Kuroba Asashin's Arc

Chapter 35 of 44

The seal held the door for two nights. On the third, Kuroba slept in the main hall with the staff across his knees. The jasmine on the porch posts stirred in the small hours, and he woke without moving. A man sat on the mat across from him. Legs folded. Hands resting on his knees. One hand caught the moon and shone like polished steel. Kuroba's fingers found the staff. He did not lift it. The man had already been inside long enough to sit down. If he wanted a fight, the fight would have started at the door. "Don't get up," the stranger said. His voice was low and even. "I walked in past your student on the wall. She's fine. I didn't touch her." Kuroba said nothing. The man tilted his head toward the front post outside, where the notice hung under the kanji for peace. "Vincent Castellano," he said. "I run business… among other things. I read your paper on the way in." He paused. "Kenjitochi. Kenji's land. That's a nice piece of writing. Legal enough to make a warden itch. Old enough to make a judge nervous." "You came a long way to compliment a sign," Kuroba said. "I came to ask a question." Vincent's cybernetic hand opened and closed once on his knee. "The dead man on your stakes. Kenji. Was he the one with the stick who broke two thousand men in this valley?" "He was." "And now you carry the stick." "I do." Vincent nodded once, as if a column had been added correctly. He did not smile. He did not lean forward. "Then I'll say this plain, and I'll only say it once." His voice dropped a shade quieter. "You’ve created a border. It was… bold. Usually… no one gets a border set in place without my knowledge. Now… I’m smart enough to know what you can do… so I’m not gonna press too hard. Just… know I’m keeping an eye on you. You’re a powerful man, Kuroba. We could have a very fruitful friendship. Or… we could…. not.” "Why tell me?" "Because I like a clean board." Vincent stood. His knees made no sound. "You've drawn a line. Good. Now watch who steps over it, and watch who they leave behind. The one who walks in smiling is the one who owns them." He moved to the door. At the threshold he stopped without turning. "Be careful with your queen," he said. "Crowns attract buyers." Vincent stares subtly at Kuroba. Kuroba raises his eyebrow, noticing something. Kuroba meets his gaze with “You’re…. trying to read my mind.” he says after picking up on it with his chi.