attention with his damnable missive.




Fully awake now, I throw the off my sheets and get up. My memories are done with me, and I banish them back to the vault from which they escaped; the past is irrelevant, the future does not exist. Only the NOW matters, and in the NOW I have been hired by one Himura Wantanabe to assassinate his cousin, Tatewaki Kuno, and his wife Nabiki Kuno. And if I happen to enjoy myself a little more than I would with a commonplace commission, so much the better. I begin my exercises, practicing my katas, honing my body, while reviewing the mental routines and techniques that access my will and power. Once finished I take a quick shower to wash off the sweat and order room service. I eat an American-style breakfast, a cheese and mushroom omelet, with English muffins and grapefruit. I then meditate upon the virtues of my chosen Path and Patron, embracing and encompassing the strength, the ruthlessness, the lonely grandeur and self-sufficiency of the Wolf…




I open my eyes. The day is almost gone; my time has arrived. I stand and retrieve my work clothes from my suitcase. I dress in my skins and summon the Thief’s Silent Mantle. It’s time to begin…




The sun is setting, bleeding red light onto my back as I survey the Kuno estate. It looks even more prosperous than I last remember. Probably Nabiki’s influence, she always had a knack for feathering her own nest, usually to the detriment of those around her. I wonder briefly how she and Kuno have changed over the years, or exactly why, let alone how, she married him. Despite their constant association through business they always seemed contemptuous of each other. I shrug these thoughts off, for they’re inconsequential to the matter at hand. I vault the low wall and land silently in the yard, crouching on all fours. I stay still for the next few minutes, scanning with eye and intuition for the archaic, yet dangerous traps that I know from personal experience the estate is littered with. I discover nothing. Nabiki must have a curbing effect on Kuno’s eccentricities, making things so much the easier for me. I stand and stride towards the manor proper.




My first task is to eliminate the servants. I plan on taking a little more time than usual on this assignment, and I don’t want any unnecessary distractions interfering. With the Silent Thief’s Mantle it’s child’s play to incapacitate them piecemeal. I do not kill them -




Needless murder is the trademark of the amateur or the madman, and I’m no longer either – but simply render them unconscious with pressure points or brute strength. The manor seems under-populated, but then Kuno’s family always did have trouble keeping their servants. I finish off and hide the last one and now start searching for the Kunos.




I overheard one servant saying that they were still dining, so I begin with the dining room.




Got it in one, for there they are, entertaining guests. Time has been kind to them; for except for gaining a little weight they look almost the same as they did twenty years ago. Kuno is still nobly, arrogantly, handsome, and Nabiki still coldly beautiful, but on second glance I see that Kuno’s eyes are not as vacant or stupid as they once were, nor is Nabiki’s face as carefully expressionless. Time has changed them, perhaps for the better, but I don’t care. Wantanabe’s revelation and Nabiki’s cruel rationalizations run through my mind. I lick my teeth in anticipation. A Howling Wolf’s Hatred could end this now, pulverizing the pair in an instant, and I would be gone before their guests could even scream. If it were anyone else I would do just that. But not for them, I fully intend to enjoy myself with this.




I chuckle silently. That fop Vega was right; revenge truly is a dish best served cold.




I look away from the Kunos to take a measure of their guests. I’ll have to incapacitate them first before I start with the main course. I cock my head slightly; from where I’m standing I can only see their backs, but they seem familiar to me. I tighten the Mantle about myself and walk to a different part of the room… and I almost gasp when I see their faces. It seems that Nabiki is entertaining family tonight. There’s old man Tendo sitting to Kuno’s right, dressed in a simple dark suit instead of his usual gi. His hair and mustache are iron gray now, and he appears to be somewhat pale and stooped. Next to him is Kasumi. Time has touched her about as much as it has touched Nabiki. She’s still a classic beauty, modest and demure. I give neither of them a second thought, for my eye is locked on the cause of my gasp, the focus of my undivided attention: the beautiful woman sitting to Kasumi’s right…




Akane…




Akane…




Akane…




Kami, she’s as unchanged as her sisters. She looks just as good as I remember her. Better perhaps. her hair is a little longer and her face a little sharper, accentuating her pouty lips and warm brown eyes. She’s a bit taller, and her figure, which had always been good - my fool’s jabs non- withstanding – is much fuller now, much lusher. She seems not to be taking part in the conversation around her, looking away from her family, her expression pensive.




The breath hisses through my teeth, as I bow my head and close my eyes. Her presence is almost a physical blow to my senses. I begin to tremble, sweat starting up on my brow, trickling a clinging path down my face. I lean against the wall for support, covering my face with a gloved hand. My Mantle twists and buckles around me, in time with the tempest of emotions rolling in my charred, withered heart. Hate and love and anger and lust and longing and desire and… If not for the shadows I stand in someone would have seen me by now. I can’t do this. Not with her here, with her watching. I’ll have to retreat, to wait till she leaves. I doubt that she’s staying here. I’ll wait till she leaves with Tendo and Kasumi and then I’ll finish what I came for.




But you can’t retreat, growls the Wolf, his graven voice reverberating in my skull. By dealing as you did with the servants you’ve committed yourself to this strike. The longer you wait, the greater the chance of the Kunos being alerted.




I can’t do this, I answer. Not in front of her…




What do you owe the bitch anyway? The Wolf demands. She never cared for you. If she did, she would not have left you at that damn altar. All she ever did was hurt you and betray you, like all others.




But it’s Akane…




YOU OWE HER NOTHING! NOTHING BUT PAIN! SHE NEVER LOVED YOU! IF SHE HAD LOVED YOU SHE WOULD HAVE STAYED WITH YOU!




But her family, they…




There is no justification good enough, the Wolf whispers. There are no circumstances strong enough to mitigate her crime against you. You gave her your heart and your soul and she threw them away as if they were base garbage, just because of your lineage. You owe her nothing. Now strike, and finish your commission. Strike, and be avenged for your pain.




I stop trembling. I raise my face from my hand, lips twisted in a snarl. The Wolf is right. What do I owe her? Nothing. I threw away my pride and my cure for her, saved her countless times, and she gave me nothing in return. I owe her no consideration.




(Why do these thoughts ring so hollow in my mind and my soul?)




I will not hurt her. Let her watch. She cannot stop me. I will kill Kuno, I will kill Nabiki, and the final shred of my former life will be shed. Resolute, I prepare.




Kuno rises from his seat, saying something about seeing where the servants have gone. He walks in my direction. Perfect, right into my arms.




I strike.




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