Perhaps going to this part of the village was not the best of ideas.
Thoughts like that and many others like it washed across Suzume's mind as she tried to step confidently through the narrow walkways between the buildings. It was rather late in the morning, and while the sun was shining high above the surface of the village, there was a perpetual darkness and gloom that settled over the distract like a looming shade. She knew she could feel eyes on her, eyes that were inspecting her and weighing her, but she kept her chin high and her modest chest puffed out. She was a shinobi now! Well, technically an aspiring shinobi, given that she had only been to the academy a handful of times, but that was more than these cretins down here could say. Surely she could kick each and everyone of their butts should it come to that.
Truthfully, she looked like an easy mark to every shady eye that came across her. She was not as tall as those of her village and looked as meek as any fourteen year old girl would, even as she tried to look the part of a confident and powerful shinobi. Thankfully for her, the sight was actually too inviting for those with the opportunity to capitalize on it. It was the equivalent to a bag of coins just sitting in the middle of the street, ready for the picking, but each of them just knew that if they did something would swoop down to take off their hand as soon as they touched the bait. So, if only for the moment, the girl was free to stride down the streets, a look of confidence in her eyes masking the wavering will that floundered and flickered behind it.
Suzume caught the eyes of a larger man who was sitting on a stool nearby to a stall selling what she presumed to be stolen goods, given how random the assortment looked. The man met her gaze and she stared back, and it was his gaze that broke first, as he quickly looked the area around her over. He continued to pick at under his fingernails with the dagger, which looked little more than a butter knife in his large hands, as his attention returned to her. By then she had walked past him, her confidence momentarily restored that she had presumably won the battle of wits with the man, who in her eyes was not even that large. He stood up from his stool and looked down the way she came, searching for someone, but by the time he looked back towards her, she had turned down a side alley somewhere. With a grunt, he sat back down and continued his nail cleaning, looking for perspective buyers for his goods.
Suzume, meanwhile, had turned down a modestly wide alley between two buildings that she had presumed were shops. She had grown bored of the street she was on and was eager to do more exploration, after being emboldened by her small victory. There were no glowing crystals or fires to light her way forward down the path, which stretched a hundred feet or so ahead, littered with refuse and painted with shadows. There was no one else in sight, and so she continued to keep her guard down, not fully appreciating the gravity of going into a darkened alley in the seediest part of town. She was an Oushi-Ouja after all, and a shinobi atop of that. She was practically untouchable here... right?
Thoughts like that and many others like it washed across Suzume's mind as she tried to step confidently through the narrow walkways between the buildings. It was rather late in the morning, and while the sun was shining high above the surface of the village, there was a perpetual darkness and gloom that settled over the distract like a looming shade. She knew she could feel eyes on her, eyes that were inspecting her and weighing her, but she kept her chin high and her modest chest puffed out. She was a shinobi now! Well, technically an aspiring shinobi, given that she had only been to the academy a handful of times, but that was more than these cretins down here could say. Surely she could kick each and everyone of their butts should it come to that.
Truthfully, she looked like an easy mark to every shady eye that came across her. She was not as tall as those of her village and looked as meek as any fourteen year old girl would, even as she tried to look the part of a confident and powerful shinobi. Thankfully for her, the sight was actually too inviting for those with the opportunity to capitalize on it. It was the equivalent to a bag of coins just sitting in the middle of the street, ready for the picking, but each of them just knew that if they did something would swoop down to take off their hand as soon as they touched the bait. So, if only for the moment, the girl was free to stride down the streets, a look of confidence in her eyes masking the wavering will that floundered and flickered behind it.
Suzume caught the eyes of a larger man who was sitting on a stool nearby to a stall selling what she presumed to be stolen goods, given how random the assortment looked. The man met her gaze and she stared back, and it was his gaze that broke first, as he quickly looked the area around her over. He continued to pick at under his fingernails with the dagger, which looked little more than a butter knife in his large hands, as his attention returned to her. By then she had walked past him, her confidence momentarily restored that she had presumably won the battle of wits with the man, who in her eyes was not even that large. He stood up from his stool and looked down the way she came, searching for someone, but by the time he looked back towards her, she had turned down a side alley somewhere. With a grunt, he sat back down and continued his nail cleaning, looking for perspective buyers for his goods.
Suzume, meanwhile, had turned down a modestly wide alley between two buildings that she had presumed were shops. She had grown bored of the street she was on and was eager to do more exploration, after being emboldened by her small victory. There were no glowing crystals or fires to light her way forward down the path, which stretched a hundred feet or so ahead, littered with refuse and painted with shadows. There was no one else in sight, and so she continued to keep her guard down, not fully appreciating the gravity of going into a darkened alley in the seediest part of town. She was an Oushi-Ouja after all, and a shinobi atop of that. She was practically untouchable here... right?
Mukuro had followed her for some time now, edging closer and closer, still not being seen. As he grew closer the sweet and succulent smells invaded his sense nearly sending him into raging lust for her flesh. His mouth was salivating at the mere thought of this sweet morsel, each step closer filled him to the brim with anticipation. So alone, so fragile, so helpless, the perfect selection for Mukuro... At last she made fatal mistake and turned down a path he knew quite well. What was once a lively area was now abandoned, home only to the lowest of the low who hid within the run down buildings only to wake at night. It appeared that the two were truly alone. At last he would make his presence known, he had nothing to fear. She appeared much smaller, slower and weaker than he. He could easily cast a spell to keep her from escaping. For now he would attempt to lure her away with his charms instead of using fear. They always taste so much better when they are willing... 
Science... Both a blessing and a curse. When used for the good of the world, towards a noble purpose or honest and kind goal, it can be a grand thing. But when used selfishly, it can bring out a great change of unsettling and devastating events. One such case was 626, or Mukuro. He was once a handsome man, long ago. He used to be charming and people would naturally flock to his presence. But as time went on, his experiments grew ever more grimacing and unnatural. As the saying goes, accidents happen, and just that would befall Mukuro one fateful night. Something went amiss and the resulting backlash left his face forever disfigured and grotesque. So it was no surprise that young Suzume withdrew from a horrific sight as him, however much it still upset him. Mukuro furrowed his brows as the pretty little thing scorned his generous offer. A step forward was responded in kind with a step backwards from the little girl, her confidence wavering. Her declaration of being a Sunan Shinobi was laughable at best. Mukuro knew the game all too well, the tell tale signs of fear were so pungent he could nearly literally smell it, taste it even. He wanted to taste it for real...