Page 14 of Behind the Mask

Kasumi tightened his grip."You have worn a thousand masks, and will likely wear a thousand more before you die.They mean nothing to you.That mask wasmeand you are the reason it is lost.Do not presume to tell me I am better off without it just because you value nothing."

By this point he should be used to Luther's tricks, but it still surprised him—he was not used to having an equal in skill and power.No one had ever bested him, least of all with the ease with which this infuriating bastard did so.He hit the floor with a grunt and rolled away, lashing out as he stood, driving Luther back.

Then suddenly he hit the deck hard, stars bursting in his vision from the pain of his head against wood.Still he managed to twist away, leg lashing out to catch Luther square in the chest, and he heard the satisfying knock of someone else's head against wood.

Regaining his feet, he braced for attack but recovered a second too late.He crashed against the door with a pained grunt, legs spread and trapped by Luther's, wrists securely pinned.He glared.

"Feisty, feisty," Luther murmured."I know plenty about identity, and there is plenty I value.Do not presume to knowme,pretty shadow."

Kasumi snarled and struggled in his grasp, rage only growing with the knowledge that this man constantly seemed to one-up him.Bastard."Stop.Calling.Me.Pretty."

"Only stating fact," Luther replied."You should calm down."

"I'll calm down after I've beaten you half to death," Kasumi snapped.

Luther laughed."You and at least half the royal navies of the world.Are all shadows as pretty as you?"

Kasumi grimaced."Let me go."

"So that would be a yes, they are all as beautiful as you.Interesting.If I let you go, you'll just start trying to beat me up again.Which is rather amusing, really.You're the first one to get one punch in, never mind the half dozen or so you've managed.I cannot remember the last time anyone matched me in a fight.I'm not your enemy."

"No," Kasumi agreed."You just aggravate me."

"Fair enough," Luther said, leaning in close enough their breaths mingled, and Kasumi could smell his sweat, a hint of the sea and something vaguely like cinnamon."If you are going to drive me insane, I think it's only fair I drive you insane—but I think we would both be happier if the aggravation you feel was more like the lust I feel."

Kasumi tensed to hear such words so baldly stated.

Then he was abruptly released, and barely caught himself from tumbling to the floor.

"As to possessions," Luther said quietly from the far side of the room."It might surprise you how seriously I regard those things which belong to me.It was, as I said, nothing personal.However, we are comrades now—even if you do still want to kill me—and I promise I will help you get your mask back.Though I still think it a pity to cover up something so beautiful."

Kasumi rolled his eyes."A fine bodyguard I would be if I was memorable," he said.

"I think the mask was a memory all its own."

"You think so?"Kasumi asked."Tell me what it looked like."

Luther opened his mouth—then closed it with a snap.He frowned, irritated."Part of it was black.Part of it was colorful.I think."

Kasumi smirked.

"Shut up," Luther said irritably."If I hear 'magic' one more time, I'm going to act like you and start throwing punches."

Smothering an urge to laugh, Kasumi strode across the cabin to watch as Luther pulled out a map and spread it on the wide desk.

"This is the course plotted by the second mate," Luther said."In three weeks we will be in Port Hollow.From there we will travel by foot up into the mountains.Hopefully all we've learned these past several days is accurate.If not, then it's back to the beginning."

Kasumi's mouth tightened."He'll be there.I remember his mentioning the place before, though only once and it was in passing.This part of the world is relatively remote, is it not?"

"Yeah," Luther replied."The rule of thumb is mind your own business and you live longer.What I don't understand is why no one notices this guy missing.My impression of 'Lord Jun' is that he's relatively important."

"Hardly," Kasumi said contemptuously."In his world, powerful men may do as they please—so long as they are discreet.That was why he wanted to hire us; he was getting involved in dangerous things and wanted protection.While we certainly are not opposed to protecting criminals, since ours is not to question or care what our master does, all applicants must meet certain protocols.The first mistake he made was contacting us without someone to recommend him."

"I'd imagine it only went downhill from there," Luther said.

Kasumi nodded."Yes.While we occasionally permit such exceptions…he began to make demands, and try to tell us who should protect him.We did not like that he knew so much, and further investigations led us to see he was an unsavory character indeed.At the very same time we were considering Master Minoru's request for a protector.In the end, we rejected Jun and told him never to trouble us again.I was contracted to Master Minoru, and have been with him ever since."

"Let me guess—you were the one Jun wanted protecting him.Why?"

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