Page 4 of Behind the Mask

"You are hopeless," Minoru said.

Kasumi moved to the door and opened it before the sailor could not, somewhat mollified by the mix of fear and annoyance in his face.He took the tray and closed the door.

"Manners, Kasumi."

"I have none," Kasumi replied.

Minoru rolled his eyes."Remove your mask, eat, and get yourself cleaned up.Honestly, if you are still snippy about being shown off—let it go.They are fascinated by you; explaining you a bit will disperse some of that attention and return you to anonymity.It is not like you to be this tense, Kasumi."

"I do not like that man," Kasumi said, obediently removing his mask and eating swiftly before stripping down to wash and change.He hated having his guard so lowered, but there simply was no help for it.

In short order they were ready, and Kasumi followed along to the Captain's quarters.

Inside, Luther was not even wearing a jacket, merely his shirt sleeves.The rudeness!

"Good morning," Luther greeted, picking up his glasses and sliding them onto his face."Did you both sleep well?"

"Very well, thank you.Yourself, Luther?"

Luther smiled."Quite well, indeed."

Minoru returned the smile and moved to his seat.

Kasumi saw the flintlocks a heartbeat too late—they fired simultaneously, and he only just barely dodged enough of the ball meant for his heart, taking it in the arm and slamming into the wall.

Nearby, the Captain dropped and lay still in a growing pool of blood.

The flintlocks were dropped and Luther brandished a new one, leveling it straight at Minoru's head."Bodyguard, bodyguard, you let down your guard."He pulled off his glasses and let them drop to the floor, stepping on them as he circled slowly around the table.

"Who are you?"Minoru asked calmly.

"Luther works well enough, mate," Luther replied, the words said with an almost lazy air."All I've ever heard about these bodyguards of the Night Islands—expected better, mate."

Minoru shrugged."He's not dead yet."

"That can be changed," Luther replied."Depends on you."

"Do not kill him.What do you want?"

Luther motioned for him to stand."That'll keep 'til we're on my ship."

His accent had changed completely.Kasumi barely recognized him as the buffoon he'd been sneering at.Gone was the fumbling nervousness, the awkwardly spoken proper northern accent, and as the scholar-turned-killer turned toward him, Kasumi realized the eyes no longer hidden by loose spectacles were as cold and hard as ice.

Holding fast to the wound in his arm, he struggled to stand, willing the world not to gray out."How?"

Minoru turned toward them, and Kasumi glared at him, willing the bastard to head his silent order to stay silent.

"Kasumi, you are no longer my protector.I am no longer your master."

Damn it.He was going to kill the man.This was his fault, Minoru should not be trying to help him.

"Magic, hmm?"Luther asked, gun still trained on Minoru but his eyes solely for Kasumi."I don't believe in magic.I prefer to know what my problems look like."He reached up and tugged.

The mask remained on.

"What the devil?"Luther asked.

Kasumi smirked, then tensed to—

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