This one hadn't been easy. Sure easy was a relative term when dealing with murderous sociopaths. But the Kabuki killer was in a league of his own. The madman had been infiltrating theatre performances all across Kiri as part of some form of sick vendetta and then murdering the players. The man was clearly a creditable thespian with disguise skills that put even ninja's to shame. Even more impressive was the fact that he had done it without the use of ninjutsu or any other chakra based artes.

Di and Kirei had tried a number of tactics to get a-hold of this elusive murderer but he proved slimy as an eel and cunning as a fox. From getting theatre troupes to hold impromptu performances as bait to Kirei and Di dressing as actors themselves nothing had worked. Realising that he was being pursued across Kiri the killer began to leave gloating messages taunting the pair of crimefighters. These would often contain cryptic hints and even outright misinformation to throw the sleuths off the trail. Some of the more shameless tabloids started to make connections between these murders and the Yatagarasu case. Di dismissed this almost immediately.

While Yatagarasu was also operating in the same general area their kills were tied to past crimes. The kabuki killer seemed to simply desire the murder of mummers based around whatever took his fancy. Di was pretty sure that the Kabuki killer was a male as womens kabuki was a much more underground affair and all of the targets had been prominent actors. Di was beginning to despair that he would never get a proper lead on the culrpit when help came from the strangest of sources.

Kirei's dog, Yuji had been sniffing around a crime scene when he had come across the burned casing of a firework. The Kabuki killer had used this method to escape the stage after slaughtering a fellow actor in during a performance of 'Treasury of Loyal Retainers'. Firmly grasping the trail given by the astute canine Di traced the firework back to it's origin and found that it had been made in a factory that had shut down and was now supposedly abandoned.

It was late afternoon when Di and Kirei finally decided to make their move upon the villains hideout. If Di's suspicions were correct they would be able to catch the killer while he was getting ready to perform his deadly work. The street where the factory was located was certianly one of the worse districts of town. Windows were boarded up while buildings bearing  scars from the Seven Bells war were still visible to any observer.

The firework factory loomed tall filled with decaying grandeur. The front entrance was barricaded shut with planks of plywood and bamboo but Di could already count at least two side doors. Motioning to Kirei, Di indicated that the young ninja should ascend the escape exit leading into the second floor while the detective found purchase through one of the side doors on ground level.

(505 words)

Mission Info:

Di's heart pounded out a sombre rhythm as he slunk through the side door to the fireworks factory. Dust and cobwebs clung untouched to the walls and ceiling but was conspicuously disturbed on the floor. The factory was indeed inhabited and as the chilling sound of a biwa echoed across the hallways Di knew that they had found their mark. Suppressing the urge to sneeze as he unsettled a cloud of particles from a heavy door Di looked around to see the source of the music.

To Di's surprise the player of the biwa turned out to be none other than a small wooden automaton. It was sitting alone in a sea of chairs, each facing a stage. The little doll plucked meticulously at it's strings while out onto the stage strode an outlandish figure. Dressed in a heavy kimono with a massive golden wig the Kabuki Killers face was painted the traditional white and red adopted by seasoned Kabuki actors.

It would seem that the mad mummer had just begun to perform a rendition of the final moments of Benkei the warrior monk. Swearing to buy his lord Yoshitsune time Benkei had held a bridge against an entire troop of soldiers slaying them all before being taken down by arrows. The Kabuki killer had made a few changes to the scene however as there were no archers in sight. Taking the role of Benkei the killer was wielding the monks iconic tree felling saw for a weapon. Such a giant implement would normally be far too much for a normal man – Benkei himself possessed supernatural strength being the son of an oni and a mortal woman. But the Kabuki Killer clearly had a demented might of his own allowing him to effectively carry and swing the makeshift weapon albeit with some difficulty due to it's unwieldy nature.

The actors dressed in soldiers costumes were in fact members of the hidden womens kabuki troops. It turned out that the Killer did not just have designs for male actors but was also kidnapping women and taking them to his layer to act out his depraved fantasies. Di had no time to wonder just how many women had already fallen to this madman as with a great YOOOOOOOOOO of exaltation the Kabuki Killer brought his massive saw blade down with a vertical strike to split an actresses head.

Acting out of pure instinct Di shot forward like a hawk launching himself into the air for a flying kick to strike the saw. His momentum and weight were enough to knock the heavy weapon from it's cause causing it to slam into the ground beside the actress. Righting himself from the maneuver Di slammed five punches in rapid succession into the killers stomach. The giant of a man barley flinched laying a backhand blow to Di's jaw and throwing the detective across the floor while regaining a good grip on the saw with the other hand. For a moment the killer flickered between whether he was going to pursue Di or finish off the girl. Girl chosen he lifted the saw again. If Kirei didn't act soon this would be the actresses last performance.

(531 words, 1036 total)

At that moment Di knew that fate had graced him with a truly admirable partner. While many people would simply be caught up in the adrenaline of the fight Kirei - even in his formative years had his priorities in exactly the right places. Transforming into dragon state would be dangerous inside the theatre – Di didn't want to accidentally hurt one of the bound woman so instead he came forward in his human state. Glowering after being deprived of his trophy the Kabuki killer readied himself into a dramatic pose, saw high up and ready to lash out at Di.

Noting the placement of the weapon Di watched the saw arc down towards him as the gleaming teeth came on with unmitigated fury. Springing to a side Di planted his left foot on the top of the saw using it to springboard himself into the air in front of the Kabuki killer. Intent on delivering another backhand blow the Killer instead found his mouth meeting Di's boot as it cracked into his teeth forcing the man backwards. Blood poured from a split lip and the mans cheek was starting to swell.

Abandoning the saw totally the Killer attempted what could best be described as a bear hug his long wig flowing back and forth as he grappled at Di. Unfortunately for the detective he he slipped on one of the soldiers hats that had fallen on stage. Seizing this advantage the garishly garbed giant snatched Di up and proceeded to squeeze which Di's ribs started to protest greatly. Di couldn't just wait for Kirei to get him out of this one – the young ninja was already occupied with rescuing the actresses who had been bound also in a few seconds Di's ribs would all break possibly puncturing his lungs. This would lead to suffocation and the horrible event of drowning in ones own blood. Di's mind raced for an out, there had to be some way to stop the killer.

And there he had it. Benkei the warrior monk had been a famous collector of weapons having taken the katana's tetsubo and yari of over one hundred samurai. On the Kabuki killers side was a wakazashi which if anything like the saw was fully functional and combat ready. Slipping his hand down to the killers waist Di pulled the blade from it's sheeth slicing up at the hand that held his throat. Three of the Kabuki killers fingers dropped from his hand as he gasped in shock and pain. The grip around Di's neck faltered and the next stab went into the Killers leg bringing him down to his knees. Finally a kick to the temple was administrated with almost clinical precision knocking the   abominable actor out cold. Di threw the katana off into the mass of musical puppets and began to draw some cord out of his jacket to bind the lunatic. Looking to his masked companion Di chuckled wearily.

“Well Kirei I think I will stick to watching Noh plays for the next little while”

(507 words,  1543 total)

Exit

1500 words completes C rank Mission

Requesting Alternate payment C rank Jutsu

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