The Garden

Tsukasa sat in one of the apple trees, her heart pounding in her chest. never before had she come across someone to frightening... she had been in scarier situations, but with pretty normal looking people. She stared at the window she had just jumped out of and absentmindedly touched the scars on her face. Was he out to get her? or was he just hallucinating...

Normally, Tsukasa would have attacked such a person, but, well, since she had come to the mansion she had started to feel pretty powerless and vulnerable compared to some of the other guests that were living there. She watched through the branches as several sparrows flew through the dark sky, catching night bugs to eat.

The lady wanders close to the mansion, in utter silence. Her eyes large and her posture tense, she wasn't sure what to expect from such a place. She was told to visit here, to look for a house closer to her job.. Well, fine. Here she was. Though as far as she could tell, this place was bloody abandoned. Nothing really had.. Stood out to her, in fact it was relatively quiet.

Tsukasa heard rustling close by. She looked over towards the entrance to the garden and noticed a young woman. With a scowl Tsukasa turned towards the tree trunk and hid her face, not wanting to be seen. She did not want that strange man to find her, nor did she want to run into anyone else until she had her mask back. The last thing she needed was for people to be nosy and ask her too many questions about her appearance.

The sun had set and a cool breeze rolled through the air as Tsukasa made her way to the garden. She sat down underneath the branches of one of the apple trees and picked up a few dead leaves from the ground, then began to crumble them in her hands. She spread the bits and pieces of leaf around on the grass then leaned back against the trunk of the tree and staired up at the stars through the branches. Fall was here, and soon it would be winter.

She was so glad that she didn't have to spend another winter out on the streets. Though, it seemed as though something was going on at Barlo mansion, something very strange indeed. She did not know what exactly, but she didn't like it. Damakos was relatively violent, the head guard was as thin as a toothpick, and the Saifforo's... there was just something very strange about them.

Yes, something strange was going on. Something very strange indeed.

As she sat there her eyes drifted the the bell tower. it was such a creepy yet elegant aspect of the mansion. It looked like no one had been up there in years. Tsukasa then lowered her gaze to one of the windows on the third floor. Why was no one allowed up there? Was there something going on up there? Surely the answer to the second question that popped into her mind was a yes. of course there was something being hidden or going on up there. Otherwise, why would none of the residents ever be allowed to go there?

Just as she was thinking these things to herself the window she was watching creaked open. A dark figure then climbed out and shut the window, then seemed to lock it afterwards. The figure leaped down and landed gracefully on their feet. it was dark out so Tsukasa couldn't tell who it was. Instead of walking around the building the person was walking in Tsukasa's direction. They didn't seem to notice her as they walked on by, quietly. Their steps were graceful and quiet and Tsukasa could see from the shapely silhouette that it was a woman.

Instead of remaining quiet as usual she stood and addressed the person, "Excuse me?"

The person stopped in their tracks and turned to face her, "Yes?" Her voice was quiet and gentle, yet had a sense of authority to it.

Tsukasa knew right away that is was Lady Saifforo, "Ma'am, won't you catch a cold... being outside so late?" She asked. She tried to make it seem as though she hadn't been watching her.

"I think you should be asking yourself that," was all the woman replied.

"I grew up on the streets... I think im fine..." her voice trailed as the scent of blood reached her nose. "Is that blood? Are you okay Ma'am?"

"Who me? Why of course... I just have a bit of an injury is all. Im sure you saw me climbing out of that window... I followed Isamu up there to give him some of his medicine... but you see. He does not like being touched and has a bit of a violent side... he lashed out at me and bit my arm pretty hard..."

Tsukasa raised an eyebrow at the woman's response. There was no way that that even made any sense to her. Isamu didn't seem like a violent person at all. But, well, she couldn't argue with the lady. It was not her place, and so, she decided to steer away from interrogating her in the wrong way. "Would you like any help with the wound?"

Lady Saifforo shook her head, "That will not be necessary my dear, for it will heal on it's own," and with that she walked off towards the street. She didn't say a polite goodbye.

Tsukasa scoffed in disgust and headed inside. Maybe she should discuss this with the other residents...